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How to choose the best Kelowna wine tour company to ensure your group has an awesome fun day? This isn’t as simple as one might think. You google Kelowna wine tours and you get over 2 million results! It sure can be overwhelming! Let’s start at the top. The first 3 results on google are usually paid for Google adverts that rotate throughout the day based on a businesses advertising budget. Then you have the biggest companies that can afford to spend lots of money to have various articles published about them so they rank higher on Google's proprietary SEO. Trip Advisor, and Tourism Kelowna for example. Then you have the top 5 wine tour companies in the area. This is where we always aim to be by providing excellent service that you feel compelled to shout about on social media, and through customer reviews on Tripadvisor and Google. Since 2017 we've toured several thousand guests every year throughout the Okanagan, and experience counts in the hospitality business. Awards & Reviews Tripadvisor, Google, Facebook and Yelp all have highly sophisticated security and fraud prevention in place to prevent fake reviews and are a good way to determine in advance if your wine tour company delivers a great service and experience. A tip is to read the bad reviews first and see if any are recent and relevant. Also, ensure your company of choice has many good recent reviews (within the last 12 months). The Trip Advisor traveller’s choice award is given to the top 10% of companies with recent great reviews each year. Bare Wine Tours has received the travellers choice award every year from 2017-2023. Value vs Cheap One thing to be cautious of is simply choosing a company that offers the cheapest price. Not all wine tours are the same. Often you get what you pay for. Cheaper tours with some companies will likely mean less wine tastings or venues visited. It may also be a very rushed experience. Not many, if any wineries offer cheap or free tastings nowadays, but you can bet if you're on the cheapest tour you could find, then the wine tour company is going to the cheapest or free places only. Licensed and insured Always make sure your chosen wine tour company is licensed appropriately with the Passenger Transport Authority in British Columbia. This ensures the vehicle you are in has been mechanically inspected and passed every 6 months. All their vehicles will have a PT# on them. If not, then they likely aren’t insured appropriately to carry guests. Therefore, if you ever got in an accident and were injured you wouldn’t be covered. Selection of wineries This is your special day in the Okanagan visiting the wineries. You want to ensure you see the very best selection within the time you have. A good wine tour guide and company will recommend their favourite places based on recent experience. This is so valuable! Also, they can customize based on your preferences and occasion e.g. bachelorette. Number of wineries Usually, if you are doing a half day without a lunch or dinner stop you get to visit 4 wineries. If you are doing a full-day with lunch then you will visit 5 wineries. Some wine tour companies are cutting these numbers down to 3 and 4 respectively due to the increase in tasting fees. Be sure to know what your chosen tour offers before booking with your wine tour company of choice. Always compare apples to apples when shopping around. Social Media If your wine tour company is modern and current they will care about their social media presence. Ensure you check out their instagram and facebook pages to get a feel for the vibes of the company. It’s usually a red flag of a lacklustre company if they have a mashed up bunch of themes, stock images and content. Shortlist those that have recent footage and photos of people on wine tours having fun. The best guides At Bare Wine Tours we hire after asking ourselves the simple question of would we want to spend the day with this person? A wine tour guide can be just a driver, grumpy and maybe even rude. However, if you want an exceptional day in the Okanagan you will want a guide who loves their job and is excited to show you the best places in the area. They are socially aware of when to give you space, when you want to learn, and when you need great service or help. By the end of the day you should want their number to stay in touch and request them the next time you’re on a wine tour in Kelowna. Vehicle quality There are all types of vehicles!. Ensure you choose a company with modern vehicles appropriate for your group size. All our vehicles are pristinely cleaned daily, are climate controlled, have spotify for your music selection, and are very comfortable. They have lots of space for your group and your wine. Remember they should have a PT# and a recent commercial inspection sticker in the window to show they are mechanically sound and insured. Customer service This is ultimately what you are paying for, and it should not be underestimated. If you send an email inquiry and you don’t get a response within 2-3 business hours, you have to question whether they care right off the hop. When you ask questions, are they friendly, and do they answer them accordingly? If not, it’s unlikely that your guide on the day will be any better!

