A day of wine tasting should end with great memories and not a stressful decision about who is driving home. With outstanding wineries stretching from Vernon to Penticton, including Lake Country, Kelowna and West Kelowna, wine lovers have plenty to explore. However, the smartest way to enjoy it is to plan your transportation before the first tasting. As we excitedly pointed out in our last blog, MyDDride now serves customers throughout Kelowna!
Discover Kelowna wine country.
Tourism Kelowna reports that there are more than 40 wineries within a short drive of Kelowna. They offer everything from modern estates to intimate, family-run vineyards. In West Kelowna, the Westside Wine Trail features well-known destinations such as Mission Hill Family Estate, Quails’ Gate Winery, Volcanic Hills Estate Winery and Grizzli Winery. Visitors can combine tastings with impressive architecture, vineyard views and the scenery surrounding Okanagan Lake.
If you head north to Lake Country, the experience changes again. The aptly named Scenic Sip route offers lake and mountain views alongside wineries such as Arrowleaf Cellars, Ex Nihilo and Gray Monk. Tourism Kelowna notes that “there is a reason Lake Country’s wine route is called the Scenic Sip”. It’s thanks to its rolling hills and inviting scenery.
Get someone else to organize the wine portion of the day.
Sip Happens Wine Tours offers premium guided experiences throughout the region. According to Sip Happens, the company has more than 15 years of experience creating tours built around “comfort, style, and memorable days in wine country.” Its options include Kelowna, Lake Country, West Kelowna, Penticton, Summerland and other wine destinations, with experiences suited to celebrations, first-time visitors and corporate groups.
That combination can work particularly well. You can enjoy an organized wine tour during the day, then arrange a designated driver to get you and your own vehicle safely home afterward.
Your ride home matters.
Wine tasting can make it difficult to accurately judge whether you’re fit to drive. The safer decision is simple. Don’t leave it to chance. ICBC advises British Columbians to “plan ahead for a safe ride home” whenever an activity involves drinking. They offer statistics that show why that matters. 21% of fatal crashes in B.C. involve impaired driving, with an average of 65 deaths each year. ICBC specifically recommends using a designated driver as one safe transportation option.
Tourism Kelowna offers similar advice for wine touring, recommending that anyone choosing a self-guided itinerary have a designated driver. It also suggests visiting roughly two to four wineries per day, with three providing a comfortable pace for enjoying the tastings, food and surroundings.
MyDDride makes getting home easy!
MyDDride provides a Designated Driver Service in Kelowna and throughout the corridor from Vernon to Penticton, including Lake Country and West Kelowna. Unlike simply leaving your vehicle behind, our service gets both you and your vehicle home. A sober MyDDride driver drives your vehicle while a support driver follows in a separate chase car.
So go ahead and enjoy the vineyards, discover a new favourite bottle and make the most of your winery tour! Just make the safe ride home part of the plan. Simply call or text us at our new Kelowna number, 1-250-283-0132 or visit our Contact page to schedule your designated driver today!