Naramata Full Day Lunch Wine Tour- Incl. Tasting Fees & Gratuity!

The Naramata Bench is made for sipping slowly. Sip Happens Wine Tours pairs door-to-door pickup with a six-hour outing through some of the Okanagan’s best-known small wineries, so you can focus on the views, the bottles, and the next tasting. I especially like the included tasting fees and the 15 percent guide gratuity, two costs that often sneak into wine days. The main catch is that lunch is extra, and the route needs careful timing if several wineries are included.

You’ll ride in an air-conditioned vehicle with bottled water and a wine concierge, which makes the day easy from the start. The tour has a maximum of 14 people, but you should confirm the exact winery lineup and lunch stop before setting out, since the full selection includes more stops than six hours can comfortably cover.

Key details to know before you book

• Eight winery names, three lunch choices: The route can include MOCOJO, Moraine, Three Sisters, Lang, Ruby Blues, Deep Roots, Serendipity, and Wesbert, with lunch at Lake Breeze, Naramata Inn, or Poplar Grove.
• Four to five pours at each winery: Tastings are included, and most stops allow time to buy bottles.
• Hotel or rental pickup in Penticton: Provide your address when booking, then expect a text from your guide the night before to confirm pickup.
• A small-group format: The maximum group size is 14, a useful middle ground between a private car and a large coach.
• Herb has earned special praise: One five-star account singles out Herb for going out of his way to make the day enjoyable.
• Lunch costs extra: Budget separately for the meal, GST, and any wine you take home.

Why the Naramata Bench works so well for a wine day

The Naramata Bench is not simply a row of tasting rooms. It is a high shelf above Okanagan Lake, with vineyards, pale clay cliffs, orchards, and broad water views stitched together by quiet country roads. That setting gives the tour much of its appeal. Even if one wine does not suit your taste, the drive and the changing views keep the day interesting.

A guided outing also solves the obvious problem: someone else drives. You can compare varietals without counting your pours or worrying about the road back to Penticton. The air-conditioned vehicle matters during warm Okanagan summers, while bottled water is a small but welcome touch between tastings.

The six-hour length is useful for a half-day outing, but it is also the reason the schedule deserves attention. A 30-minute tasting gives you enough time for four or five samples and a quick look around the shop. It does not leave much room for long cellar talks, a leisurely lunch, or lingering at every viewpoint.

Pickup, group size, and the value of the package

Pickup and drop-off are offered at hotels and vacation rentals in the Penticton area. You need to provide the address when booking. After confirmation, the guide texts the night before to confirm the pickup time, a practical step that removes some morning uncertainty.

The tour has a maximum of 14 people. That is not the same as a private tour, but it is far more personal than a large bus outing. A smaller group also helps at tasting counters, where a crowded room can make it hard to hear or ask questions.

The value comes from what is already covered. Tasting fees are included at the scheduled wineries, along with bottled water, air-conditioned transportation, the wine concierge service, and a 15 percent gratuity for your guide. You still pay for lunch, GST, and bottles you purchase.

That package can be a good deal if you plan to taste at several wineries. Tasting fees add up quickly when paid one by one, and the included gratuity makes the final cost easier to understand. The value is less clear if you want only two or three wineries and a long meal, since this tour is designed around multiple short stops.

MOCOJO Winery: a young winery with a personal start

MOCOJO began in June 2014 with Gewurztraminer and Viognier, then added Marechal Foch and Malbec later that year. Rosé arrived in spring 2015, followed by Merlot. That quick expansion says something about the winery’s compact, hands-on character.

You can expect four to five tastings and time to shop. The original bed-and-breakfast space has been replaced by a larger tasting room, so the focus here is now firmly on welcoming visitors and presenting the wines. This is a good opening stop because the tasting is short and gives you a first sense of the area’s range.

Do not expect a long visit. Thirty minutes passes quickly, especially if you are asking questions or deciding which bottle belongs in your suitcase.

Moraine Winery: views, clay cliffs, and a charitable touch

Moraine Winery sits above Okanagan Lake on the Naramata Bench, close to Penticton. Its position among glaciated white clay cliffs gives you one of the clearest examples of how the region’s scenery shapes the wine experience.

