How do you get around wineries in Kelowna?
How Do You Get Around Wineries in Kelowna?
The easiest way to get around Kelowna wineries is with a guided wine tour. Wineries are spread across several wine regions around Kelowna and West Kelowna, so having a professional driver handle the transportation lets you concentrate on the wine, scenery and experience rather than navigation and driving.
There are several ways to get around wine country, including taking a guided tour, driving yourself, using rideshare services or arranging private transportation. The best option depends on your group, budget and how much planning you want to do.
Why Take a Guided Wine Tour?
A guided wine tour takes care of the transportation and route planning so you don’t have to worry about driving between tasting rooms.
- No designated driver needed — Your professional guide handles the driving while everyone in your group can participate in the tastings.
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off — Red Dog picks guests up from hotels, B&Bs, vacation rentals and residences within our designated Kelowna and West Kelowna service area.
- No route planning — You don’t have to work out the order of the wineries, calculate driving times or coordinate reservations between stops.
- Comfortable transportation — Red Dog uses Mercedes passenger vans, including our Sprinter and Metris, depending on the group and tour.
- A more relaxed experience — You can enjoy the scenery and conversation instead of watching the road or worrying about parking.
If you’re wondering what the actual experience is like, see What to Expect on a Wine Tour in Kelowna.
What Are the Other Ways to Get Around Kelowna Wine Country?
A guided tour isn’t the only option. If you prefer to plan your own day, there are several alternatives.
- Drive yourself — Renting a car gives you the most control over your schedule, but someone in your group needs to remain a designated driver. You’ll also need to plan your route, reservations and driving times.
- Rideshare or taxi — These can work for individual trips, but arranging transportation between several wineries can be less convenient than having a vehicle and driver waiting for you throughout the afternoon.
- Private transportation — A private vehicle and driver can be a good option for groups that want their own itinerary and more flexibility.
- Bike or e-bike — Cycling can be enjoyable in some wine regions, but distances, hills, traffic and the amount of wine you plan to taste need to be considered carefully.
Should I Drive Myself to the Wineries?
You can drive yourself, but you should plan your day around having a designated driver who does not drink. Wineries are not all located close together, and a self-guided tour requires you to manage the driving as well as the tasting schedule.
If you are interested in planning your own route, our guide to How to Plan a Self-Guided Wine Tour in Kelowna explains what to consider when choosing wineries, planning your route and scheduling your tastings.
How Does Transportation Affect the Wine Tour Experience?
Transportation is more than simply getting from one winery to another. The amount of time spent driving, the order of your stops and how much time you have at each winery can make a significant difference to your afternoon.
A well-planned wine tour gives you enough time to enjoy each tasting without constantly watching the clock. Red Dog’s standard public afternoon tour visits four wineries and generally allows approximately an hour at each stop.
That’s one reason we don’t recommend trying to fit as many wineries as possible into a single afternoon. How Many Wineries Do We Visit? explains why four winery experiences can provide a more relaxed day than rushing through a larger number of stops.
Is a Guided Wine Tour Worth It?
For many visitors, the biggest advantage of a guided wine tour is convenience. You don’t have to decide who will drive, find parking at every winery, calculate driving times or keep track of the route.
You’re also getting more than transportation. A guided tour combines the driver, route planning, winery scheduling and local knowledge into one experience.
For a broader explanation of the advantages, read Why Take a Guided Wine Tour?.
You can also read Is a Kelowna Wine Tour Worth the Money? on KelownaGuide for a broader look at what you’re paying for when you choose a guided wine tour.
What Transportation Does Red Dog Wine Tours Provide?
Red Dog Wine Tours provides transportation in comfortable Mercedes passenger vans. Our Sprinter is used for larger groups, while the Metris is well suited to smaller private groups.
Guests are picked up from their accommodation or residence within our service area and returned at the end of the tour, so you don’t need to arrange transportation to a central meeting point.
The goal is simple: you enjoy the wine country while we handle the driving.
People also asked: What to Expect on a Wine Tour in Kelowna?