Visiting Kelowna's Vineyards: What to Know During Peak and Shoulder Season

For travellers planning to visit the Okanagan Valley, enjoy the exciting and flavorful activity of spending time at Kelowna wineries. From Chardonnay and Merlot to Riesling and Sara, choose your favourites from the regional wineries around Kelowna.

The Importance of Wine in the Valley

The Okanagan Valley has developed into British Columbia's premier region for growing grapes through the years. The valley's friendly climate boasts hot days and cool nights to support the grape's growth. As such, the Okanagan Valley is recognized internationally for its vineyards and wineries. Each year these wineries continue to produce award-winning wines.

Best Time to Visit Kelowna Wineries

You can visit a Kelowna vineyard any time of the year. Many of the more than 40 wineries near Kelowna are open year-round. Whether you choose the height of the summer peak season to sample the grapes or enjoy a glass of wine after a day of cross-country skiing when it gets colder, there is a winery near the Royal Kelowna for you.

Things to Do While Visiting Kelowna Wineries

Along with enjoying The Royal Kelowna’s accommodations, you can enhance your stay with wine tasting events at nearby wineries. Make each day of your stay a memorable experience by participating in the variety of things to do and see while you’re staying in the valley.

Wine Tours

One of the best ways to experience the wineries in the Okanagan Valley is with a guided tour. These tours offer a comfortable option with an air-conditioned van. You get to relax while enjoying multiple wineries in a day.

A guided tour also includes a designated driver, giving you more freedom to try wines without risking the safety of yourself, the people you’re touring with, or others. Since guides are locals, they can also provide interesting information about each winery you visit. If you prefer other options, try one of the bus, bike, and even walking tours for exploring Kelowna wineries.

You can also try out a full and half-day outing. Depending on the chosen tour, it may also include a dining experience at a designated winery. A tour may include the top wineries in the valley or a specific number of wineries. You may even tour a specific area such as downtown Kelowna where you will sample the goods at a boutique winery, a craft brew pub, and a local distillery plus assorted cuisine.

KELOWNA Concierge

Several businesses near the Royal Kelowna offer tours for wine enthusiasts. The Royal Concierge offers 20% off their daily wine tours when staying at The Royal Kelowna. You can embark on half and full-day tours exploring the finest wineries in region. Please see below their current daily tour offerings and prices.

• Half Day Signature Sip West Kelowna | Departs @ 1 pm | $139 +GST

• Half Day Lush Lakeshore & Southeast Kelowna | Departs @ 1 pm | $139 +GST

• Full Day Lake Country Scenic Wine Experience | Departs @ 10 am | $169 +GST

Other Wine Tours Companies:

A few other wine tour companies include:

• Sip Happens Wine Tours

• Wine 49 Wine Tours

• Toast the Okanagan Wine Tours

• Sip & Anchor Luxury Wine Tours

• Platinum Wine Tours

If you want some wine tours that are further out from the hotel, there are plenty of options. You can find options like:

• Teehouse Wine Tours

• Lust 4 Luxury Wine Tours

• Vines & Views Wine Tours

• Upper End Wine Tours & Shuttle

Wine Trails

Five Kelowna wine trails offer plenty of opportunities to stop at the valley's wineries. Each route has different vineyards and activities, such as enjoying the scenery, doing multiple tastings, dining, picnicking, and bringing your canine. The five wine trails include:

• Lakeshore Wine Route

• Westside Wine Trail

• Lake Country's Scenic Sip

• Downtown Kelowna

Dog-Friendly Wineries

Vacationers travelling with their four-legged friends can enjoy several of Kelowna’s wineries with their dogs. If you enjoy bringing your canine companion along, consider one of these wineries for your next tasting. 

St Hubertus

Situated in the northern region of the Okanagan Valley, St Hubertus offers rich and flavorful red wines. Tastings are available daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Their Terroir Tasting Among the Vines is a tasty and dog-friendly event for visitors. After the event, treat your pup to a walk at the Cedar Creek dog beach across the street from the winery.

Burrowing Owl Estate Winery

For a day trip to the southern region of Okanagan Valley, a beautiful location with stunning mountain views is Burrowing Owl Estate Winery. Try out a wine tasting, which lasts 25 minutes and includes 5 wine samplings. You can even enjoy the menu at their fine dining restaurant when visiting. 

If you have booked a wine tasting, bring your canine companion, explore the vineyard grounds, and let your canine pal help you select your favourite vintage from the winery’s shop. For the eco-conscious traveller, the tasting fee is donated to the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of British Columbia.

Rollingdale Winery

West Kelowna's organic vineyard, Rollingdale Winery, is renowned for its delicious white wines. Visitors can enjoy the tasty grapes with wine samplings in their tasting room/wine cellar. Bring your pup and a picnic basket, relax with a bottle of wine from their shop, and enjoy the views of Lake Okanagan in the outdoor dog-friendly picnic area.

The Hatch Winery

The atmosphere at The Hatch is fun, friendly, and laid-back for visitors to the tasting room in the winery's vintage barn. Bring Fido or Fifi on a leash and sample a glass of vino on the patio or the picnic area. The winery is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to around 6:00 p.m. (or a little later).

What are the Peak and Shoulder Seasons in Kelowna?

While many wineries stay open year-round, it’s still worth it to consider which season you want to visit. If you’re not concerned with the temperatures, you may want to visit in the summer. However, avoiding peak season is probably the better option if you don't like crowds. 

April through May is the summer season followed by May through July, which is considered an overall good time to visit since it is not considered the peak travel time. 

Late spring and early fall are considered the best times for enjoying things to do in Kelowna. You get the best of both worlds with temperatures and activities. 

For those interested in cold weather, December is the best time to visit for skiing activities and wine-tasting at wineries open throughout the year.

Peak Season

The best time to visit the Okanagan Valley is June through August, which is the busiest time of year for tourism. The high season in Kelowna with the most visitors is May, June, and September. For the driest time to visit, the months of March, April, and August have the least rainfall in the Okanagan Valley. The wettest month in the valley is November.

Shoulder Season

The shoulder season in the Okanagan Valley is springtime, running from March to May. September to November is also considered the shoulder season for off-peak tourism. Visitors experience all that the area has to offer between summer activities and the start of winter sports.

Enjoy a Tasteful Vacation

Visit the vineyards, take a guided tour, and explore the valley for a tantalizing addition to your itinerary. There are a ton of things to do during peak and shoulder season at most of the wineries in the area, so the possibilities are limitless.

Book with Royal Kelowna and choose nearby vineyards and wineries for a tasting or tour. We’ve got some stellar partners in the area.