Naramata Bench 5 Winery Tour

One day, five wineries, big Okanagan flavor. The Naramata Bench 5 Winery Tour strings together tastings with a guided look at winemaking, plus reserved time for a proper winery bistro lunch.

I especially like the mix of well-known bench scenery and small-room personalities, from Ruby Blues fun to Bench 1775 views. I also like that you get hotel/accommodation pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle, plus tasting fees are included so you can actually budget the day.

One consideration: this is a tight schedule in about 6 hours, so if you want long, slow hangs at each winery, you may feel slightly rushed between stops.

Key highlights you should know

• Five winery stops with guided tastings and included admission fees
• Small group size up to 14 people, so questions actually get answered
• Pickup plus air-conditioned transport for an easier day on the road
• A longer, food-focused stop at Lake Breeze with farm-to-table patio time
• Three Sisters tasting flight of 5 wines included, plus vineyard and patio access
• Lunch is reserved but not included, so plan that extra cost up front

A 6-hour Naramata Bench loop with five winery stops

This tour is built for people who want a full Okanagan winery day without playing logistics detective. You’re out for about 6 hours, and you hit five wineries with tasting time at each one. In practice, that means you get a range of styles and vibes, instead of repeating the same tasting room routine five times in a row.

The pace is “enough time to taste and chat,” not “all day at one place.” Each stop is clearly timed, so you will be moving. If that sounds like your idea of a good day, you’ll probably love it. If your dream day is lingering with zero schedule pressure, you might want something more flexible.

One practical win: bottled water is included, and you’re in an air-conditioned vehicle. On a warm bench day, that keeps the day from feeling like nonstop sweating and sun.

Price and what $164.10 realistically buys you

At $164.10 per person, this is not a budget sampler. But it is also not just paying for a driver and a vague promise of tastings.

Here’s what your money covers, based on what’s included:

• Hotel/accommodation pickup and drop-off
• Guided tour
• Tasting fees included
• Bottled water
• An admission ticket at each winery stop (you’re not hunting down what costs extra)
• A mobile ticket

Then there’s what costs extra:

• Lunch cost (your lunch is reserved, but you pay for it)
• Gratuity

When you compare that to the real cost of booking tastings individually in the Okanagan, the included tasting fees and transport do a lot of heavy lifting. If you’re the type who likes tasting at multiple wineries anyway, the tour price is usually easier to justify.

Also, average advance booking is about 31 days. That’s a hint this tour fills up in prime season, so booking earlier usually keeps your choices open.

Pickup, timing, and how to plan your morning from 10:30am

Start time is 10:30am, and you’re asked to be ready 15 minutes before your scheduled pickup time. The tour notes that the exact pickup time is confirmed by text the day before, and the pickup may be earlier if you’re staying outside the Penticton and Naramata area to allow for travel time.

This matters because wine tours are one of those activities where arriving “almost on time” can still leave you waiting or rerouting. I’d treat this like a day-trip commitment, not an optional coffee break.

A key detail to plan around: Vernon and Sparkling Hill pickups cannot be accommodated on this tour. If you’re staying in those areas, you’ll need a different tour option that specifically covers Vernon or Sparkling Hill.

Good to know: the tour is offered in English, and the meeting point is listed as near public transportation. That gives you a Plan B if your lodging pickup is complicated.

Stop-by-stop: what each winery experience is like on the bench

This tour moves through the Naramata Bench in a way that feels designed, not random. Each stop is long enough to taste thoughtfully and still keep the day moving.

Stop 1: Ruby Blues Winery (about 45 minutes)

Ruby Blues starts the day with a fun, inviting vibe. The focus here is enjoyment, and the tone is happy and welcoming, with wines meant to be approachable rather than intimidating.

For you, this is a great first stop because you’ll likely get your bearings fast. After the drive, it helps to warm up with a place that feels social and easy.

Potential drawback: because the vibe is light and the time is set at about 45 minutes, don’t expect deep, technical back-and-forth. This is more about getting in, tasting, and resetting your palate for the next stops.

Stop 2: Bench 1775 Winery (about 45 minutes)

Next up, Bench 1775 gives you the “wow” factor with breathtaking lake and mountain views along the bench. If scenery matters to your tasting experience, this stop is built for you.

The wines are described as refined, with national recognition and accolades. That usually means you’ll taste more structured expressions, often with a focus on balance and craft rather than purely fruit-forward easy drinking.

What to watch for: a refined tasting can feel a bit more formal, especially if you’re used to playful tasting rooms. The payoff is the combination of views plus wines that aim for consistency and polish.

Stop 3: Lake Breeze Vineyards Tasting Room (about 1 hour 30 minutes)

This is the long stop, and it’s the one that turns the day toward food and atmosphere. Lake Breeze isn’t just about the view of the whole Naramata Bench and Okanagan Lake, it’s also about the farm-to-table patio and the local Okanagan food you can feel good about.

You also get extra little moments that make the visit feel like more than a tasting counter. The tour info calls out a resident set of animals, including chickens and pigs, and there’s a house-made latte you can grab on the way out.

For you, this stop is ideal if you want a break from pure wine tasting and a chance to slow your breathing. The 1 hour 30 minutes window also gives you time to regroup before the final two tastings.

Consideration: this longer stop can make the rest of the day feel even more schedule-tight. If you tend to linger, keep an eye on the clock and don’t let lunch and patio time steal too much of your remaining energy.

Stop 4: Wesbert Winery (about 45 minutes)

Wesbert takes a different approach, focusing on minimal intervention and letting the fruit and terroir speak. The promise here is balanced, full-flavoured wines that should work for a lot of occasions, not just one wine-snob mood.

