Are Kelowna wineries open for tasting?
Are Kelowna Wineries Open for Tasting?
Yes — most Kelowna and West Kelowna wineries offer wine tastings during the main wine-tour season. Tasting rooms are generally busiest and have the most regular hours from spring through fall, but each winery sets its own schedule.
Hours and tasting availability can vary depending on the winery and the time of year. Smaller, family-run wineries may have shorter hours, require reservations, or reduce their hours toward the beginning and end of the season. Some wineries also have different hours on weekends and holidays.
When Are Kelowna Wineries Usually Open?
- May and June — The wine-tour season is underway, with many tasting rooms open regularly as the vineyards turn green and the summer season approaches.
- July and August — This is the busiest time of year, with wineries generally operating their full summer schedules.
- September and October — Harvest season is one of the most exciting times to visit. Many tasting rooms remain open, although individual hours can change as the season winds down.
- November through April — This is the off-season for many wineries. Some remain open with reduced hours or by appointment, while others close temporarily.
If you’re visiting Kelowna during the winter, don’t assume that a winery’s summer schedule continues through the off-season. Read Are Kelowna Wineries Open in the Winter? for more information about winter tasting availability.
Do I Need a Reservation for a Wine Tasting?
Some wineries accept walk-in visitors, while others require or strongly recommend reservations. This can also depend on the size of your group and how busy the winery is that day.
If you’re visiting several wineries in one afternoon, arranging your tastings in advance is the easiest way to avoid arriving somewhere that cannot accommodate you. That’s one of the advantages of taking a guided wine tour.
What Happens on a Kelowna Wine Tour?
When you take a guided wine tour, you don’t have to organize each tasting appointment, figure out the driving route or decide who will be the designated driver.
With Red Dog Wine Tours, we arrange the winery visits in advance and provide transportation between stops. Our standard public afternoon tour visits four wineries, allowing approximately an hour at each stop so you have time to enjoy the tasting rather than rushing from one winery to the next.
For a better idea of what the experience is like, read What to Expect on a Wine Tour in Kelowna.
You can also learn why our public tours focus on four stops in How Many Wineries Will You Visit on a Wine Tour?.
What If I Want to Visit a Specific Winery?
If you are planning your own winery visit, check the winery’s current tasting hours and reservation requirements before you go. Hours can change seasonally, and some wineries may have limited availability for larger groups.
If visiting specific wineries is important to you, a private wine tour gives you considerably more flexibility to discuss your preferred wineries and itinerary with us, subject to winery availability.
Use Our Private Wine Tour Planner →
Can I Just Walk Into a Winery?
Sometimes, but it’s not something we recommend assuming. Walk-in availability depends on the winery, the season, the day of the week and how busy the tasting room is.
During the busy summer months, reservations can be particularly helpful. If you’re trying to visit several wineries in one afternoon, coordinating individual reservations can also become difficult because you need to allow enough time for each tasting and the drive between locations.
Is It Easier to Take a Wine Tour?
For many visitors, yes. A guided wine tour takes care of the transportation and winery schedule so you can concentrate on the tasting experience.
Red Dog provides pickup and drop-off within our designated Kelowna and West Kelowna service area, transportation between wineries, a professional guide and the standard tasting fees included with the tour.
People also asked: How Many Tastings Are Included on a Red Dog Wine Tour?
Planning your visit? When Should You Go to a Kelowna Vineyard?