Lake Country Scenic Sip Wine Tour – 5 wineries on the tour

Wine country works best at an easy pace. This Lake Country tour links family-run vineyards, organic farming, and Okanagan views in a small group, so you can taste without worrying about driving. I especially like the door-to-door pickup and the included snacks, water, and tasting fees. The air-conditioned vehicle is another welcome touch on a warm British Columbia day. One thing to watch: the tour is advertised as five wineries, but the published route lists six possible stops, so confirm the exact lineup before booking.

The strongest part may be the human side of the ride. Chris is praised for his good humor and strong knowledge of the wineries and area, while Rod earns special credit for making the day feel easy from pickup to drop-off. The main drawback is that lunch is not included, and a tasting-heavy outing can run anywhere from three to six hours, depending on the route and pace.

Key points to know before you book

• Small groups capped at 12: You get a more personal ride than on a large coach, with room for questions and conversation.
• Six named winery options on a five-winery tour: Arrowleaf, Blind Tiger, Ex Nihilo, Intrigue, Peak Cellars, and Ancient Hill are listed, so ask which five will be visited.
• Pickup reaches beyond Kelowna on full-day tours: Pickup is offered at many hotels, B&Bs, vacation rentals, Airbnbs, and campgrounds.
• Tastings, snacks, and water are included: Ice wine and specialty pours may cost extra, and wine purchases are separate.
• The scenery is part of the experience: Expect orchards, vineyards, mountains, and Okanagan Lake views between stops.
• The guide can make or break the day: Names such as Chris and Rod have received especially warm praise for their humor, local information, and smooth driving.

A relaxed way to see Lake Country wine country

The Lake Country Scenic Sip tour is built for people who want to taste several Okanagan wines without arranging a driver, studying maps, or limiting themselves to one glass. You meet at the Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna at 11:00 a.m., unless you arrange pickup elsewhere.

I like the size of this outing. With a maximum of 12 people, you are not dealing with a full-size bus and a long roll call at every tasting room. A small vehicle also makes it easier to ask about the vineyards, compare wines, or simply enjoy the countryside without feeling rushed by a crowd.

The tour price is $163.87 per person. That is not a bargain-basement wine outing, but it covers transportation, door-to-door pickup and drop-off, bottled water, snacks, and tasting fees in most cases. You are also paying for a sober driver and a planned route through five wineries, which makes the cost easier to justify if you would otherwise need a taxi, rental car, or private driver.

The duration needs a little care. The experience is described as lasting about three to six hours. That is a wide range, and the difference matters if you have evening plans. The named stops are each allotted about 30 minutes, but driving time, tasting pace, group size, and the number of wineries visited can change the total.

The route begins at Arrowleaf Cellars

Arrowleaf Cellars is a family-owned winery in Lake Country with a clear sense of place. Its winemaker, Manuel Zuppiger, trained in Switzerland and later refined his work in Australia before returning to British Columbia. That international background gives the first stop a useful point of conversation: you can think about how winemaking methods travel, while the grapes and climate remain firmly Okanagan.

The winery opened in 2003, first pouring its 2001 red wines and 2002 whites. Its tasting room, opened in 2014, was designed by architect Robert Mackenzie, so the setting is part of the visit rather than an afterthought.

You have about 30 minutes here, with admission included. That is enough time for a guided tasting and a quick look around, but it is not a long winery tour. I would treat Arrowleaf as a strong introduction to the day, not as a place to linger over lunch or spend an afternoon.

Blind Tiger brings organic vineyard practices into view

Blind Tiger Vineyards offers a smaller family-run setting and a different story from the larger estate wineries. The property was once an alpaca farm, then the family began planting vines. Its first blocks of Riesling and Gewürztraminer went in during 2010, followed later by Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The vineyard received organic certification from the North Okanagan Organic Association in 2013. Its approach uses natural compost fertilizers, limited chemical intervention, sulphur to control fungus, and heritage chickens that roam the rows to help with pest control.

That last detail gives you something concrete to look for. Organic certification can sound abstract when it is reduced to a label, but here the farming choices are easy to picture. You can ask how the vineyard manages its soil and vines, then taste wines made from those rows.

Again, plan on roughly 30 minutes. This is a tasting stop, not a long farm visit. The smaller scale may appeal to you if family ownership and hands-on farming matter more than grand architecture.

Ex Nihilo adds art and a personal origin story

Ex Nihilo Vineyards grew from the shared dream of Decoa and Jeff Harder. The name comes from a sculpture that inspired the couple during a 1999 trip to Napa Valley. They later named their winery Ex Nihilo, Latin for out of nothing, and built it into an award-winning Okanagan producer.

The original sculpture by Frederick Hart is associated with the west façade entrance of Washington National Cathedral. Knowing that connection gives the winery more character than a simple tasting counter. You are visiting a place shaped by art, travel, and a long-held plan.

With about 30 minutes here, you will likely focus on the wines and the story behind the name. I appreciate this kind of stop because it reminds you that wineries are not only agricultural businesses. They are also expressions of family ambition, design, and taste.

As with the other visits, the short schedule means you should not expect a full behind-the-scenes production tour unless the guide or winery staff specifically includes one that day.

Intrigue Wines keeps the partnership story front and center

Intrigue Wines began in 2008 when two families joined forces around their shared interest in wine. The partners bring different professional backgrounds: winemaking, accounting, internet entrepreneurship, and healthcare advising.

That mix tells you something useful about the winery. It is not presented as the project of one traditional wine family alone. Instead, it grew from several people combining skills and curiosity. I would listen for how those different roles shape the business and the wines.

