Privato Vineyard and Winery

Privato Vineyard and Winery brings estate winegrowing to the Thompson Valley, operating from a scenic family property in Kamloops, well north of the Okanagan's main wine corridor. That location is part of the appeal: Privato has helped prove that this drier, cooler stretch of British Columbia's interior can produce serious wine, and the winery's shelf of honours, including Double Gold and Platinum medals at wine competitions, backs up the ambition. The portfolio spans reds, whites and rosés under the main Privato label, joined by sister brands including Privy and Noble Graft, while the family's Woodward Cider Co. adds craft cider to the tasting lineup, a nod to the property's orchard side. The tasting room welcomes guests Thursday through Monday, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday, and reservations can be made for seated tasting experiences.

The property has grown into a gathering place as much as a winery. A bistro operates through the summer season, and the events calendar includes Music in the Vineyard concerts along with weddings and corporate gatherings hosted on the grounds; a wine club keeps regular customers supplied between visits. The family's mission statement speaks of carrying on tradition and pursuing a goal of excellence, and that multigenerational, family-legacy feel pervades the visit, from the storytelling on the website to the welcome at the tasting bar. For travellers, Privato makes an excellent reason to pause in Kamloops, whether passing through on the way between the Coast and the Rockies or making a deliberate detour from the Okanagan, about an hour and a half to the south. As one of the Thompson Valley's flagship wineries, it offers a glimpse of a BC wine frontier that most visitors have yet to discover, served with cider, music and family hospitality.