Hugging Tree Winery

Hugging Tree Winery is a family-run estate in the Similkameen Valley, the rugged, sun-baked valley west of the Okanagan that has quietly become one of British Columbia's most exciting winegrowing regions. The winery's name comes from two entangled trees that grow together on the land, a fitting symbol for a business built around family connection, and that theme runs through everything from the vineyard, planted with cuttings that link the family's original vines to the present property, to the hands-on way winemaker Bradley James farms and crafts each vintage from planting through harvest. Production is deliberately kept small and manageable, allowing close attention to every lot, and the portfolio has included wines such as Blanc de Blancs, Syrah and Cabernet Franc, varieties well suited to the Similkameen's intense sunshine, rocky benches and cooling valley winds.

Visitors will find the winery on Upper Bench Road in the Cawston-Keremeos area, the heart of a valley renowned for organic farming, roadside fruit stands and a refreshingly low-key approach to wine touring. The tasting room welcomes guests during business hours, with complimentary tastings extended to wine club members, and the club itself offers customizable subscriptions with flexible shipping. Through the season the winery also hosts events and farm-to-table collaborations that showcase the valley's exceptional produce alongside its wines. The Similkameen makes a rewarding detour or destination in its own right: it is quieter than the Okanagan, the scenery of cliffs and orchards is dramatic, and wineries like Hugging Tree offer the kind of personal, owner-led hospitality that larger regions struggle to match. For travellers crossing between the coast and the Okanagan on Highway 3, this family estate is a worthy reason to slow down in Cawston.