Winery tours
Get on the bus, explore various wineries and sample their wares without worrying about driving
You don’t have to be a wine snob to enjoy a guided tour of Okanagan wineries. It’s an excellent way to see the gorgeous scenery and get some history and gossip about the various vintners. Of course tasting the wine is the best part and when you don’t have to drive, you can really get into the tasting. I am told the conversations in the tour vans become more animated as the tours progress.
With more than 90 wineries in the Okanagan, most with VQA status, the tour guides provide valuable expertise in choosing which ones to visit while still offering options to the visitor. When you go, you discover how the micro climates affect the grapes, how sun- soaked vineyards of the Golden Mile on the west side of the lake produce a more robust wine than the lighter wines of the Black Sage east bench. Both win awards.
Some companies offer at least one tour of a whole winery and tastings at others. Some stop at a winery bistro for lunch while others stop at fruit stands or cheese enterprises. Comfortable vans are standard.
Here’s a sampling of what is available.
EXPERIENCE WINE TOURS
Phone: 866- 826- 8687 Info: experiencewinetours. ca Operated by a husband and wife who are both sommelier- educated and have many years in the hospitality industry. They have four different tours lasting five to eight hours with prices ranging from $ 99 to $ 155 per person. They all include a gourmet picnic lunch and a visit to an artisan cheese shop, fruit stand or farm. The tour guide/ driver has wine expertise and remains with the group at the wineries.
UNCORKED WINE TOURS
Phone: 250- 769- 3123, 888- 887- 5467 Info: uncorkedokanagan. com Run by a husband and wife with many years in the hospitality industry. Six tours ranging from five hours visiting five wineries for $ 99 to six- hours and six wineries for $ 159. Price includes venue fees and tax. They have special deals on certain days and will arrange custom tours. Lunch included in some tours only.
LET’S GO TOURS
Phone: 778- 821- 0101, Info: letsgotransportation. ca Tours are offered in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. They have four tours priced from $ 55 for a three- hour family tour to an all- day premium tour for $ 125. They also offer three- hour private tours for $ 55 per person. Prices do not include tasting or tour fees. Lunch is at your expense.
DISTINCTLY KELOWNA
Phone: 250- 979- 1211 Info: distinctlykelownatours. ca Six tours ranging from two to eight and a half hours. Prices range from $ 80 to $ 269, including venue or tasting fees. They also have specialty tours such as ATV winery tours with or without an additional zipline experience, or a downtown tour of a brewing company, distillery and a large winery. The West Bench tour of three wineries costs $ 95 for five and a half hours. Lunch is at your own expense.
DISCOVER OKANAGAN
Phone: 1- 800- 797- 6335 Info: discoverokanagantours. com Four tours ranging in price from $ 79 to $ 105. Most include full tours of one winery and tastings at a minimum of four others. Hotel pickup and drop- off is available and there is a stop for lunch at your expense. A range of vans can carry 7, 12 and 14 passengers.
DESERT COUNTRY WINE TOURS
Phone: 250- 498- 7316 Info: desertcountrywinetours. com Based in the southern Okanagan, and offers three, four and five- hour tours in a 14- passenger van with a knowledgeable tour guide/ owner. Tours can be designed to fit your group’s preferences with lunch at your expense. Hotel pickup and drop- off. Prices from $ 59/ three hours to $ 112/ full day.