*Updated for 2019
Visiting the Okanagan isn’t cheap, especially during the prime tourist season which begins May to October. The Spring Okanagan Wine Fest kicks off this busy season beginning May 2nd to 13th. The locals are looking forward to Spring as the Winter has lagged on for too long and events are selling out fast around the valley.
I’ve included all complimentary and budget friendly events in the list below. Budget friendly being $25 per person or less, however, I did include one $30 event because it was such a unique experience.
But I am amazed to see that there a fewer free and budget friendly wine events as compared to last year which had over 17 of these events. I hope next year I have more to add because many visitors want to experience as much of the Okanagan as possible without blowing the budget – an easy thing to do nowadays!
Kelowna & West Kelowna Events
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Summers in Kelowna. Ahhh. #bcwine #explorekelowna #houseofrosewinery #summer
Mom and Roses
Free wine tastings for everyone at East Kelowna’s House of Rose Winery. For a DIY wine tour visit this and all the East Bench Fab Five Wineries.
Details: May 12th
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
House of Rose Winery – Complimentary
Astronomical Wine & Sky Gazing
Sip on Rollingdale Wine while gazing through a telescope at Mars and constellations!
Details: May 5th
9:15 pm – 10:45 pm
Rollingdale Winery – By donation to RASC
Spring Wine Fest
Join The View Winery from May 4th to 12th for various complimentary tastings. Each day you can experience something new but for May 4th & may 6th there is a $10 entrance fee for the amuse bouche and wine pairings.
On May 11th-12th there is a Mother’s Day market held at the winery and is complimentary to enter.
Details: May 4th – 12th
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The View Winery – Complimentary – $10
Unleashed at Kelowna’s Lakeshore Wine Route
Dog friendly event! Don’t leave your well behaved pooch at home, bring them to the Lakeshore Wine Route wineries. Enjoy wine tastings and all the K9 companions in the vineyards. I wish they would come up with a hashtag for this event because I think it needs to get more attention than it does. #LakeshoreUnleashed ?
Details: May 5th
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Lakeshore Wine Route – $20 donation: BCSPCA
Black Out Blind Tastings
Quails’ Gate is offering tastings in black Riedel wine glasses so you can’t see what you’re about to taste. Use your senses to navigate these Quails’ Gate wines with a senior wine educator guiding you.
Details: May 1st – 12th
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm
Quails’ Gate Estate Winery – $25 per person
Summerland
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Sips of Spring
Enjoy complimentary fruit wine tastings.
Details: May 1st
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sleeping Giant Fruit Winery – Complimentary
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Sumac Ridge Progressive Pairings
Taste all of Sumac Ridge’s wine offerings (6 from all 3 labels).
Tour the Steller’s Jay cave with wine in hand, taste the Black Sage Vineyard wines and Sumac Ridge labels paired with small bites. The Spring Wine Festival is the kick off for this event running until October 7th.
Details: May 1st – October 7th
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Sumac Ridge Estate Winery – $25.00pp + tax
Naramata & Penticton
New Taste of Spring
Featuring a barrel tasting of all spring releases while learning about the history and family behind Da Silva Vineyard.
Details: May 2nd – 12th
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Da Silva Vineyard and Winery – Complimentary
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Cheers to International #Merlot day! #internationalmerlotday #bcwine #redwine #winewednesday
Merlot Vertical
Taste Merlot wines by Township 7 from 5 vintages from 2012 to 2016.
I love these kinds of events that showcase how weather, ageing and other various influences can change the grapes from year to year.
Details: May 4th & May 22nd
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Township 7 Vineyards & Winery – $21.77 + tax
The Art of Pairing
One of the great views of Skaha Lake with a gorgeous architectural tasting room, Painted Rock walks you through pairing food and wine with cheese, charcuterie and chocolate.
Details: May 11th & 12th
11:00 am – 5:30 pm
Painted Rock Estate Winery – Complimentary
Okanagan Falls
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Hard to believe this was only one month ago! @suezzeq here’s to many more trips up the mountain.
MAJOR’S FAVOURITES WINE & FOOD PAIRINGS
I seriously love this winery. It has the most majestic view of any winery in the entire Okanagan!
Enjoy small bites and wines with your view. Dig into the history of this property while you’re there!
Details: May 3rd, 4th & 5th
11:30 – 3:30 pm
See Ya Later Ranch – $25.00
Oliver
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We’ve released our 2013 Silica and Alluvia wines. Come on down and taste the terroir.
Escape from the Vinstitute!
This is that winery event that I mentioned at the beginning of this post.
Truly a unique winery experience in that it offers BC’s first winery escape room! Test yourself and escape the cellar before the clock runs out!
Details: May 1st-10th & 12th
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Intersection Estate Winery – $30
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Beautiful day on the Golden Mile. Join us for #bcwine and music on the patio from 1-4 today
Wine Flights and Bites
During the Spring Wine Festival you can get a charcuterie plate with local meats and cheeses to pair with a flight of 3 Hester Creek wines each!
Details: May 3rd – 10th
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Hester Creek Estate Winery – $25 per couple + tax
Osoyoos
Moon Curser’s Something Old, Something New
Try new spring releases along with 3 library wines, hence something old and something new!
Details: May 1st-12th
10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Moon Curser Vineyards – Tasting fees apply
What events do you plan to attend?
Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks and Images really tell the story of each one. We will check a few of them out. Thanks.
Hi Murissa,
You have detailed some great wineries here, and we just love these sorts of tours. Images really tell the story of each one. We will check a few of them out. Thanks.
Cheers Sharon…
Thanks Sharon!
Enjoy your trip and let me know if you want to join a tour or if I can help in trip planning in any way!
The real question here: how do I get from one event to the next without driving intoxicated? Are there tours that can get you around? I’m, um, asking for a friend.
Lol Hi Chris,
Yes there are tours, however, most of these events aren’t on the same day or in the same area so you can plan one or two events for one evening and space them out over the entire Okanagan Wine Fest. You can also take a taxi and stay at a nearby AirBnB or hotel of course. Another option, to maximize your wine tasting, is to spit the wine.
I hadn’t realized all the inexpensive options, especially for wineries. We’ll have to off on our next journey through BC. Really enjoyed the read.
SEVENTEEN wine events? Clearly, I’m in the wrong part of the world! What a great line up for anyone wanting to taste wines from the region! Wish I could go!
Yup! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more ticketed events to go to as well. Spring and Fall Okanagan Wine Festivals are my personal favourites.