Written by Gurjit Ghai, REALTOR®
Rexara Realty Inc.·Published: September 8, 2026·Water Rights
In the Okanagan, water is the asset that makes the land productive. It's an irrigation-dependent region in a water-stressed basin, so a parcel's licensed water allocation under the BC Water Sustainability Act often determines how much land can actually be farmed — which makes water rights one of the strongest drivers of value on a vineyard or orchard.
Two vineyards with identical soil and aspect can be worth very different amounts if one has secure, older-priority irrigation and the other doesn't. That's why I always verify the licence status, allocation volume, priority date, and irrigation-district allocation before a client relies on a vineyard's productivity.
A winery or liquor licence is a separate question — those are granted to a person and premises and don't automatically transfer with a sale. For anyone seriously evaluating an Okanagan vineyard, water comes first, then the winery licence, then the vines. Our Water Rights guide covers the framework.
Important: This answer is general professional guidance for educational purposes and is not legal, tax, financial or regulatory advice. ALR rules, water licensing, zoning and farm-classification requirements can change and depend on your specific property. Always verify with the relevant BC authorities and qualified professionals before making decisions.
Gurjit Ghai, REALTOR®
Personal Real Estate Corporation
Brokerage: Rexara Realty Inc.
Gurjit Ghai is a BC real estate professional specializing in agricultural land, ALR properties, and farm operations across British Columbia. He helps buyers and sellers navigate water rights, soil capability, farm classification, and the unique due diligence that farmland transactions require.