How to make the most of your vineyard journey through the Okanagan Valley
By Rebecca Peterson, Staff Writer
Unless youâre hopping on a tour bus with a knowledgeable guide of the area, planning a wine tour takes no small amount of strategy. The following tips should help you get the most out of your money and your time while exploring one of the most beautiful regions of our province this summer.
Plan your destinations in advance
You can, of course, wander aimlessly through the Okanagan and wander into whichever winery happens to catch your eyeâitâs a fun, relaxing way to approach wine touring. If youâre in this to win, however, youâll want to chart a course in advance. Many tourist spots in the area have wine touring maps that show where all the wineries are located. From there, pick the wineries you really want to visit, and plan accordingly. Youâre less likely to get lost this way, and as long as you donât try to cram in too many winery visits in one day, it should help alleviate some stress from the trip.
Make sure you have a designated driver
If you arenât on a tour bus, bribe a friend or family member to take the wheel. One of the best parts of winery touring is trying samples of different wines from all over the valley. Be safe, and donât drive after trying that third sample of chardonnay. Reward your designated driver handsomely for their sacrifice.
Set a budget, stick to the budget
Wine is expensive. Good wine is really expensive. Especially after a few âtasters,â you may be tempted to shell out a little more than you can afford. If you really canât trust yourself, withdraw the amount you plan to spend in cash. Once youâre out, youâre out. It may not be a bad idea to hand your wallet off to your designated driver, either.
Bring a camera
If youâve never visited a vineyard before, you might not be prepared for how gorgeous many of them are. Wineries like Burrowing Owl, Moon Curser, and Red Rooster sport some amazing views over the valley and the Naramata Bench region. Itâs a perfect place to take photos of friends, family members, and significant others, as well as a perfect shot of yourself!
Only buy wines you canât find in-store
This requires a little bit of pre-planning. Many of the wines youâll sample on your tour are actually available in BC Liquor Stores across the province. To make the most of your budget, limit your purchases to wines you know you wonât find back home. Many wineries will advertise which wines are winery-exclusive, so donât be afraid to ask if you arenât sure!
Donât ignore the cheese
A lot of these wineries will provide small samplings of fine cheeses and crackers to pair with the wines youâll be sampling. Not only is snacking a good idea when spending the day sampling wines, but some of these wineries also make their own cheeses. If youâre looking to stock up on gourmet cheese that happens to pair perfectly with the rosĂ© you just bought, try the wares at the Upper Bench Estate Winery or Poplar Grove.
Follow the Bead Trail
If youâre looking for a keepsake from your winery-touring adventure, how about a charm bracelet? Many of the wineries in the Okanagan sell charms unique to their wineries, as well as a bracelet to string them on. If you buy a bracelet at your first winery, you can keep collecting beads throughout the day to show where youâve been. Itâs a fun way to keep track of your journey, as well as something to carry home with you at the end of the day thatâs bound to last longer than the wine and the cheese.
