#TravelBC Tips: Planning a Wine Tour

The Okanagan is often called Canada’s “Wine Country.” While you are visiting the Kelowna area—at La Casa Mirador, we hope—we recommend booking a wine tour while you are here. Here’s a suggested guide for if you’re planning a wine tour for yourself.

Step 1: Book Your Lodgings

You’ll need somewhere to stay if you are visiting the area. Wine tours are great for bachelorette parties, birthday parties, family reunions, or just a girls’ weekend away. If you’re booking for a group, try La Casa Mirador. The Spanish style guest house sleeps 28 overnight guests. It also has room for other daytime visitors in the ballroom, dining room, patios, and 120-seat theater.

Step 2: Pick Your Wine Tour

The Kelowna area has plenty of wine tours to choose from. Try: Wicked Wine Tours, Uncorked Okanagan Wine Tours, Wine Tours Gone South, or Sip Happens. A wine tour will provide you with safe pick up and drop off from each location. Plus, they will work in advance with the vineyards to expect you. Each tour may be a different length (half-day, few hours) and will visit different wineries in the area. Some, like Sip Happens, will even pick you up by boat!

Step 3: Put Aside Some Money

On a good wine tour, you’ll come away with a bottle or two of your favorite variety. Therefore, it’s a good idea to put a bit of cash aside to make a purchase. Save a little more if you’re stocking up for later. Plan to bring a few bottles back home with you.

Step 4: Be at the Pickup

The wine tour will provide transport for you. You just have to all be at the meeting point together! If you’re staying at La Casa Mirador (or any of our other cottages), feel free to give the tour guide that address so that they can pick you up right at the door.

Step 5: Enjoy Your Tour

The Okanagan has some of the best wineries in Canada and you’ll get to visit some of them. Ask a ton of questions, try a bunch of samples, buy a souvenir, and really make the most of your day. Don’t forget to pack a camera—most of the vineyards offer incredible, scenic views for a quick snapshot.

Step 6: Get Back Safely…and Keep the Party Going

Once you’ve returned to La Casa Mirador Guest House, or wherever else you’re staying, you can kick back and enjoy one of the bottles you brought home from your trip. La Casa Mirador boasts a 120-seat private movie theatre, a 2400-foot terrace overlooking Lake Okanagan, and a rooftop penthouse suite with a hot tub.