If I had to plan the best Kelowna Wine Tour knowing what I know now, this is what I would do: Consider the geography: Kelowna is spread out. One winery to another in Kelowna can be up to 49 km’s. That’s easily an hour in summer traffic. It’s best to plan your wine tasting day around one particular area, and reduce the amount of time spent in the vehicle commuting. Admittedly, it’s hard to choose between the 3 wine regions of Kelowna, and each has their own appeal and rewards. However, time is often against us all and should be a consideration. The 3 areas to consider are: 1. West Kelowna (18 wineries) 10 minutes from downtown 2. East Kelowna & Lakeshore (14 wineries) 15 minutes from downtown 3. Lake Country (7 wineries) - 25 minutes from downtown Consider the quantity: I don’t recommend visiting more than 5 in a day. Your taste buds can tire like any other muscle on your body. You just can’t tell the difference past a certain point, and I’ve tasted a lot of wine! (I’m not an olympic wine taster, but I think I’d at least hold my own in the minors.) Consider the quality: The price of wine tasting fees varies from one winery to another and you can expect the experience to vary accordingly. If you want a comfortable seated wine tasting where you can learn more about the winery and the wines you may need to pay more for an elevated experience ($25 to $40/tasting). If you want to see a volcanic wine cellar and behind the scenes of the wine making process you should expect to pay over $75/tasting. If you want to taste some highly awarded and rare wines from a library along with maybe a food pairing you should expect to pay hundreds of dollars per guest. These experiences are rare and not offered by many of the wineries. If you pay only $10 for a tasting you should temper your expectations to a standing tasting at a bar where your server may be serving more than one group at a time. Consider safety: I highly recommend using one of the many great wine tour companies in Kelowna. For example, on a full day wine tour with Bare Wine Tours you will visit 5 wineries and this usually equates to about 20 - 25 tastings. The average tasting pour is 2 ounces, and a bottle of wine contains 24 ounces. So, if you do the math, you potentially drink about 2 bottles of wine! Granted, this is spread out over a whole day, but no one should be drinking and driving after that amount of wine. Consider your stamina: For sure, it’s not exactly work drinking and socializing with friends but it’s tiring and that volume of wine will even affect the biggest and baddest. Therefore, it’s important to maintain your stamina and enjoy snacks throughout the adventure. That’s why Bare Wine Tours ensures that guides offer complimentary snacks such as cheese, chocolate, chips, and bread throughout the day. Picking a good lunch stop along the way also ensures you recharge for the final stretch of wineries. Consider what to wear: I’m certainly no fashionista, but if it’s a rare occasion that you get together with your friends for a celebration, why not coordinate a theme of some sort so that the photos will stand the test of time. It doesn’t need to be outrageous, and if that’s the route you're taking, we would encourage you to let the wine tour company or wineries in on your plans. You wouldn’t want the disappointment and risk of getting turned away from certain wineries where a flamboyant theme may be banned. A good wine tour company will know the wineries that are accepting and those that aren’t. You can still be classy and have a theme also. A simple colour, or dress, or summer hat theme can also be fun and allows your group access to many more wonderful wineries.

Kelowna Wineries Scoundrel - Crown & Thieves is the home to Jason Parkes. Maybe it’s the juxtaposition of the life he lives as a winemaker, and a rock band frontman that lends to the variety of the Jason Parkes owned experiences. One thing is certain, there is a growing interest among Okanagan visitors and locals to explore all he has created. The story is that Jason was a ramblin’ man who, when struggling to make ends meet as a rock musician, stumbled into what was to become his big break with Hainle Vineyards. One evening last summer, I went to see Jason’s band at the Crown and Thieves and he told the audience about how he started as hired labour, cleaning the tanks and moving lots of materials around. His curiosity and this opportunity allowed him to covertly learn to make wine from the scrap and waste grape juices. He recalled practising many batches over and over until he could eventually pass off some of his samples as actual wine made by the winemaker. That was the spark where it all began. His venture into his own wine label started at The Hatch. A winery that is the “nesting place” of all his new ideas. This location has a rustic, warm, and approachable feeling which has become a hotspot. The Hatch was one of the reasons we started a wine tour business. It has the same ethos as Bare wine tours, that ‘wine tasting shouldn't be stuffy, and formal. There is no wrong or right way to taste wine. It should be a fun, and playful experience that everyone can enjoy.’ When you visit, make sure to ask staff about how the artist Paul Morstad came to put his incredible work on their wine bottle labels. Travelling further into West Kelowna you can visit his Black Swift Vineyards - home to the picturesque nest sculpture, and stunning modern tasting room. Opened in 2021, Crown & Thieves may further encompass the winemaker's body of interests within the European ruin-style winery. This is home to one of top Kelowna Winery restaurants: the rooftop Angel’s Share restaurant headed by Chef James Holmes (of Salt & Brick), typically breaking the rules with all the dishes being served family style to share at each table. In the basement, is a speakeasy (with confessional door) called The Broken Hearts Club - home to cocktails and charcuterie as well as Jason’s Famous band, Proper Man. Wine and music lovers now have a trendy place to gather after their wine tour. Furthering the theme of variety, Truck 59 Ciders also falls under Parkes’ umbrella. A fun, hip, family-friendly hangout, and neighbour to Crown & Thieves. His latest establishment is The Hatching Post brewery which opened in 2022 and offers unique, delicious brews and BBQ with the usual high quality service and unique JPC experience we have come to expect. All Jason Parkes locations can be enjoyed on our West Kelowna Wine Tours.