The family story adds a human side. Oleg and Svetlana moved from Europe to Canada in 1995, later leaving Edmonton for the Okanagan and beginning their winery project in 2009. Their stated belief that wine should bring simple joy comes through as a welcoming theme rather than a grand production story.

You receive four to five tastings and time to shop. Moraine also gives part of its tasting fees to Chalice, an international charity that helps cover medical expenses for children in need. That does not change the taste in your glass, but it gives the stop a social purpose that many wine lovers will appreciate.

Three Sisters Winery: family stories in every bottle

Three Sisters grew from a family project involving Rebecca, winemaker Matt, and Rebecca’s parents, John and Liz. The first vintage was made in a barn on the family vineyard, with relatives and friends hand-labeling bottles.

That background makes this a particularly approachable stop. The wines are made to work both for relaxed porch sipping and dinner, with a hands-off approach that lets the fruit show clearly. You can expect four to five tastings, plus time to browse the shop.

I like this kind of family-scale visit because the story is easy to follow. You are not just hearing about a brand built by marketing specialists. You are hearing how a family turned vineyard fruit and shared labor into a wine label.

Lang Vineyards: an early chapter in Naramata winemaking

Lang Vineyards traces its start to Guenther Lang, who began in a garage and opened British Columbia’s first Farm Gate Vineyard in 1990. That makes Lang one of the older family estate wineries on the Naramata Bench.

The tasting includes four to five complimentary samples and shopping time. Lang is a useful stop for understanding how the region’s wine industry developed from modest farm beginnings into a collection of boutique producers.

The practical limit remains the same: half an hour is enough for tasting, but not for a slow historical tour. If the backstory interests you, ask a focused question and keep your shopping decisions simple.

Ruby Blues and Deep Roots: two different takes on local wine

Ruby Blues brings a playful rock-and-roll mood to the route. Owners Prudence and Beat sold Red Rooster Winery in 2008, then returned to a smaller operation centered on vines, wine, people, and local artisan products.

The wines are made from Okanagan-grown grapes, mainly from the winery’s own vineyards. You receive four to five tastings and time to shop. This should appeal if you like a less formal tasting room with a bit of personality.

Deep Roots offers a more farm-centered story. The family has farmed for more than a century and across four generations. After selling grapes to other wineries, the family began making its own wine in 2012 and opened the tasting room in 2014.

Its wines are meant to show the quality of the family’s fruit. That gives the stop a clear purpose: you are tasting the result of a grower deciding to put its own name on the bottle. The setting above Okanagan Lake, among the clay cliffs, adds another strong view.

Serendipity and Wesbert: newer energy on the Bench

Serendipity began when Judy Kingston found an orchard in Naramata during an Okanagan holiday and decided to turn it into a vineyard. Planting began in 2007 with Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc, and the first harvest followed in 2009.

Judy and her daughter Katie, the head winemaker, run the winery with a personal touch. You receive four to five complimentary tastings and time to shop. Serendipity also has a wine shop and a bistro serving seasonal food, although the tour’s separate lunch choices may determine how much time you have to eat there.

Wesbert Winery offers a newer family story. The Joubert family arrived from South Africa and opened the winery in 2019. Its five grape varieties, later expanded by a second vineyard and additional varietals, reflect a young operation still growing its range.

The winery sits near the Kettle Valley Rail Trail and has a wine shop, tasting room, and terrace. The family’s hands-off winemaking approach is intended to let the grapes and Naramata growing conditions speak clearly. You receive four to five complimentary tastings and shopping time.

Choosing lunch at Lake Breeze, Naramata Inn, or Poplar Grove

Lunch is not included, and this is the one cost you should plan for before booking. The route presents three possible dining settings, each with a different feel.

At Lake Breeze, the Patio Restaurant serves seasonal food built around local organic ingredients. Chef Mark Ashton grows vegetables, fruit, and herbs at the winery’s Farmstead, with produce harvested close to service. A Farmstead tasting menu is designed to pair with Lake Breeze wines.

