Should you book a private tour or a public tour? Great question and I have good news…no matter which tour you book, you will have a really great time. Let me tell you what I love about private tours!
Booking with a Professional:
Whether you’re new to the world of wine or an experienced connoisseur, too many options make decisions about a wine tour overwhelming. This is where a professional and experienced tour company can really enhance your experience of our outstanding wine region. Building a tour itinerary is mini event planning. It’s a pleasure to curate these days and experiences, sharing the magic of our special little corner of the world. We really love what we do and getting the opportunity to pass this excitement on to you truly brings us joy!
Making the Experience Yours:
Private tours for groups of 4 or more are quite reasonably priced and can be as simple as sharing this beautiful day with your nearest and dearest as a standard wine tour or adding vineyard tours and special culinary experiences.
Adding Experiences:
In a diverse region, such as the South Okanagan, the opportunities for add-on experiences are endless. Our staff have the experience and knowledge of the area to select or help give you options to unique and memorable opportunities.
Take a Journey with Me:
Imagine that you’ve spent a little time in the Okanagan; you love wine but you realize there is so much to experience. You’ve now booked a private tour, you’ve let me take the reigns and requested a couple add-on experiences. Let’s explore what this may look like…
Your first stop is to River Stone Estate Winery for a vineyard tour with the winemaker. This can be an eye opening experience for the novice or a time to take knowledge to the next level with questions answered by the person making the magic. It’s also the perfect time of day to get out into the vineyard while the sun hasn’t yet hit its peak for the day.
The next stop, for those loving the reds, would be to Fairview Cellars. They boast a stunning line up of small lot, high quality Bordeaux varietals. This small boutique winery is sure to leave a big impression!
Lunch at Tinhorn Creek’s Miradoro is one of our most popular requests and sure to exceed your expectations. Choosing a lunch stop at a winery we haven’t scheduled a tasting at is a great way to experience another winery without over consuming for your day. It gives you the opportunity to try their wine with a meal and relax. The Restaurant at Phantom Creek and Terrafina at Hester Creek are high on the request lists as well.
Moving a little further south, the next stop is Maverick Estate Winery. The Maverick team believes in old world, by-hand production, taking their time to produce a product that gives you a sense of place.
To wind down your day we will stop at Bartier Bros. for the Signature Experience. Sit down and enjoy a tasting flight paired with gourmet cheeses. This is a truly great way to to wrap up an active day and experience the beauty of food and wine pairing.
What’s Included:
- Private tours start at a base rate that includes up to 4 guests. More guests can be added on a per person basis.
- Professional, knowledgable wine trained guide.
- Customized pick up time as availability permits.
- Visits to 4 wineries and all basic tasting fees.
- Complementary charcuterie style snacks and bottled water.
- Luxurious, comfortable, air conditioned vehicles.
- Pick up and drop off at any Penticton address (or to your address in the touring region).
Steps to Booking a Private Tour:
1) Your first step is to save the date! You can do this by phone, email or by filling out the form on our booking page HERE and be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page to find the form.
2) Don’t sweat the details right away! This is where we step in to help with decision making and building your experience over time, as you’re ready. It is good to be mindful that during peak season, wineries and restaurants can be fully booked for the day and more advanced planning may be needed.
It can be challenging gathering final head counts and managing details with other households in your party. This is also where we step in to help coordinate with everyone and make this a smooth and easy experience. Small additions to guest numbers can likely be added relatively close to your tour date.
3) A deposit will be required for the tour, which is payable online or by phoning us at the office. Split payments are available online to make it easy with everyone in your party.
The Bottom Line:
Your day will take you through a range of wineries including small lot boutiques, larger wineries and something unique to the region. Each tour is unique and we can customize your day to suit your wine style preferences and add in your favourite stops or take you to entirely new experiences. We love what we do and we look forward to sharing it with you!