The good news is you don't need to know how to plan a wine tour bachelorette in Kelowna. Bare Wine Tours has worked with hundreds of maid of honours, and does all the heavy lifting, so that you can focus on all the fun stuff. BWT will provide local expertise on things to do, and places to stay in Kelowna so that your bachelorette weekend is unforgettable in all the right ways. Like any good experience your day needs to be personalized for your audience, and most importantly the bride to be. We can share the things that have worked for our guests in the past, the heartwarming moments and all the little details that add up to memorable good times. Amazing Accommodation It isn’t surprising that Kelowna and the Okanagan have formed quite the reputation for the perfect Canadian weekend away. Picture this: endless reflections of the Okanagan Valley vineyards shimmer on the lake, and set the tone for a relaxing girls weekend away as you pull up to your sensational lake view accommodation. Think the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort, Hotel Eldorado, Manteo Resort, or one of the many luxury AirBnB’s in the area. Experience the best of Okanagan Wine Tours Your weekend just might not feel complete without a day of sipping Okanagan Wine. The bride may be a wine enthusiast or simply just loves wine with friends. Leave the planning to Bare Wine Tours or let BWT know all your special ideas so they can deliver your dream wine tour experience. Explore incredible vineyards in Kelowna, Lake Country, Summerland, Naramata, or further South on the Golden Mile Bench. Vino before Vows! Spice up your weekend with some outdoor adventure Whenever my friends get together for a weekend I think it’s always fun to plan some adventure into your weekend, and riding one of the many amazing trails in Kelowna with an e-bike rental from E-Kruise always satisfies my dopamine needs. A little adrenalin may be just what the doctor ordered before the bride ties the knot. E-Kruise has loads of planned routes where you can cruise with your friends and soak in the sights of the Okanagan Valley. Enjoy a Boat Tour of Okanagan lake in style on a luxury Yacht! Power boats are loud, you can’t enjoy conversations, or dance to music on the waters. The Okanagan Sunshine can be hot. Keep cool, as you cruise the Okanagan Valley to explore views that can only be reached by boat and take advantage of your own personal captain. Top tip: Don’t forget your sun lotion and to drink lots of water! Heat stroke is not fun! Farm-to-fork Food Scene The Okanagan is famous for having the best weather in Canada. Just about anything grows well here and has led to a great farm-to-fork food scene. There are a lot of good choices to ensure the gals are well nourished and ready to embrace the vibrant lakeside nightlife of downtown Kelowna. The Hip Hop brunch at Krafty Kitchen is famous and available on Saturdays and Sundays 9 to 3. For lunch, you simply have to have a reservation at a winery restaurant like the Old Vines Restaurant at Quails Gate, the Angel Share at Crown & Thieves Winery, or Summerhill Pyramid Winery’s Bistro. 2 of the best restaurants downtown for a bachelorette party in the evening are Cactus Club and Earls. Both have lake views, a wide selection of great food, and lots of space for larger parties. Don’t forget to ask if anyone has food allergies in your party and ensure there are options on the menu for them. The best night life in Kelowna I recommend enjoying a night downtown after your wine tour. Be warned, those who go all out the night before the wine tour may end up ruining the main event for everyone. No one enjoys wine tasting hungover! BNA and and Skinny Dukes are two of our favorites for ambience and fun character. No girls weekend is complete without a Spa treatment After a busy day of touring and a night on the town, why not indulge and recharge at Sparkling Hill Resort’s KurSpa Wellness Centre, located between Vernon and Lake country, only a 45 minute drive from downtown Kelowna. If you don’t want to drive there is also a Spa at the Delta Grand Resort. Bride and team bride swag You can go one of two ways here and still keep it classy. I personally like it when the brides team gets goodie bags full of local things you can wear or use on the day but also things you would use or wear after the event also. We recommend checking out OKGN lifestyle. Alternatively, you can get t-shirts just for the bachelorette but still keep it classy. Final top tip for your bachelorette wine tour weekend - Ensure you ask for a complimentary bottle of bubbly with your wine tour! In summary, Kelowna and the Okanagan are the ideal bachelorette destination in Canada. You won’t be disappointed!

