Which wineries will we be visiting?
On a Red Dog public Kelowna wine tour, we visit 4 wineries. We choose the wineries and route with the goal of creating a varied, enjoyable afternoon rather than simply trying to visit as many tasting rooms as possible.
The exact wineries on a public tour can change. Winery availability, seasonal operations, new wineries, special events and our experience with what works well for guests can all influence the route. We therefore don’t promise a fixed list of four wineries for every tour date.
How do we choose the wineries?
We look for wineries that provide a good overall experience for a group tour. That can include the quality and variety of the wines, the tasting experience, the setting, the staff, the time available for the group and how well the winery fits into the day’s route.
- Variety — We want the four stops to give you an opportunity to experience different wines, styles and winery personalities.
- A good tasting experience — The tasting room and staff need to be able to accommodate our guests without making the experience feel rushed.
- Scenery and atmosphere — Wine country is about more than what’s in the glass. Views, vineyards, patios and the character of the winery all contribute to the experience.
- A practical route — We don’t want guests spending their afternoon sitting in the van. Choosing wineries that work well together geographically allows more time for tasting and enjoying the stops.
- Reliability — We work with wineries that can accommodate our scheduled groups and provide the type of experience we want our guests to have.
Why only 4 wineries?
Four wineries gives us enough variety without turning the afternoon into a race against the clock. We generally allow approximately an hour at each winery, including the tasting, presentation, questions and time to browse or purchase wine.
If you’d like to understand the reasoning behind the four-stop format, see How Many Wineries Do We Visit? and How Long Does a Winery Tasting Take on a Kelowna Wine Tour?.
What is the tasting experience like?
Each winery provides its own tasting experience, so the number of wines and the format can vary. Our tour is designed to give you time to taste, learn about the wines, ask questions and enjoy the winery rather than rushing through multiple stops.
For a broader look at what to expect, see our Ultimate Guide to Wine Tasting in Kelowna, British Columbia.
Can I request specific wineries?
Private tours give you the most flexibility. If there are particular wineries you want to visit, a private tour allows us to build the itinerary around your preferences, subject to winery availability and the practicalities of the route.
Use our Private Wine Tour Planner to start designing a customized itinerary.
If you’ve travelled with Red Dog before and would like to experience different wineries on a future private tour, let us know. We can discuss the options when planning your itinerary.
Want to research the wineries yourself?
KelownaGuide’s article How Do I Choose the Right Wineries for a Kelowna Wine Tour? explains what to consider when choosing wineries, including the type of experience you want, location, tasting style and how many stops you can realistically fit into a day.
If you’re interested specifically in the West Kelowna route, our guide to planning a Kelowna and Okanagan wine tour provides additional information about the wine-country experience, costs, what to wear and planning your day.
House of Rose / Kelowna Wine Culture also has an Ultimate Guide to the Westside Wine Trail in West Kelowna, with information about the wineries and character of the route.
House of Rose also maintains a broader Kelowna Area Wine Route Map if you’re comparing different wine regions around Kelowna.
What if a winery isn’t available?
Wine country changes. A winery may have seasonal hours, be fully booked, close for a private event or simply not be the right fit for the day’s route. When that happens, we may substitute another winery that provides a similar or better overall experience.
That’s why we recommend thinking of the tour as an experience rather than a promise of four specific tasting rooms. Our job is to put together a route that works well on the day you visit.
The bottom line
We don’t choose wineries simply because they appear on a list of the “best wineries in Kelowna.” We choose them based on the experience they can provide our guests and how well they work together as part of a relaxed afternoon.
Book Your Afternoon Kelowna Wine Tour →
Want to choose your own wineries? Design a Private Wine Tour →
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