Burrowing Owl Estate Winery - Oliver, British Columbia

Y R.

Tout est haut de gamme. Les chambres sont très spacieuses, avec une vraie terrasse vue sur les vignes et la piscine pour déguster la bouteille offerte. Le restaurent est exceptionnel, la meilleure table en 8 jours depuis notre départ de Vancouver.

Brad L.

We went for dinner at the winery and had an excellent meal. Our server was delightful, and very knowledgeable to help us make winery and food selections. The views from the patio were we had our meal are really amazing and we would definitely come back.

Also they had many GF options on the menu for folks w celiac disease

Erin S.

We recently had the pleasure of visiting Burrowing Owl Winery in Osoyoos, BC, and it was an amazing experience. The wine tasting was exceptional, and Victoria, our guide, provided such detailed and insightful explanations of each wine. Her knowledge was so thorough that I felt confident I could do a blind taste test and still recognize the different wines.

One of the standout aspects of the visit was that the tasting fee is a donation to the winery's Burrowing Owl program. This initiative supports the conservation of the burrowing owl, making the experience not only enjoyable but also meaningful.

Overall, the combination of excellent wines, detailed explanations, and a charitable cause made for a memorable visit. I highly recommend stopping by Burrowing Owl Winery if you're in the area.

giovanni C.

Another lovely stay at Burrowing Owl!
Lovely, large and super clean room with all the amenities. Wonderful dining at an amazing long table French themed dinner. Such great tastes with unique twists on the cuisine(a french onion soup raviolo!) and fantastic service from everyone on the team. Close to so many other experiences but you get to feel like you’re getting away from it all in the serenity of the vineyard. The folks in the wineshop are so informative and friendly!!

Y J.

Went to the restaurant for lunch on June 1. Seated behind us was an elderly gentleman with a younger man, possibly his son, in his 40s perhaps. They seemed like a nice duo and were having a quiet conversation while having lunch. The elderly gentleman accidentally tipped his wine glass over spilling most of his red wine on the table, the floor and his feet. Though staff were helpful with the clean up, their server almost sounded condescending when the younger gentleman asked if it would be possible to get the glass topped up. I don’t remember her exact wording, but she informed them that they were welcome to purchase a new glass of wine. I understand businesses need to make a profit, however, if the winery is able to waive a wine tasting fee when one purchases a bottle at the wine shop, I was shocked that they couldn’t top up this man’s glass. I asked the men if I had possibly misheard her, but they confirmed my initial interpretation. When they got their bill, which was well over $200, they were still charged for the spilled glass. We were happy to hear that the men did not add a tip as a result.

Though our meal was delicious, having seen and heard this interaction put an extremely bad taste in our mouths and a damper on our experience at the restaurant. We added a minimal tip to our bill as a result and we will not be returning.

Kelly R.

I recently revisited Burrowing Owl Winery and was once again impressed by the exceptional quality of their wines - elegant, well-balanced, and reflective of the region’s finest craftsmanship. However, I still remain apprehensive about dining at their restaurant due to an unfortunate experience many years ago. During that visit, a member of the serving staff responded with thinly veiled contempt when my family expressed interest in enjoying the food without wine, despite having just purchased an entire case moments earlier. In a display of clear irritation, he abruptly cleared the table, snatching up the wine glasses with such force and clamor that it drew the attention of nearby diners. The gesture was unmistakably theatrical and left us feeling both disrespected and unwelcome. His attitude was unnecessarily pretentious and left a lasting impression of condescension, which felt especially out of place given the winery’s otherwise refined reputation. While that individual may no longer be with the establishment, it was disappointing to be met with such discourtesy in an environment that should embody hospitality and grace. That said, the wine continues to be truly outstanding.

Sian L.

If going for a tasting experience, I would skip. The tasting room is small with nowhere to sit. The staff inside the tasting room are super friendly and helpful.

I briefly went into the restaurant to check if they do seated tastings, unfortunately I was ignored for a while and was eventually greeted in an unfriendly manner. I would recommend putting up some clear signs to say tastings are not done in the restaurant so people don't have to ask.

PAUL C.

Beautiful Property, Exceptional Staff—But One Jarring Experience Left a Lasting Mark

My partner and I recently stayed at the Burrowing Owl Estate Winery & Guest House, and while the property remains as beautiful as ever—with stunning vineyard views and luxurious accommodations—our most recent experience was unfortunately overshadowed by one deeply disappointing interaction.

Let me start by saying this:
• The check-in staff were excellent—warm, professional, and efficient.
• The housekeeping and maintenance team were friendly and incredibly helpful, clearly taking pride in their work.
• The room was immaculate, the views were breathtaking, and overall, the guest house still lives up to its reputation, for the most part.

However, our breakfast experience was uncomfortable and disheartening.

When I arrived at the breakfast room, I was greeted by the breakfast manager, who made a point of announcing that she had worked there for 9 years (though I heard her tell another guest it was 8—so the jury’s out). I was hopeful for the same great hospitality we’d experienced the night before.

That hope vanished when my partner—a—younger Filipino man with a degree in hospitality and years of experience working at high-end establishments in Dubai and Qatar—walked in to join me. The manager’s demeanour changed instantly. The warm welcome turned cold. No small talk, no eye contact, no kindness—just a visible shift in energy that felt personal.

We watched as every other table received friendly banter:
“How was your breakfast?”
“I made the jam myself!”
“I’ve been here for 8 (or 9) years—my Boba taught me this recipe.”
But for us? We got a flat “Are you done?” as our plates were whisked away—no warmth, no politeness. It was clear we were being treated differently, and it was upsetting to witness.

To make matters worse, we heard this same manager make a rude, unnecessary comment to another guest buttering her toast:
“Oh my, that’s a lot of butter!” she blurted as she passed by—completely uncalled for and unprofessional.

My partner, who has worked in hospitality in Dubai and Qatar, immediately recognized this kind of treatment as a red flag. He also left his own review of the incident here, which I encourage you to read for additional context.

Burrowing Owl is still a special place to us. Most of the staff were outstanding. But no matter how stunning the setting, hospitality is ultimately about people—and one individual’s dismissive, biased behavior has a way of tarnishing the whole experience. We left feeling judged and unwelcome—something no guest should ever feel, especially at a place of this caliber.

We sincerely hope management reads this and takes it seriously. You have a world-class destination here. Please ensure every guest is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.