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Wine tasting with kids in tow: Our Okanagan Getaway
- Sheri Walker
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
After a bit of a rocky start to our summer with broken elbows and illnesses we have had the best summer yet. Both girls are healthy, happy, and swimming every day. We’ve enjoyed slow mornings, sunny evenings and everything in between. I have been able to tackle a home reno of patching drywall in our master bedroom. Most recently, we spent 10 days in Okanagan Falls, a small town on Skaha lake about 30 minutes from Penticton, BC. We rented a home on the lake with our extended family (husband’s side). This meant we had 8 adults and 4 children under 6 yrs in one house. Which sounds crazy (and it was) but it also worked really well. We had a pickleball tournament, long days at the lake, played tennis, winery tours, and trips to Tickleberry’s ice-cream. My girls were in their element and it was such a pleasure to watch them enjoy every minute. It was a clear reminder of the privilege of being a parent and the joy it brings watching our children grow and flourish.
After spending time at wineries near Oliver and Penticton, I wanted to take the opportunity to share my top 4 wineries:
Burrowing Owl Winery:
This winery was absolutely beautiful. The tasting room and grounds were stunning. We had lunch here and the restaurant, the Sonora Room, was lovely as well. We had to sit inside due to wind (our menus literally flew off the table), but the views from the patio overlooking the winery and valley were really stunning.
The tasting fee was $5 and goes directly to an owl rehabilitation charity.
The wines were delicious and the hosts were friendly and knowledgeable.
My favourites were the Voigner and the port.
If you’re planning to stay for lunch, my recommendations would be the grilled cheese and the lemon and prawn risotto.
One of my dreams is to stay at one of the villas at this winery. The pool looks like one you would find at a Tuscan Villa. At $1169 per night during peak season I will have to start working a lot of overtime!
Red Rooster
We stopped by Red Rooster on our self-guided e-bike tour. This winery is gorgeous. The buildings are white and almost look like a spanish villa and the view of the naramata valley and lake okanagan are stunning.
The tasting fee is $10 which is very reasonable. The service was excellent, and they were accommodating to our large group of 12! The kids were able to play on the lawn in the shade, so they were content. My favourite wines were: the Pinot 3, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. They also offer charcuterie items to buy which is helpful if you are feeling peckish!
D’Angelo Winery
Our first stop on our e-bike tour was D’Angelo estate winery. This was a super welcoming family-run winery that didn’t have the fanciest grounds but it was perfect. They had a play set that our kids loved playing on. Their tasting was free and included a generous amount of wine. For white wines, I loved the Voigner. For red, the pinot noir and sette coppa, and lastly for Port the Dolce Vita Bianca was lovely.
There is also a food truck available that serves Italian sandwiches that looked delicious. We had lunch before our tour, but if we go again I would definitely save room for one of those sandwiches.
Noble Ridge Winery
One of my favourite wineries is Noble Ridge Winery in Ok Falls. We go there every year and always have a great time. The wines are delicious, the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. This year after our tasting we shared a bottle of wine at the picnic tables overlooking the lake. They even had colouring and crayons for the kids.
My favourite wines: Pinot Noir, Meritage, and Vilicus Viogner.
The beautiful Noble Ridge patio
Summary:
We have had a summer to remember for sure. If you get a chance to visit the Okanagan, I would encourage you to check out one of these wineries. And if you do, let me know how your experience was. I wish you a wonderful last couple weeks of summer holidays.
Cheers!
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