Cruise amidst emerald-laced vineyards and age-old wineries as you sip on world-renowned wines. Welcome aboard the vineyard voyage, an extraordinary experience that marries the charm of winemaking with the tranquility of lake cruises. As you traverse the azure waters, brace yourself for a sensory exploration in Canada's wine country.
Unveiling Penticton's Wine Scene
Penticton, draped in vine-clad slopes, is home to an impressive array of wineries producing an enticing range of wines. From ruby red Pinot Noir to refreshing Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer, the wineries are renowned for their robust selection. Their meticulously cultivated vineyards stretch over hundreds of acres, crafting unique wine flavours that grace tables worldwide.
Blending Wine Tasting and Lake Cruises
Taking wine-lovers from the wineries to the waters, the vineyard voyages are an innovation in wine tasting experiences. Combining the wine romance with scenic landscape viewings, these lake cruises immerse you into the beauty surrounding Penticton. The course charted across tranquil waters grants splendid sights of the city's outsized vineyards, glimmering under the sun, their grape-laden vines dancing with the wind.
Wine Tours
If you'd like to do an organized tour, then West Kelowna Wine Tours has two options:
Naramata Wine and Lunch Boat Cruise
Embark on a delightful wine and lunch boat cruise from Monday to Saturday, starting with tastings at Lake Breeze Winery, Bench 1775, and Hillside Winery, where lunch is served from 11:45 AM to 12:45 PM. Continue to Ruby Blues before boarding the Casabella Princess at 1:30 PM for a serene cruise across Okanagan Lake, concluding on the Penticton side. This tour runs from 9:30/10 AM to 3:30 PM, costs $150 per person, and requires a minimum group of six. The package includes the boat cruise, water, tastings, and lunch.
Naramata Wine and Dinner Boat Cruise
Join the Naramata Wine and Dinner Boat Cruise on Wednesdays, beginning with visits to La Frenz, Ruby Blues, Hillside Winery, Lake Breeze, and Bench 1775. At 5:30 PM, board the Casabella Princess for a relaxing dinner cruise featuring a choice of BBQ burger, salmon, ribs, or vegetarian meal, along with a dessert. This tour starts at 2 PM and ends at 8:30 PM, costing $115 per person with a minimum group of six. The trip includes water, tastings, dinner, and the boat cruise.
Winery Highlights
Among a myriad of wineries operating in Penticton, some stand as a benchmark of perfection, indispensable for any wine connoisseur. The Hillside Winery calls for a stop with its first planting dating back to 1984. Their extensive wine affair is reflected in their refreshing Muscat that's a bright, floral delight. For a wine tasting tour, Ruby Blues Winery extends an enjoyable journey into the world of wines with informative hosts providing valuable insights into the craft of winemaking. Penticton's sparkling wines from selected wineries, alone in their finesse, command an honorary mention.
Romancing The Vines
Penticton's vineyard voyage isn't just about wines; it's a romance with vineyards themselves. As you sail serenely, the view of sprawling vineyards across both banks narrates a compelling tale of winemaking endeavours. Shifting hues with seasons, from emerald green in the spring to a flaming orange in the fall, these vineyards offer a changing landscape painting that complements the wine tasting, invoking a sense of harmony with nature.
Cruise Cuisine
To accentuate the wine tasting, the vineyard voyages offer an assortment of locally produced cuisine combined with flavours reminiscent of Penticton. Paired with the city's finest wines, the sumptuous gastronomic experience heightens the wine appreciation, offering a complete sensory indulgence.
Sailing into The Sunsets
The vineyard voyages in Penticton take a transcendental twist with sunset cruises. As the scarlet sun dips into the rippling waters, the sky casting hues of orange, pink, and purple, savour the breathtaking spectacle with a glass of Penticton's finest wine. A toast to a day well spent, a love for wine well explored, sailing into the sunset aboard the vineyard voyage is truly the fitting crescendo to the alluring symphony of wine tasting on lake cruises.