If you like learning how winemaking choices translate into what you taste, this stop fits. It’s also a good midpoint before the final winery, because it can shift your palate from big fruit moments toward something more structured.

Potential drawback: the minimal-intervention style can mean the wines feel subtle compared with fruit-forward bottlings. You might need to taste with a bit more attention, not just sip and smile.

Stop 5: Three Sisters Winery (about 45 minutes)

Three Sisters rounds out the day with a very clear tasting structure: you get a flight of 5 wines included. You also have access to the vineyards and the patio, plus time for wine purchasing.

This stop is great if you want a guided tasting that makes comparisons easy. You’ll be able to line up your impressions across multiple wines without guessing how the flight works.

For buying decisions, this is also a practical moment. You’ve spent the day tasting broadly, and now you can choose from a set you’ve already tried.

Consideration: because the tasting flight and purchasing time are built into a 45-minute window, be ready to make decisions with less time than you’d have if you were shopping solo.

Lunch at a winery bistro, and how to budget the day

You’ll have lunch as part of the tour with reservations at a winery bistro. That’s a real advantage, because you’re not relying on luck or trying to find a last-minute table in a busy wine region.

But lunch cost is not included. So I’d plan for it as a separate line item and avoid surprise sticker shock later. If you’re trying to keep the day under a certain total budget, decide in advance whether you’ll do a full meal or a lighter plate.

A smart move: eat something before your first wine tastings? Not required, but it can make the rest of the day more comfortable. If you’re already used to drinking wine tastings on an empty stomach, still be kind to yourself. Your palate will thank you.

What the guided winemaking lesson adds (and what it doesn’t)

One of the big reasons to book this type of guided bench tour is that you learn the process of winemaking from scratch, not just how to pronounce varietals.

This matters because it changes how you taste. If you know what winemakers are trying to achieve from fruit to glass, you stop treating wine as random flavors and start noticing patterns like structure, balance, and how different styles show up in your glass.

That said, the tour does not replace a classroom or a full technical course. This is a tour experience, so you’ll get helpful context and practical explanations, but you’ll still want to ask questions in the tasting room if you want deeper detail.

Also, the pacing means you’ll get a guided story at each stop, then you taste to see if that story matches your palate. That loop is where the value lives.

The small-group feel, and guides who keep it fun

This tour caps at 14 travelers, and that matters. Smaller groups mean fewer people competing for attention at the tasting bar and more chance to hear the guide’s explanations clearly.

In the feedback tied to this experience, the guide names that come up are Vicky and Don, both described as fun, informative, and easy-going. That combination is important on a wine tour because you want someone who can keep the day moving while still making you feel looked after.

I’d also interpret the “nothing too much trouble” style comments as a sign this tour tends to be responsive. If you like tours where the guide handles the tricky details so you can focus on tasting, you’re in the right place.

Wine tasting, buying, and how to avoid decision fatigue

By the end of the day, five flights and tastings can blur together, especially if you’re trying to remember every nuance. Here’s how I’d handle it to make the experience pay off:

• Pick one theme per stop, like acidity or balance, so you’re not trying to rank everything at once
• Taste first, then ask questions while it’s fresh
• If you plan to buy, decide after your last tasting options, not mid-day. You’ll be more confident when comparing choices at the end

Three Sisters includes a 5-wine flight, which is a natural moment to take notes or at least mentally tag what you liked. Then you can carry those preferences into purchasing without second-guessing yourself.

And if you’re buying bottles, keep in mind you’re in a day tour. You’ll want to travel-ready decisions and not overstock.

Who this tour suits best on your next Okanagan trip

This is a strong fit if you:

• Want to cover a lot of wineries in a single day without driving
• Enjoy bench views and want scenic stops paired with tastings
• Like guided context about winemaking basics
• Prefer a small group over big bus tours

It also suits you if you’re traveling with friends or a couple and want a shared day with built-in structure, including a longer food-oriented stop at Lake Breeze.

If your priority is complete freedom to linger as long as you want, you may find the time blocks limiting. But if you like the idea of a well-run loop with clear stops, the schedule is part of the appeal.

Should you book the Naramata Bench 5 Winery Tour?

Yes, if you want a day that feels planned but not stiff. The value is strongest when you want transport plus tasting fees included, and you like the idea of five different wineries in about six hours.

I’d especially recommend it if Lake Breeze’s farm-to-table patio and the longer tasting window are on your wishlist, and if you want a final stop at Three Sisters where the 5-wine flight is included and purchasing is easy.

Skip it or reconsider if you are staying in Vernon or Sparkling Hill and specifically need pickup from there, or if you hate being on a schedule and would rather roam slowly at fewer wineries.

If you book, bring a small notepad or use your phone for quick tasting notes. The day moves fast, and little reminders help you remember what you loved when you’re back home.

FAQ

How long is the Naramata Bench 5 Winery Tour?

The tour lasts about 6 hours.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $164.10 per person.

How many wineries do you visit?

You visit five wineries: Ruby Blues Winery, Bench 1775 Winery, Lake Breeze Vineyards Tasting Room, Wesbert Winery, and Three Sisters Winery.

What is included in the price?

Included are hotel or accommodation pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, tasting fees, a guided tour, and admission tickets for the winery stops. The tour also uses a mobile ticket.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is part of the day with reservations, but the lunch cost is not included.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 10:30am. Your final pickup time is confirmed by text the day before, and you should be ready 15 minutes early.

Are pickup locations available for Vernon or Sparkling Hill?

Pickup from Vernon and Sparkling Hill cannot be accommodated on this tour.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

How many people are in the group?

The maximum group size is 14 travelers.

Is gratuity included?

Gratuity is not included.