Where to find the best wine tour lunch or dinner

A wine tour in Kelowna can be one of the most memorable things you ever do! The Okanagan Valley has so many amazing wineries that it can be difficult to choose which ones to visit. This post highlights some of the best winery restaurants in Kelowna for wine tour lunches and dinners. Also, well as some other ideas for wine tour packages in Kelowna! Keep reading below!

Having a wine tours with lunch

Kelowna Wine Tours can include a stop at winery restaurants. If you’re organizing a private you may consider selecting a restaurant for a lunch stop along the route. A wine tour company will already have a favorite restaurant that they know can reliably host tour groups. It’s usually in your best interest to defer to their judgment when choosing a restaurant on your own. Tour companies deal with booking a good reservation time and figuring out when it will work within your schedule. If you don’t choose a restaurant recommended, don’t judge the quality of your tour based on a bad experience.

Do you really want to have lunch while doing your wine tour?

Here are the main takeaways:

With a stop at winery restaurants and have food with wine, you make informed decisions about the wine bought there. A full stomach before you start wine tasting at subsequent wineries also affects your experience. Wine us usually consumed with food. You can relax because your wine tour guide is keeping you on schedule and has planned the itinerary lunch included . By eating food on your fist stop on the wine tour, you’ll be able to avoid intoxication. In a lunch wine tour, you’ll probably be consuming more wine. The tour could also end up costing much more. It’s not uncommon to find a $20 bottle of wine in a wine shop. Then you see the same bottle of wine for $60 on a restaurant’s wine list.

In your research you have probably read a lot about doing lunch on your wine tours. I’m not suggesting that you skip lunch but I am suggesting that having a full stomach at lunch time will allow you to enjoy all of your tastings more. The alternative to having lunch on the tour is to have it before. An afternoon tour that picks up after lunch or at least a late brunch may work for you.

In any event it is better to consume wine after eating.  Have a full stomach to avoid getting tipsy during the tour. Buy that extra bottle or two of wine on the tour and enjoy it later, it will be much less than ordering a bottle during lunch. If considering lunch before, we have some ideas for you, then see:  Kelowna’s Top Breakfast and Lunch Spots

Now for some excellent winery restaurants

Block One / 50th Parallel Estate Winery

Block One. This state-of-the-art and aesthetically beautiful winery and restaurant, located on a gorgeous hillside in Lake Country. Block One offers breathtaking vistas, a dynamic, premium ambience, and an inexhaustible supply of their signature Pinot Noir . Chef Kai Koroll continues to create locally inspired delicacies that will leave you speechless. A constantly changing meal, vegetables derived from their own grape estate, and breathtaking vistas round out the experience. To get the most out of your experience, we highly recommend checking out their large range of library wines to complement your meal! Reservations are strongly advised, since walk-ins might be difficult during busy season.

This winery is located in Lake Country in a location which is quite far north of Kelowna on Okanagan Lake. Not all Kelowna based wine tour companies will provide transportation to this area.

Garden Bistro / O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars

The Garden Bistro at O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars, located in the middle of their Vineyard in Lake Country. They routinely produces fresh cuisine that hit the palate with a wide assortment of flavours. The Garden Bistro is a popular stop for visitors to Lake Country, British Columbia’s wine area. Their wine range and cheery ambiance complement each other nicely. Fresh food from their gardens, floor-to-ceiling windows in their dining room. A patio with stunning views of the vineyard all contribute to a classy yet relaxed dining experience. Don’t miss out on their fresh homemade desserts and tantalising daily promotions!

Home Block / Cedar Creek Winery

The dramatic design and exquisite embellishments of Home Block Restaurant, located along Kelowna’s Lakeshore Wine Route, are difficult to ignore. Home Block Restaurant continues to impress, with its 100-year-old salvaged barn wood construction and an emphasis on cuisine. Pair this with their enormous wine collection. Chef Neil Taylor’s seasonal set meals with balanced wine pairings, delectable homemade desserts, and a modern, yet nostalgic setting. Home Block a good choice for a vineyard lunch or dinner experience.

Modest Butcher / Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery

The Modest Butcher restaurant at Mt. Boucherie vineyard in West Kelowna is an obvious pick for the top 5 winery restaurants in Kelowna. The Modest Butcher regularly provides hearty meals with a wonderful combination of winery classics and food for the soul. They support meat farmers with a focus on Okanagan grown meat and ingredients. We recommend the “Butchers Burger” or “Braised Beef Poutine.” You can’t go wrong with this. While their wine range is amazing, including wines from their sister winery, their cocktail menu is as so!

Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery is located on the West Kelowna wine route. A popular route for people staying in Kelowna it is only a 15 to 20 minute commute from Kelowna hotels. Red Dog Wine tours offers private tours with the option to stop for lunch at this winery. If doing an afternoon tour, Red Dog can arrange a drop off at this restaurant for dinner. Afternoon tours end at 5:30 to 6 pm reservation. Call Red Dog Wine Tours for details.

Old Vines Restaurant / Quail’s Gate Estate Winery

West Kelowna’s Old Vines Restaurant, a real “farm to table” culinary experience. It is a preferred choice for guests searching for a classic vineyard dining experience. Old Vines focuses wine, creating an extensive menu of well-paired meals lovingly prepared by an award-winning culinary staff. Chef Roger Sleiman focuses on traditional wine region cuisine made using locally obtained ingredients. Set among the famed vineyards of the Quail’s Gate winery, the environment is warm. With service and attention to detail, which continue to dominate the wine business!

Quails Gate Estate Winery is located on the West Kelowna wine route. This is a popular route for people staying in Kelowna and is only a 20 minute commute to Kelowna hotels. Red Dog Wine tours offers private tours with the option to stop for lunch at this winery. If doing an afternoon tour, Red Dog can arrange a drop off at this restaurant for dinner after the tour, a 5:15 to 5:45 pm reservation. Call Red Dog Wine Tours for details .

Also see: The Best Kelowna Grand Tour