Naramata Bench 5 Winery Tour

Great wine country fits neatly into one day. This six-hour Naramata Bench tour takes you to five wineries, combines tastings with Okanagan views, and includes transportation from your accommodation in an air-conditioned vehicle. I especially like the small maximum group of 14 and the fact that tasting fees, bottled water, guiding, and pickup are included. I also like the planned lunch stop at Lake Breeze Vineyards, though lunch itself costs extra.

The main thing to watch is the pickup area. Vernon and Sparkling Hill are not covered on this tour, and pickup times can be earlier than 10:30 a.m. if you are staying outside Penticton or Naramata. Your exact time arrives by text the day before, so keep your phone handy and be ready 15 minutes early.

Key points at a glance

• Five wineries in about six hours: Ruby Blues, Bench 1775, Lake Breeze, Wesbert, and Three Sisters make this a full tasting day.
• Lake Breeze gets the longest stop: You have 90 minutes for the winery, views, and a farm-to-table lunch stop.
• Tasting fees are included: The price covers tastings at all five wineries, including a five-wine flight at Three Sisters.
• Pickup makes the day easy: Hotel or accommodation pickup and drop-off save you from planning a designated driver.
• Guides shape the experience: Vicky and Don received especially warm praise for being fun, helpful, and informative.
• Plan for lunch separately: The winery bistro is part of the schedule, but food is not included in the $164.10 price.

Why the Naramata Bench makes a good wine day

The Naramata Bench gives this tour a clear sense of place. Instead of sending you across a wide stretch of the Okanagan Valley, the route focuses on a well-known wine-growing area with views toward Okanagan Lake and the surrounding mountains.

That matters because a wine tour can become a string of tasting rooms with little connection between them. Here, the settings help break up the pours. Bench 1775 is known for its lake and mountain outlook, while Lake Breeze looks across the bench and Okanagan Lake from its patio. You get wine, scenery, and a look at how each property presents its corner of the region.

I also like the mix of wineries. The stops are not described as identical tasting rooms with the same style of wine. Ruby Blues has a fun, inviting personality. Wesbert focuses on minimal intervention and fruit-led flavors. Three Sisters includes vineyard and patio access, along with a five-wine flight. That variety gives the day some shape.

The tour lasts about six hours, beginning around 10:30 a.m. The stated stop times total four and a half hours, leaving room for driving, pickups, lunch, and the normal pace of a group tour. You should expect a full day rather than a quick tasting outing.

Ruby Blues Winery starts the tasting day

The first stop is Ruby Blues Winery, with about 45 minutes set aside. Its character is described as fun and inviting, with wines intended for broad enjoyment rather than ceremony and fuss.

That makes it a sensible opening stop. You are still getting into the rhythm of tasting, and a relaxed first winery can help the group settle in. The short visit also keeps the morning moving.

I would not book this tour expecting a long technical lesson at every winery. Forty-five minutes is enough for a tasting and some explanation, but not enough for a detailed cellar tour or extended private session. The value here is variety: Ruby Blues gives you an early introduction, then the day moves on to different producers.

The tour description also promises an explanation of winemaking from scratch. Since the exact format can vary by winery and guide, you should treat this as a broad introduction to the process rather than a guaranteed production tour at each stop.

Bench 1775 pairs wine with big views

Bench 1775 Winery is another 45-minute stop, but the setting is a major part of the appeal. The property is known for views along the bench toward the lake and mountains, so this is a good place to keep your camera ready.

The winery presents refined wines with national recognition and awards. That does not mean every bottle will suit your taste, of course, but it does signal a more polished tasting experience. You may find this stop especially useful if you want to compare wines with a stronger reputation beyond the local area.

The short visit calls for a little discipline. If you want photos, tasting notes, and time to listen, avoid lingering too long over one sample. Your guide will need to keep the schedule moving for the remaining three wineries.

Lake Breeze is the day’s main pause

Lake Breeze Vineyards gets the longest stop, about 90 minutes, and that extra time makes sense. This is the tour’s main lunch break as well as a wine stop.

The tasting room has broad views over the Naramata Bench and Okanagan Lake. Its farm-to-table patio focuses on local Okanagan food, and the property includes resident chickens and pigs. Those small farm details give the stop a more relaxed, grounded feel than a quick stand-up tasting.

You can also pick up a house-made latte before leaving. That is a useful touch in the middle of a wine day, especially if you want something other than another glass.

Lunch is not included in the tour price, so budget for it separately. Reservations are arranged at the winery bistro, which removes much of the uncertainty around finding food for a group. Still, it is worth checking the menu and prices if you are watching your spending.

This stop is likely to be the most comfortable part of the day because you have time to eat, look around, enjoy the view, and avoid rushing from one tasting bar to the next. The tradeoff is that the lunch break uses a large share of your schedule. If your main goal is to maximize tasting time, remember that the tour is designed as a balanced food, scenery, and wine outing.

Wesbert Winery keeps the focus on the fruit

Wesbert Winery offers a different point of view. Its winemaking approach uses minimal intervention and lets the fruit express the growing year and the Naramata terroir.

You do not need to be a wine specialist to appreciate what this means. The emphasis is on how the grapes and growing conditions show up in the finished wine, rather than on heavy manipulation. The stated aim is balanced, full-flavored wine suitable for many occasions.

This 45-minute stop should work well as a comparison with the other wineries. You can pay attention to how the wines differ in flavor and style, then ask your guide or tasting host about the reasons behind those differences.