The listed lunch time is 45 minutes. That is enough for a focused meal, but it may feel brisk if you want several courses or a relaxed bottle with lunch. The cost is paid directly to the winery restaurant.

The Restaurant at Naramata Inn takes a broader Okanagan approach. Its dishes use local fruit, responsibly sourced proteins, and ingredients foraged from nearby hills. The menu changes with the season, so this choice suits you if food matters as much as wine.

Again, the scheduled time is 45 minutes. You pay the restaurant directly, and you should expect the meal to be a planned part of the route rather than an open-ended restaurant visit.

Poplar Grove offers a 30-minute lunch stop at its restaurant on the slopes of Munson Mountain. The setting includes wide views of Okanagan Lake, while Executive Chef Stacy Johnston’s menu focuses on regional ingredients and wine pairings.

This is the shortest meal window of the three. It may suit you if you want to keep the tasting schedule moving, but it gives you less time to settle into lunch. Ask which restaurant is planned for your date and check the menu before you go.

What the guide adds to the day

The guide is more than a driver. The package includes a wine concierge, which should help with the practical side of tastings, bottle purchases, timing, and winery visits. That matters when you are moving through several small producers in one afternoon.

One account gives Herb special credit for going out of his way to make the day enjoyable. If Herb is assigned to your tour, his warm, service-minded approach is a promising sign. Guides can shape a wine day more than any single bottle, especially when the schedule is tight.

The 15 percent gratuity is included for the guide. You do not need to calculate that at the end, though extra tips remain your choice.

Small drawbacks worth weighing

The route is ambitious. Eight winery names appear alongside three lunch venues, yet the outing lasts about six hours. With 30-minute winery stops, a 45-minute lunch, and driving between locations, the actual day must use a selection of these stops rather than visit every place in full.

That is not necessarily a flaw. A shorter visit can give you a useful sample of the Bench without exhausting you. Still, you should confirm the planned route, number of tastings, and lunch venue before departure.

Lunch is another consideration. The tour covers tasting fees, but not the meal, GST, or wine purchases. If you are watching your budget, set aside money for lunch and decide in advance how many bottles you can reasonably bring home.

The cancellation terms are strict. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed after booking. If the minimum group size is not reached, the operator offers another date or experience, or a full refund.

Who should book this Naramata wine tour?

I would choose this tour if you want a simple, organized wine day from Penticton, especially if nobody in your group wants to drive. It suits first-time visitors who want a broad introduction to the Naramata Bench rather than a deep visit at one estate.

It also works well for couples, friends, and small groups who enjoy comparing family wineries with newer boutique producers. The mix of views, tasting rooms, shops, and local food gives you a fair picture of the region in one outing.

I would hesitate if you want a private itinerary, long winery conversations, or a leisurely lunch. A six-hour schedule with 30-minute tastings is efficient, not slow. You should also skip it if the non-refundable booking policy makes you uneasy.

FAQ

How long is the Naramata wine tour?

The tour lasts approximately six hours and begins at 10:30 am.

Is pickup included?

Yes. Door-to-door pickup and drop-off are offered at hotels or vacation rentals in the Penticton area. You must provide your pickup address when booking.

Are wine tasting fees included?

Yes. Tasting fees are included at the scheduled wineries. Most winery visits include four to five tastings and time to shop.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is paid directly to the selected restaurant. Possible lunch venues include the Patio Restaurant at Lake Breeze, the Restaurant at Naramata Inn, and the Restaurant at Poplar Grove.

What else is not included?

GST and wine purchases are not included. Bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle, wine concierge service, and a 15 percent guide gratuity are included.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of 14 people. Confirmation is provided within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.

Should you book it?

Book this outing if you want several Naramata wineries handled in one easy day, with tasting fees and guide gratuity already covered. The family stories, lake views, and mix of established and newer wineries give the route real variety.

Before paying, confirm the exact winery lineup, lunch venue, and estimated meal cost. If you are comfortable with a brisk schedule and a separate lunch bill, Sip Happens offers a practical way to taste the Naramata Bench without putting one person behind the wheel.