Fall in the South Okanagan offers unrivalled peace: the desert colours, vineyards changing into hues of orange and red, the scent of wild sagebrush, and warm sun smothering your face in the crisp, autumn air. 

And in the distance, Burrowing Owl. 

An estate that seamlessly blends into the natural landscape of the Black Sage Bench. 

With an eleven-room guest house, wine shop, and fine-dining restaurant all located on site, it sits as an oasis in the middle of a busy harvest. Because this season they’ve launched not only their well-loved harvest long table dinners, but a fall escape package to the South Okanagan.

And for those of us who have been craving the ultimate one night reset, this is it: your chance to linger, slow down, and fully immerse yourself in the estate without feeling rushed.

Welcome to Burrowing Owl Estate: An Okanagan Legacy

For many of our readers, Burrowing Owl Estate Winery needs no introduction. 

Originally planted in 1993 by founders Jim and Midge Wyse, the estate has played a long and storied role in BC’s wine industry. Today, they continue to pave the way for excellence in sustainable winemaking, exceptional hospitality, and locally-focused dining.

From its inception, the Wyse family committed themselves to owning and managing 100% of their vineyards, ensuring a level of control over grape quality as well as sustainable viticultural practices. 

They never cut corners.

The facilities utilized a gravity-flow winery design, which is internationally recognized as one of the gentlest methods for crafting wine; they adopted this model far before others in the valley. Their crush pad sits at the highest level, and then as the wines go through various stages of fermentation, aging, and finally that last journey into the bottle, each step lowers down into the cellar, allowing gravity to do the hard work for them.

Sustainability is almost as big a flagship as the wines themselves.

The estate includes eco-friendly infrastructure, which you’ll witness first-hand when you notice extensive solar panel installations across the property that harness the valley’s abundant sunlight to generate clean energy for their operations. 

They are also deeply committed to protecting native wildlife. The endangered burrowing owls are a core pillar of the winery’s identity, with all tasting fees donated each year towards conservation efforts. 

And perhaps that’s part of what makes a stay here feel a little more meaningful. You’re not simply escaping to the South Okanagan for a night. Instead, you’re spending time at an estate that has spent decades thinking carefully about the land around it, and its place within it.

One Night To Reset: The Guest House Fall Getaway Packages

If you’ve never had the opportunity to experience Burrowing Owl before, their Guest House Fall Getaway Package is the perfect place to start.

Think of it as a way to truly immerse yourself: in the estate, the region, and the season itself. With ten private and spacious south-west facing guest rooms available, as well as a fine dining restaurant, Burrow Owl’s fall package is the perfect excuse to enjoy a one night reset.

Picture peaceful walks through the vineyards as the leaves change colour and harvest action takes place around you. Climb to the top of the tower and learn about the estate through an interactive exhibit. (You can even sneak a peek into the cellar while winemaking takes place in real time.) Afterwards, go for a tasting and get a head start on holiday shopping at the Wine Shop. 

And in the evening, settle down for a three-course harvest meal at The Sonora Room, the estate’s luxurious restaurant. After dinner, soak in the all-season hot tub or wander into The Fireside Lounge where its casual decor offers quiet relaxation. Curl up with a good book or enjoy a glass of wine and hours that linger into the night. 

In the morning, take your coffee with you to your private balcony and watch as the sun lights up the stretching estate vineyards, reaching across the valley and into Osoyoos. And lastly, enjoy a delightful “wine country” continental breakfast served with gracious, smiling hospitality.

By the time your car rolls back down the hill, you’ll find yourself refreshed, relaxed, and perhaps wondering why you don’t do this more often.

Because sometimes, one night away really is enough to feel like you’ve been somewhere.

The Guest House Fall Getaway Package Includes:

• One-night stay in a King Room on Thursdays OR Sundays in November 2026, based on double occupancy
• A harvest 3-course set menu dinner for two
• A continental breakfast

Of course, the fall getaway package is not the only way to experience Burrowing Owl this fall…

The Harvest Long Table Dinner Returns

Can you picture a better way to celebrate the harvest than with a long table dinner?

Later this month, The Sonora Room will launch their Harvest Long Table Dinners: six special Wednesday evenings that showcase some of British Columbia’s most exceptional food purveyors. Our team at Editors’ Picks had the luxury to attend their earlier series in February, where each plate blew us away with the level of sophistication and intention behind each dish.

These dinners are slow, leisurely, and intimate. 

As each plate arrives, chefs and the winery team give a short introduction that highlights the stories behind the wines: their culinary ethos, the intention behind sustainable practices, and how regional ingredients pair with estate-grown wines.

After all, great wine deserves a great meal to match.

And for us, that’s what stood out about these dinners. The food, wine, setting, and hospitality all came together around one table. 

As Burrowing Owl says, “Highlighting what is available to us in our own community, helps expand our knowledge of what is possible. And set against the breathtaking backdrop of our Oliver vineyards, the experience offers a rare opportunity to slow down, build meaningful social connections, and celebrate the Okanagan harvest at one unforgettable, communal table.”

Event dates and highlighted food purveyors are:

• October 21st: Klippers Organics of Cawston
• October 28th: LocalMotive of Summerland
• November 4th: Gold River Beef of Pemberton
• November 11th: Cod Fathers Seafood of Kelowna
• November 18th: Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry of Chilliwack
• November 25th: Upper Bench Creamery of Penticton

With just forty seats at each dinner, the experience remains intentionally intimate: one communal table, a shared meal, and a chance to experience harvest at a slower pace.

When Dinner Turns Into a Night Away: Sonora Room Stay and Dine Deals

If you have the pleasure of attending a Harvest Long Table Dinner and find yourself wishing you could linger a little longer, you can. Burrowing Owl offers a special Say and Dine rate for dinner guests who choose to spend the night at the Guest House.

And just like that, dinner becomes a night away.

With only eleven rooms at the Guest House, availability is limited, so it’s worth checking ahead if an overnight stay is part of your plans. 

This deal is a great way to experience how their sustainability, environmentally-friendly farming practices, and warm hospitality all come together holistically. You slow down, connect, and immerse yourself in the region’s beauty, while simultaneously deepening your relationship with the estate itself. 

“We hope every guest leaves with a profound sense of connection to the land and our passion, feeling truly cherished by our warm, unhurried hospitality,” says Burrowing Owl. “Ultimately, we want them to carry away the quiet assurance that they have experienced something authentic and exceptional, leaving with memories that draw them back to our estate for years to come.”

The Art of Staying a Little Longer

Maybe that’s the luxury of the South Okanagan in autumn. Not doing more, but having the time to do less.

To sit through the last course. To order another glass. To stay the night instead of driving home. To wake up among the vines with nowhere you need to be, just here, in the present moment.

Burrowing Owl has been part of this landscape for more than three decades. And while much has changed around it, the reason to come here feels remarkably simple.

Come for dinner. Stay for the night. And let autumn take its time.

Xx,

Your Okanagan Curators