Okanagan Wine Touring Without Anyone Having to Stay Sober
Every Okanagan wine tour runs into the same problem about ten minutes into planning it. Somebody has to drive. That person is going to spend the day in wine country not drinking wine, and everyone knows it, which is why the conversation usually ends with drawing straws or booking a bus.
There is a third structure that suits a lot of groups better, and it is the one people rarely know about.
The three ways to do it
Draw straws
One person abstains. Cheapest option, and it works if somebody genuinely does not mind. The obvious cost is that one of your group is doing a chauffeur shift on a day out.
Book a tour
A company provides the vehicle, the driver and usually the itinerary. Everyone drinks. Good for larger groups and for people who want the planning done.
The trade-offs are that you are on their schedule and often their route, you are sharing the day with strangers unless you have paid for a private booking, and you are paying for the vehicle as well as the driver.
Have someone drive your vehicle
A driver comes to you and drives your car for the day. You choose the wineries, you choose the timing, and nobody has to abstain.
This is often the best fit for a group of two to five who already have a suitable vehicle and who care more about their own route than about being driven in something larger.
Why the we-drive option suits the Okanagan specifically
The wineries are spread out and clustered oddly. The Lakeshore and South East Kelowna group is a different day from the Westside Wine Trail, which is different again from Lake Country's Scenic Sip. You cannot sensibly do them all, and a fixed tour route may not match the group you have.
Cellar door purchases need somewhere to go. If you are buying, and most people do, your own vehicle with your own boot is considerably more practical than negotiating space on a shared bus.
Group sizes here are usually small. Four adults in one SUV is the common Okanagan wine tour. That is below the size where a bus makes economic sense.
Timing is the whole point for some people. Sunset at a west-facing winery, or a long lunch that runs over, does not fit a schedule set by somebody else.
Planning a realistic day
The most common mistake is over-scheduling. Tasting properly, talking to the person pouring, and buying takes longer than people budget.
Three to four wineries is a full day. Five is a march.
Allow around an hour to an hour and a quarter at each, plus driving between. Distances look short on a map, but summer traffic on the Westside or through downtown Kelowna is real.
Book ahead. A lot of Okanagan tasting rooms now take reservations, and in peak season through August and September walking in is not a given, particularly for groups.
Put lunch in deliberately. Several wineries have restaurants and they book up. A day of tasting with no food is a short day.
Start earlier than feels necessary. The first tasting of the day is the most pleasant and the least crowded.
Questions worth asking before you book a driver
- Do you drive our vehicle, or do you provide one? These are different services at different prices.
- What is the minimum booking? A full-day rate and an hourly rate are different structures.
- How does the pricing work, and is waiting time included while we are inside?
- Are you insured to drive my vehicle? In BC basic coverage follows the vehicle, so a licensed driver with your permission is generally covered, but ask your broker if you have a specific concern.
- Will you handle the route, or should we plan it?
- How far will you go? A Lake Country and Vernon day is a different range from Westside.
A few route shapes that work
Westside Wine Trail. A tight cluster on the west side of the lake, so less driving and more tasting. Good for a first tour.
Lakeshore and South East Kelowna. Close to downtown, easy to combine with dinner in town afterwards.
Lake Country's Scenic Sip. More driving between stops, and the views justify it.
Naramata Bench. A genuine day trip from Kelowna rather than an afternoon. Worth it, but plan the drive time honestly in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is this cheaper than a tour bus?
It depends on group size and the day's length. For a small group with their own vehicle it often is, because you are paying for a driver rather than a driver plus a vehicle. For eight or more people a bus usually wins.
Can the driver join the tastings?
No. They are working and they are driving your car.
What if we want to change the plan mid-day?
That flexibility is the main reason to choose this over a booked tour. Confirm it at booking, and be aware that overrunning may affect the rate.
Do we tip?
Customary, as with any driver.
Can they take us somewhere afterwards?
Usually yes, if you have booked the time. Sort it in advance rather than at the end of a long afternoon.
A local option
View Gals Designated Drivers on the Okanagan Trade Directory
Gals Designated Drivers, who also operate as Auto Bee Home Designated Drivers, offer we-drive wine tours where they take your own vehicle between wineries, alongside their designated driver service and small deliveries. They operate 24 hours a day across Kelowna and the surrounding Okanagan, and tours can be booked by call or text on 250-859-1341. Worth booking well ahead in the summer season. Website: galsdesignateddrivers.com.