A compact, deeply committed organic wine valley carved by the Similkameen River west of Keremeos, long called the organic capital of Canadian wine. Rocky benchland soils, intense heat, and strong canyon winds create conditions of remarkable aromatic concentration and natural vine stress. Small production, word-of-mouth reputation, and genuine terroir authenticity distinguish it from the more commercial Okanagan.
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 95 | Similkameen Valley's 2024 was an extraordinary season for this underrated BC canyon appellation. Clean, smoke-free conditions and excellent diurnal temperature variation produced Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot of outstanding balance and mineral precision. Winemakers at Clos du Soleil and Cerelia Vineyards are describing it as the finest vintage in the valley's modern history. |
| 2022 | 94 | Similkameen's remote canyon geography concentrated the season's heat into exceptional fruit intensity. Stag's Hollow and Clos du Soleil both reported the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay they had produced. The valley's organic-farming culture and low yields amplified the vintage's quality into wines of remarkable concentration and freshness. |
| 2021 | 85 | Heat dome effects moderated by the valley's canyon wind patterns. High-elevation sites performed strongly; lower valley more affected. Clos du Soleil's Capella white blend excelled — the elevation and stone fruit orchards provided natural cooling. A bifurcated vintage by elevation. |
| 2020 | 91 | Clean Similkameen season with no smoke events. Organic and biodynamic farming in this valley produced particularly expressive wines. Stag's Hollow Jackpot Cabernet Franc excelled in the long, clean growing season. |
| 2017 | 84 | Good season continued the island's above-average run. Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir both showed genuine quality; sparkling base wines from early harvested Pinot were excellent. |
| 2016 | 87 | Vancouver Island's warmest season in a decade allowed late-ripening varieties to achieve full maturity for the first time in years. Pinot Noir and Ortega both succeeded. |
| 2014 | 94 | Similkameen Valley's 2014 combined the appellation's characteristic ruggedness with the season's generosity. High diurnal variation through August preserved natural acidity in deeply concentrated fruit, producing wines of striking balance across Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot. |
| 2013 | 94 | Similkameen Valley's 2013 matched the Okanagan's landmark vintage with a season of its own distinctive quality. The canyon's extreme diurnal variation and the season's consistency produced Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Merlot of rare balance and structural elegance. |
| 2012 | 93 | Similkameen Valley's 2012 was an excellent season for this rugged canyon appellation. The extreme temperatures and low humidity that characterise the Similkameen's growing season produced wines of tremendous concentration and natural acidity. |