Written for Kelowna Guide Magazine by – Dave Dmytryshyn
Why take a guided wine tour in Kelowna? Give yourself a holiday within a holiday.
Why? You won’t get lost on all those beautiful, but curvy and often poorly marked, back roads. You will not have to be a designated driver! Be aware that impaired driving rules are stricter in BC than elsewhere – it’s 0.5 here. Best of all, you can sit back and relax and let someone else navigate in a luxury, air conditioned van with lots of room to store your wine. It’s completely stress free!
A tour company can show you the special hidden gems, the new, the historic and the ‘tried and true’ wineries to visit. Sip old and new world varieties, try the Okanagan’s crisp whites and perhaps taste Ice Wine, a BC specialty.
Your professional guide maps out where to go first and last, because he knows who is open early and late. Tap into this local knowledge; let the pros do the legwork. We offer a variety of tours to choose from. Can’t decide which winery to visit? Guided Winery Tours Operators choose the ones that offer the best experience.
Note that there can be a difference between a custom tour and a private one. If you want the vehicle to yourself you may have to pay more when you choose the option to book the entire tour. The large Sprinter van holds 11 passengers but smaller groups of 5 or 6 passengers or less can be accommodated on a private tour. If you are considering this option phone us to make arrangements and get the right price. Private tours are available for morning or afternoon pickup (the Afternoon Wine Tour).
If you have something specific in mind ask for a private and customized tour, we describe may wine routes on the website. Since these tours require booking an entire van the availability of a vehicle will be more restricted. When booking a private tour you typically have to book well in advance. The fastest way to find out if your date is available is to go online and select a private tour on you date. The system will tell you if it is available at that moment.
You can book on line or by phoning us. We’ll pick you up at your hotel, rented condo, or B & B at a time we confirm 2 hours prior to pickup. We will keep you safe and return you home without having to do any driving. This is a chance to meet other people on your tour from around the world and make the most of your time. Go home happy with all the right wines and the bragging rights.
Afternoon Wine Tours may be the best option for you. Pickup from the hotel is typically around 1 pm to 1:30 pm, allowing you to sleep in or do something else in the morning. Plus you can choose where to have lunch before the tour starts. These tours typically run 3.5 to 4.5 hours and are less expensive. You visit the same number of wineries, usually 4 and sometimes 5, as you would in a day tour. Because of the shorter duration of the tour and doing all your wine tasting after lunch, guests will be less tired than on a day tour and more likely to enjoy another outing in the evening. With the mornings free, you can enjoy a visit to the beach, shopping or other activities before the tour. Red Dog Wine Tour afternoon tours can be booked the same day and up to 30 minutes before pickup times start at 12:30 pm. Book online or call 1-866-477-5266.
Let our professional guide with local knowledge take you around to our Kelowna wineries, give you the story on each winery and Kelowna’s wine industry and local history and be your designated driver. You just can’t beat it!
By Dave at Red Dog Wine Tours
Book online with Red Dog Wine Tours
Winery Dress Code: Do You Have to Dress Nice?
While there’s no strict dress code, opting for a dressier casual style adds to the enjoyment of a winery visit. Consider a floral or mini dress paired with comfortable sandals. For private groups, themed dressing can add an extra layer of fun to the experience. Find more tips on winery attire here.