The 30-minute visit fits well in a multi-stop route. Intrigue gives the tour another small-production perspective, balancing the larger estate feel you may find elsewhere. The tradeoff is simple: five or six stops in one day means no single winery receives much time. You get range rather than a detailed study of one producer.

Peak Cellars supplies the big views

Peak Cellars is set on the 300-acre Carrs Landing estate, with 110 acres planted to vines. The property looks across orchards, vineyards, rolling mountains, and Okanagan Lake. If scenery matters to you, this is likely one of the most rewarding pauses on the route.

The estate includes 300 metres of winding tunnels and 12,000 square feet of cave space for storing and aging wine. That underground design adds a physical sense of scale. You are not just tasting in a small room and leaving; you are seeing how a substantial winery uses its property and buildings.

The stop is scheduled for about 30 minutes, so make time for the view. Keep your phone ready, but do not spend the whole pause taking pictures. The changing mix of lake, hills, orchards, and vines is one of the reasons to visit Lake Country by road rather than treat the day as a series of indoor tastings.

Ancient Hill may change the five-winery count

Ancient Hill Estate Winery is listed as another possible stop, with a selection of wines that may not be available at many other wineries. That makes it appealing if you want less familiar bottles or something beyond the standard regional lineup.

Here is the practical issue: the tour title says five wineries, while the route information names Arrowleaf, Blind Tiger, Ex Nihilo, Intrigue, Peak Cellars, and Ancient Hill. Each stop is shown as about 30 minutes. The most sensible reading is that Ancient Hill may be substituted into the route, or that the exact selection changes by day.

I would contact Metropolis Wine Tours before booking if visiting a particular winery matters to you. Do not assume all six are included simply because all six are named. This is the one point where the published details need clarification.

What the guide and vehicle add to the day

Wine tasting is only half the product. The ride between wineries matters just as much, especially after several pours. The air-conditioned vehicle keeps the journey comfortable, and included bottled water is useful for staying refreshed.

The guide also provides local context and keeps the route moving. Chris has been praised for his area and winery knowledge, along with a good sense of humor. Rod receives especially strong credit for the overall experience, including pickup and drop-off at home. Those comments point to an important truth: a capable driver can turn a string of appointments into a pleasant day out.

Pickup is offered at most hotels, B&Bs, vacation rentals, Airbnbs, and campgrounds. Full-day pickup areas include Kelowna, West Kelowna, Vernon, Summerland, and Penticton. The stated meeting point is the Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan Resort at 1310 Water Street in Kelowna, and the tour returns there if you start at that location.

The route is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, and the operator says most people can participate. If you need a specific pickup location or have mobility concerns, confirm details before paying.

What is included, and what you still pay for

The package includes snacks, bottled water, transportation, pickup and drop-off, and tasting fees. Ice wine and specialty wines may not be covered, so ask before ordering an unusual or premium pour.

Lunch is not included. That is easy to overlook when the day centers on food and drink. The tour begins at 11:00 a.m., and a three to six hour schedule can carry you well into the afternoon. Bring money for a meal if the route includes a lunch break, and do not count on the included snacks to replace one.

Wine and food purchases are also separate, as is provincial sales tax. I like having the freedom to buy only what I want, but you should allow room in your budget if a favorite bottle follows you home.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made inside that window are not accepted for a refund, and the cutoff uses local time.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this experience if you want variety, scenery, and easy transportation in one package. It suits couples, friends, solo visitors, and small groups who prefer a planned day but do not want a large coach tour.

It is also a good fit if you are staying in Kelowna and want to see Lake Country without assigning one person to drive. The included tastings remove much of the small-cost juggling that can make a winery day awkward.

You may want another option if you need a long lunch, extensive cellar tours, or a guaranteed visit to one specific winery. The half-hour stops favor breadth. You will sample several producers and hear several stories, but you will not have much time to settle into each property.

The 12-person maximum helps, yet it does not make the day private. If you want complete control over departure times, tasting length, and lunch, a private tour may suit you better. For a shared outing, though, the group limit is sensible.

Should you book the Lake Country Scenic Sip tour?

I would book it if you value safe transport, varied wineries, and broad Okanagan views more than a slow, single-estate visit. The price is reasonable for the included driver, vehicle, pickup, snacks, water, and tastings, especially when the route reaches beyond central Kelowna.

Before paying, confirm which five wineries are scheduled, whether Ancient Hill replaces another stop, and how long your specific tour is expected to run. If you handle those details and bring money for lunch and purchases, this is a practical, friendly way to spend a wine-country day.

FAQ

Where does the Lake Country Scenic Sip tour start?

The listed meeting point is Delta Hotels Grand Okanagan Resort, 1310 Water Street, Kelowna, British Columbia. The stated start time is 11:00 a.m.

Does the tour offer hotel pickup?

Yes. Pickup is offered at most hotels, B&Bs, vacation rentals, Airbnbs, and campgrounds.

Which areas have pickup on full-day tours?

Full-day pickup locations are available in Kelowna, West Kelowna, Vernon, Summerland, and Penticton.

How many wineries does the tour visit?

The tour is described as visiting five wineries, but six possible wineries are named: Arrowleaf Cellars, Blind Tiger Vineyards, Ex Nihilo Vineyards, Intrigue Wines, Peak Cellars, and Ancient Hill Estate Winery. Confirm the exact route before booking.

Is lunch included?

No. Snacks and water are included, but lunch is not.

Are wine tastings included in the price?

Tasting fees are included, except possibly for ice wine or specialty wines. Wine purchases are not included.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 12 people.

Is the tour accessible to everyone?

The operator says most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. No further accessibility details are provided, so confirm your needs before booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.