Vinamité Cellars

VinAmite Cellars is a family-owned boutique winery located directly on Highway 97 just south of Oliver, in the heart of the South Okanagan, an area that styles itself the wine capital of Canada. Owned and operated by the Coulombe family, the winery takes a French-inspired approach, focusing on a tight, carefully made lineup of traditional varietals rather than a sprawling portfolio. Its wines are all one-hundred-percent British Columbia VQA Okanagan Valley bottlings, and the core offering centres on five wines: a Pinot Gris, a Chardonnay, a Gamay Noir, a Cabernet Franc and the popular Bordeaux-style blend called Compass. The result is a focused tasting that rewards visitors who appreciate small-batch winemaking and the personal attention that comes with a genuinely family-run operation. What sets VinAmite apart is its emphasis on the wine lounge experience rather than a standard tasting bar. The intimate space and outdoor patio invite guests to slow down and enjoy wines by the glass or bottle, accompanied by charcuterie boards available by advance order, turning a quick stop into a relaxed afternoon. Because the lounge is small, booking ahead through the winery is recommended, particularly in the busy summer months when the Oliver wine route draws crowds. The tasting room is generally open daily through the afternoon and into the evening, and a gift section rounds out the visit. Oliver sits at the centre of one of Canada's most concentrated wine-touring destinations, with the Golden Mile Bench and Black Sage Bench flanking the town and dozens of cellar doors within minutes of one another. VinAmite Cellars makes an easy and welcoming addition to a South Okanagan itinerary, offering quality French-style wines in an unhurried, lounge-style setting where the people pouring are often the family that made the wine. Check the website for current hours and to reserve.