In Search Of British Columbia’s Wine Trail’s Best-Kept Secrets And Hidden Gems: Similkameen Valley’s Orofino Winery And Their Wines

How we selected Orofino Winery for our visit

While it is tempting to claim that we had no plans to visit Orofino Winery, the truth is quite the opposite. It was on our itinerary. However, its inclusion came with a caveat: our visit depended on our continued enthusiasm for Orofino after exploring the other wineries on our must-visit list.

As we visited a few of our favourite wineries in British Columbia’s Oliver, recommendations to go to Orofino kept on popping up, making us question our plan to put this winery on the back burner.

If ever there was evidence that serendipity favours adventurous travelers, our eventual visit to Orofino Winery would be it. As we hopped from one winery to another, a spur-of-the-moment decision to avoid a highway led us to a steep mountain path with no turning back. With our car coated in dirt, we finally emerged onto a road that led us to Similkameen Valley’s town of Cawston, just a stone’s throw away from Orofino. After the unintended off-road escapade, it seemed fate was telling us to go for a wine tasting at this winery. It would have been silly not to obey the sign.

Orofino Winery visit: what to expect

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In the case of Orofino Winery, that picture might be worth a million as the real-life experience didn’t quite align with the grandeur portrayed in the photos on Orofino’s website. Nestled inconspicuously along the road and marked solely by a realtor-styled sign, post and steak, this winery can easily escape notice. By any standards, Orofino is a modest enterprise. It is comprised of a cellar building, a winemaking facility and a quaint wine shop. A visible from the road courtyard boasts a cob oven. A long communal table overlooking the vineyard helps to create a welcoming atmosphere.

Here’s a curious fact about the Orofino winery building. It is the only straw bail construction in the area. Don’t quote us on it, but it may be the only or one of the very few straw bail constructions in the province.

When it comes to wine tasting, they keep it simple at Orofino Winery.

They have a single wine tasting option available for $10, allowing you to choose five wines to sample. The winery promotes its wine tasting as a fully guided, seated tasting experience. The fee is not waived with a purchase. A portion of it is donated to charity.

Arriving at Orofino just an hour shy of closing time, we found ourselves alone at the winery, capturing the undivided attention of our wine guide. Early on in the tasting, we discovered that our guide shared our passion for wine, leading to an almost one-hour-long engaging conversation. The subjects spanned the winemaker’s style, the array of wines available, and even a comparison between Orofino wines and the esteemed French counterparts, which our guide spoke of with firsthand knowledge and deep admiration.

Orofino Winery: a brief history

We firmly believe that to truly understand and appreciate wine, we must learn about the people who craft it. 2023 marks a significant milestone for Orofino as they celebrate their 20th vintage. This family-run winery was founded by John and Virginia Weber, a couple from Saskatchewan. He was a High School teacher, and she was a nurse until they visited the Similkameen Valley and were captivated by its potential for winemaking. Taking a leap of faith, Webbers purchased a vineyard and moved to Cawston, embarking on a new chapter in their lives.

The Webbers clearly believe in the potential of the Similkameen. Their addition of more vineyards to their property and purchase of orchard plots that they have converted to vineyards prove that amply.

During our visit, our wine guide shared an interesting fact: John Weber, the owner, also serves as its winemaker. As is evidenced by the wines we tried, John also has a natural talent for making good wines.

Wine tasting at Orofino Winery: Is it worth your time and money?

The wine lineup at Orofino is quite a curious mix. Some might say it is all over the place. We say, when you are a small and independent producer, you have to capture the attention of a broad consumer audience and cater to a diverse range of consumer preferences. Their offerings range from classical Bordeaux-style wines to wine-in-a-bag options. Although, to be absolutely honest, the wine-in-a-bag was a surprise because this sort of packaging is commonly used to sell plonk, which is not the case with Orofino’s wines.

Orofino takes a refreshingly different approach to wine tasting. You won’t find here “for club members” only sacred cast that puts some of the wines off limits. There’s no “limited release” or “library” wine tasting premium. While many wineries offer these and other tiered options, Orofino Winey breaks the mold by allowing you to sample any five wines of your choice, regardless of price or exclusivity. You can include anything you see online and in-store in your wine tasting flight of 5 wines.

The lineup of Orofino wines we sampled:

Orofino White wines

Red wines:

The Orofino Red Bridge Red wine, named after the iconic 1907 red bridge that crosses the Similkameen River in Keremeos, surprised us with its unusual deep, blood-red color.

Bringing Orofino wine home

If you follow our wine stories, you’re likely familiar with our “one bottle rule” whenever we visit a winery. This rule acts as our guiding compass, ensuring we stay grounded amidst the allure of the many wines we get to try during our visits. By adhering to this principle, we choose a wine that we know will bring us enjoyment beyond the initial excitement of the visit. Our selection is seldom the priciest or most popular option, as we consider factors such as food pairing, occasion, and yes, the price tag itself.

When it came to Orofino wines, we had two worthy contenders, both red wine blends. There was a more affordable option, Red Bridge Red wine blend priced at $27.65 and Beleza, a classic Bordeaux blend priced at $36.95. In hindsight, we should have picked the Red Bridge blend, as it represents a great price-to-value option. It is also perfect for introducing friends to the approachable and immediately enjoyable red wines from Similkameen Valley. However, we selected Beleza, the wine that would benefit from a couple more years of aging. With BBQ season in full swing, we fear this plan will never materialize. We already have a few recipe ideas that will benefit from this wine pairing. It is a shame, as it’s curious how this wine evolves over time.

Bottom Line: Should you visit Orofino Winery?

The time had come to answer THE question: would this particular experience be worth your time? Let’s unravel the answer, piece by piece.

Firstly, we deliberated on what makes the essential components of a great winery visit. Is it the quality of the wines sampled or the interactions with the people behind the scenes that truly define greatness? Can a winery visit be considered good when the wines impress but the staff lacks enthusiasm or exudes wine snobbery?

For us, a good winery visit must be a complete package, delivering quality wines and engaging people. Reflecting on our Orofino winery visit and wine tasting experience, we consider it very good.

Much of this assessment is a result of our interaction with our wine guide, whose knowledge extended beyond Orofino’s offerings and who shared our passion for discussing wine. It transformed a mere staff-customer interaction into an enjoyable conversation with a wine aficionado.

Now, let’s delve into the wines themselves.

The Similkameen Valley wine region, often considered British Columbia’s hidden gem, is poised to become a wine destination comparable to the renowned vineyards of Oliver. While it’s true that many prominent Okanagan wine producers source grapes from Similkameen vineyards, the region and its wineries have yet to fully shine.

At present, Orofino Winery stands out as one of the finer offerings from Similkameen Valley, with a range of wines that offer a relatively good value for their respective price points.