As with Ruby Blues and Bench 1775, the time is limited. I would use it to identify one or two wines you genuinely enjoy instead of trying to remember every label. Five stops can produce a lot of samples, and your notes will become more useful if you record simple impressions such as crisp, fruity, dry, full, or light.

Three Sisters finishes with a five-wine flight

The final stop is Three Sisters Winery, where the included tasting is a flight of five wines. You also have access to the vineyards and patio, plus time to purchase bottles.

Ending with a full flight gives the tour a clear finish. By this point, you have tasted across several wineries and can compare Three Sisters with what came earlier in the day. The vineyard and patio access also mean the last stop is not limited to standing at a tasting counter.

Bottle purchases are not included, naturally, but the final stop gives you a chance to buy after you have already formed some preferences. That is better than buying too early and then finding a favorite later.

Five wineries is a generous schedule. If you plan to purchase wine, ask about transport and storage directly at the winery, since the provided information does not specify those arrangements. Your air-conditioned vehicle is useful for getting around, but the tour details do not promise a special bottle-storage setup.

What the $164.10 price really covers

At $164.10 per person, this is not just a tasting-fee purchase. The price includes five winery visits, tasting fees, bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle, a guide, and pickup and drop-off at your accommodation.

That package has real value if you would otherwise need to arrange a driver or private transportation. It also removes the problem of coordinating five separate winery appointments. You pay for a planned route and a guide who keeps the day on track.

Lunch is the main extra cost. Since the longest stop includes a winery bistro reservation, you should not confuse a lunch stop with an included meal. Add food to your budget before deciding if the total feels right.

The group size is capped at 14. That is large enough to have a social day but small enough to feel more manageable than a big coach outing. The experience is not private, and the exact pace will depend on the group, but the limit is a useful middle ground.

The strongest value comes from convenience. If you already have a car and a designated driver, the price may feel less attractive. If you want to taste freely and let somebody else handle the road, it makes more sense.

Guides can make or break the six-hour route

The guide matters a great deal on a day with five stops. Vicky received especially warm praise for being fun, friendly, helpful, and willing to take care of small problems. Don was also praised for being informative and good fun.

Those comments point to the right expectation: this is not a silent transfer between wineries. A good guide adds context, keeps the group moving, and helps the day feel easy rather than mechanical.

The exact guide is not guaranteed, so you should not book solely on the promise of Vicky or Don. Still, the tour places a guide in the vehicle, and the guiding element is included in the price.

One practical point is that the wineries can change. The planned route lists five specific stops, but substitutions may occur. If one location changes, that does not automatically mean the day is poor, but you should be prepared for some flexibility. The wine tour format remains the same, while the individual tasting rooms may differ.

Pickup details deserve attention before booking

Pickup and drop-off are included from hotels or accommodations in the covered area. The tour does not accommodate pickup from Vernon or Sparkling Hill. Those locations are served only by separate full-day tours designed for them.

The published start time is 10:30 a.m., but your confirmed pickup time arrives by text the day before. If you stay outside Penticton or Naramata, plan for an earlier pickup to allow for the drive to the bench.

Be ready 15 minutes before the scheduled time. This is not a detail to ignore. A late start can affect every winery appointment, especially when five stops and a lunch reservation are packed into one day.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, which is welcome during a warm Okanagan day. Bottled water is included too. Public transportation is nearby, but that is less important for this experience because the tour already provides transportation from your accommodation.

Who will enjoy this wine tour most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a well-organized introduction to Naramata wine country without renting a car or assigning one person to skip the tastings. It suits couples, friends, and small groups who enjoy mixing wine with views, lunch, and conversation.

It also works for people who want variety. Ruby Blues, Bench 1775, Lake Breeze, Wesbert, and Three Sisters offer different settings and winemaking approaches. You are not locked into one producer or one style.

The tour may be less suitable if you want a private guide, a slow cellar-focused visit, or complete control over the wineries. The group has a maximum of 14, and five stops require a steady pace. You also need to pay for lunch separately and accept that the route can change.

The experience is listed as English-language, and most people can participate. Confirmation is provided when you book. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

Should you book the Naramata Bench tour?

I would book this tour if you want the easiest way to taste at five Naramata wineries in one day. The combination of included tasting fees, accommodation pickup, a small maximum group, lake views, and a proper lunch stop gives you more than a simple ride between tasting rooms.

The best reason to choose it is balance. You get wine, scenery, food, and guiding, with enough structure that you do not have to plan every detail yourself. Vicky and Don are the kind of guides you hope for on a social day like this, though the assigned guide can vary.

Skip it if you need a private itinerary, want to stay in Vernon or Sparkling Hill, or prefer long visits at only one or two wineries. For most visitors based around Penticton or Naramata who want a relaxed but full wine day, the $164.10 price is fair, provided you remember to add lunch.

FAQ

How long is the Naramata Bench 5 Winery Tour?

The tour lasts approximately six hours and begins around 10:30 a.m. The final pickup time is confirmed by text the day before.

Which wineries are included?

The planned stops are Ruby Blues Winery, Bench 1775 Winery, Lake Breeze Vineyards Tasting Room, Wesbert Winery, and Three Sisters Winery. The wineries visited can change.

Are wine-tasting fees included?

Yes. Tasting fees are included, and Three Sisters includes a flight of five wines.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. The tour includes a lunch stop with a reservation at a winery bistro, but the cost of lunch is not included.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Hotel or accommodation pickup and drop-off are included where the tour operates. Vernon and Sparkling Hill pickups are not available on this tour.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and the payment is not refunded.