If it was my first visit to the Okanagan and I could do only one Kelowna wine tour, I would choose the Bare Wine Tours Private West Kelowna Wine tour with my friends. Like a good mixtape (or Spotify playlist for the younger generation) each song should leave you wanting to hit repeat, but not monotonously merge into each other. Similarly, a good variety of wineries prevents your day from becoming bland. Stop 1 - Mission Hill Family Estate Winery - ‘a grand & glamorous winery’ I think without understanding history, it’s often hard to appreciate the present. Therefore, I’d start my day with what was really one of the main catalysts in the Okanagan becoming a great wine destination. Anthony Von Mandl graduated from UBC and became a successful wine importer in the 1970s before buying Mission Hill in 1981. Just over a decade later the 1992 vintage won international acclaim as the best Chardonnay, cementing the Okanagan as a wine destination. Alternative if unavailable - Quails Gate Estate Winery (Another sophisticated historic winery) Stop 2 - The Hatch - ‘creative, alternative & trendy winery’ In 2015 the Hatch was born, and I believe resonated with a whole new wine tasting cohort. They threw out the rules and etiquette often associated with some more ostentatious wineries. They were the beginning of a more relaxed, fun and hip movement in the Okanagan wine industry. Not afraid to take risks, be different, but still able to produce great wines. Such rapid success has resulted in the growth of another 2 new wineries, a cidery, and a brewery being spun out of the Hatch team within 7 years. Alternative if unavailable - Black swift winery or Crown & Thieves winery (both are also Jason Parkes owned wineries) Stop 3 - Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery - ‘modern, and polished winery’ This historic vineyard and winery built a new modern 15,000 square-foot wine centre, and restaurant in 2020. Named after the West Kelowna historic landmark volcano it has reactivated itself as a hot must visit wine destination. The Modest Butcher provides an excellent casual farm to table dining experience, and we highly recommend it for your lunch stop on your wine tour. The clean lines and new design of the building really take advantage of the views of the Okanagan lake and make for a great experience. Alternative if unavailable - Volcanic Hills Estate Winery Stop 4 - Frind Winery - ‘chill and walk on the beach winery’ The first beachfront winery in North America is the perfect representation of the Okanagan lifestyle. It’s one of the newest wineries in West Kelowna and part of a growing trend of successful entrepreneurs starting wineries in the Okanagan. Markus Frind sold the Plenty of Fish dating app to be more hands-on and merge his family roots in farming with his other passion of technology. Alternative if unavailable - Indigenous World Winery Stop 5 - Off the Grid Organic Winery - ‘earth & animal friendly winery’ One of the very best small family winery experiences awaits you on the latest winery bench of West Kelowna. The Paynter family has deep roots in farming from cattle to fruit to the latest generation's obsession for growing and making sustainable organic wine. It’s not easy, but they sure have made a beautiful place to visit overlooking West Kelowna. Enjoy the Goats bleating on top of the solar panel roof line of the rustic wine tasting room made completely with natural materials. Alternative if unavailable - Beaumont Family Estate Winery or Kalala Organic Estate Winery Disclaimer: I want to be very clear, all the wineries in Kelowna are worth visiting, and I plan on visiting them all regularly each year. This article was an exercise to assist new visitors to Kelowna with limited time. This post draws upon my most recent experiences, and perspective only. My opinion will likely change in 2024, and luckily I live here, and I don’t need to limit myself with these choices! Shout outs and love to all the wineries of Kelowna will follow in other blog posts.