Frequently Asked Questions
Roots & Vines Tour Co. offers morning and afternoon tours. Our Adventure tours start first thing in the morning with an activity, lunch stop, then brewery or wine tour. If you want to get out on the ale trail or wine tour after breakfast and enjoy the earlier part of the day, then this is a wonderful time to tour. If you are on holidays and like to sleep in and have a leisurely first part of your day, then book a tour in between lunch and dinner. It’s beautiful any time you choose, so just let us know!
Wherever you are staying, (Lake Country, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Peachland and Summerland) we are happy to be there to greet you with a smile and pick you up for your Roots & Vines Tour adventure. For pick ups outside regular pick up radius, there is an extra transport cost. Give us call with the pick up address and we can let you know how much the extra cost will be. Through our communication with you, we will be setting up a departure time.
Yes. If you want to participate in the tastings of wine, beer or any other alcoholic beverages, you must be prepared to produce 2 pieces of identification, if requested. The first piece of identification must be issued by a government agency (Canadian or other) and include the person’s name, birth date and picture. The second piece of ID is required to verify the authenticity of the first piece of ID. It must include an imprint of the person’s name and include the person’s signature and/or picture.
We would welcome you to express your gratitude of your wine tasting experience and the expertise of your guide, in the form of a tip, whether added to payment of tour or handed directly to your guide. Tourism is a major part of the success of the Okanagan, especially during the summer months. Gratuities range from 15-20% of the value of your tour and may be added in advance or paid directly to the guide at the conclusion of the Tour.
Side note: Groups of 8 guests or larger, there will be an automatic 15% gratuity added to the cost
For guests celebrating something extra special and want more of a private experience, we have a couple of private tour options. These options allow your group to have a private vehicle and a qualified tour guide for the duration of your tour.
For larger groups we have a Ford Transit high roof 14 passenger vehicle. Mimimim 10 person booking for this vehicle (again, if your group is smaller than 10 guests, and you still would like to choose the private option, then you pay for the minimum requirement of ten guests). We also have a Ford Transit – medium roof – 11 passenger that would require a minimum of 8 guests or the cost of 8 guests. Please call the office if you have any questions regarding the private tours options.
Absolutely not. We are very strict about upholding the liquor laws in BC. “Liquor in a container that has been opened or has a broken factory seal must not be readily accessible to anyone in a motor vehicle. Possession of open liquor in any private or commercial motor vehicle (such as a party bus or a limo) is illegal whether the motor vehicle is moving or not.” - BC Liquor Law Policy
No, tastings are included in the price of your tour. If you have a special interest in other wines that are not on the tasting list, such as port-style or ice wine, we can arrange that for you. An additional cost for this special tasting will be required.
We do our best to stick to the itinerary and visit each of the wineries listed. At times, we will have to adjust the tour because of the high volume of visitors. What we can guarantee is that our guides will make every effort to provide you with the best experience ever.
Can I visit this winery? In order to accommodate our guests who desire to visit Mission Hill Estate Winery, we offer the option of a private tour, booked in advance.This way, our guests can spend the time needed to get the most of the trip to Mission Hill Estate Winery; tour of the grounds, facility tour, wine tastings and lunch at the Terrace Restaurant. If you are interested in booking a tour of Mission Hill, give us a call and will happily arrange this tour for you. 🙂
Some wineries offer ‘facility tours’ that require advanced booking at an additional cost. Please inquire at the time of booking.
No, but we encourage you to taste every wine presented to you to expand your horizons and find your new favourites. Even for the non-drinkers, there are many aspects to the day that will be dazzling and satisfying: the beauty of the landscape and vineyards, hearing the history of Kelowna and area, enjoying local cuisine and best of all, meeting friendly faces along the wine trail.
Yes, our vehicles are equipped with enough room to ensure wine purchased is safe and kept at an ideal temperature in an onboard cooler. Our guides will happily assist you to store any purchases.
Smell plays a huge role in that beautiful miracle which is our sense of taste. Cologne and perfume can interrupt your ability to savour and enjoy the subtleties of wine tasting. So feel free to get your bling on, but keep in mind that some of your beauty products can get in the way of ‘tasting,’ including perfume, cologne, hand lotion and lipstick.
Sometimes we venture out into the vineyards for a closer look, so we suggest good walking shoes or strap-on sandals, and possibly sunscreen. Just be aware of the forecast the day of your tour and dress appropriate for the weather.