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A Walking Wine Tour of the Naramata Bench, British Columbia

With 2,400 hectares of planted vineyards and over 60 varieties of grapes growing, the Okanagan Valley is home to Canada’s second largest wine growing region after the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario.

The wine production overall is still small compared to any of the major wine regions of the world but it’s impressive to have such a variety of grapes and wines in a country nicknamed ‘the Great White North.’

Vineyards and lake views at Therapy Winery, Naramata Bench
Vineyard views on the Naramata Bench, British Columbia

One of the biggest concentrations of wineries in the Okanagan is on the Naramata Bench, just outside of Penticton (our home town!)

At the time of writing, there are over 40 Naramata wineries in a stretch of less than 20km. This means it is possible to walk or cycle easily between wineries.

There’s no other winery region quite like it! Read on to discover the cheapest and most fun way to tour the Naramata Bench.

There are affiliate links in this post. If you make a qualifying purchase through one of these links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Wine glass with red wine held up in front of vineyards and lake view
Tasting wine on the Naramata Bench

Naramata Bench Wine Tour: A must-do in Penticton

Half day wine tours around one of the southern Okanagan wine areas (Okanagan Falls, Summerland, Naramata, Oliver and Osoyoos) start at around $120 a head – this usually includes tasting fees, transportation and the attention of a guide/driver.

Four or five wineries are usually visited on most full day Naramata Bench wine tours, with a lunch stop (additional fee).

Looking to book a stay in Penticton?

Lakeside Villa Inn and Suites – Great value 

Penticton Lakeside Resort – Awesome location

House Victoria Bed and Breakfast – Highly rated on Booking.com

Side view of impressive two story winery tasting room, looking out to vineyard, with lake and mountain in background
Poplar Grove Winery on the Naramata Bench

An alternative option: Walking the Naramata Bench

We moved to Pentiction in 2015 and quickly started receiving many visitors. But with winery tours being priced out to over $500 for a group of four, we decided that there must be another, more cost-effective way to do it.

After all, it was likely we would want to buy some wine too and that would push the total much higher.

We live right on the edge of the Naramata Bench, within easy walking distance of the KVR Trail. This mostly flat multi-use path travels directly through vineyards and orchards. We figured that there must be some way to utilise it to visit wineries.

And we were right! There are actually around a dozen wineries located within 500m of the KVR.

Building on this idea, we put together a plan for our first walking wine tour of the Naramata Bench.

Wine flight featuring four glasses of wine, two with white wine and two with red wine
Wine tasting at La Frenz

Our first walking wine tour of the Naramata Bench

With the KVR Trail running downhill from Naramata to Penticton, it seemed sensible to take a taxi as far as we felt like going and then plan to walk all the way back.

Our first walking wine tour started at Bench 1775 at 11.30am, after a good breakfast the Bench Market. Our taxi cost $23.

Over the next six hours, we visited as many as eleven different boutique wineries along the Naramata Bench. The total walking distance was around 9km, taking into account detours into wine tasting rooms along the way.

Lunch was a DIY charcuterie at Poplar Grove Cheese, with shares a tasting room with Lock and Worth Winery. We shared a couple of rounds of cheese with crackers and a bottle of wine.

In the end, we didn’t utilise the KVR on that particular walking wine tour. Indeed, we stayed mostly on Naramata Road. It’s not an ideal route since Naramata Road can may quite busy with vehicles and cyclists.

Exterior view of Township 7 Winery with lawn picnic area and warehouse tasting room on right
Township 7 Winery has a wonderful outside tasting area

Perfecting our Naramata Bench walking wine tour

Our first walking wine tour was a resounding success. We’ve been experimenting with the idea ever since, with different groups of friends and routes.

Taking a taxi part-way up the Naramata Bench is always a winner with friends who don’t like walking as much as we do. It’s also a good idea for wine tours with a later start.

One fun variation was to take a taxi up to Upper Bench Road (rather than Naramata Road) and visit the wineries in this area instead, before returning via Lower Bench Road.

Other times, we have walked along Naramata Bench as far as Hillside Winery and then returned on the KVR Trail.

There are three wineries located just off the KVR in this area (D’Angelo, Red Rooster, Ruby Blues). The KVR is definitely much pleasurable to walk on than Naramata Road!

More recently, we have been omitting the taxi altogether and walking up the KVR Trail as far as Origin Wines.

After a tasting at Origin, we then turn back towards Penticton and have the option of visiting seven different wineries on the way back. This is a 12km route.

Wide lawn area with picnic tables and deck looking out to lake and mountain view at Origin Winery on the Naramata Bench
Origin Winery also offers outside tastings, with this incredible view!

Naramata Bench walking wine tour tips

Thinking about doing your own Naramata Bench walking wine tour? I’d recommend it! But you should keep the following in mind:

  • There is not a lot of shade on the Naramata Bench. Be sure to bring a hat and plenty of sunscreen. A cloudy day is preferable
  • Bring plenty of water with you and drink often. There is a water bottle filling station at the corner of Naramata Road and Poplar Grove Road. Alternatively, ask at the winery tasting rooms for a refill
  • Wearing appropriate clothing and footwear is crucial. Most of the surfaces are tarmac and/or gravel. Take a rain jacket and/or umbrella if there is any threat of rain
  • Don’t try to carry too much wine! Wineries are usually happy to hold purchased wine for you to collect later
A hand is holding a glass of pink rose wine up in front of tasting room view, with lake and mountain landscape visible through large floor to ceiling windows
Wine tasting at Poplar Grove
  • Keep in mind that there is no raised footpath/sidewalk next to Naramata Road (the main road through the Bench). This means that you will walking next to traffic for large sections.
  • Remember to face oncoming traffic when possible. Despite being a fairly windy road and speed limits posted along it, the traffic on Naramata Road can be fairly fast (60-70km)
  • Things are different during the pandemic. When deciding your route, it’s a good idea to research each individual winery and find out whether they accept walk-in visitors.

This information is based on our personal experience walking to and from wineries on the Naramata Bench. I make no representations or warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, about the accuracy or suitability of a walking wine tour on the Naramata Bench.

Wine tours in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley are big business. Here's how we did a seven hour tour visiting 11 wineries - the best way to wine tour! offtracktravel.ca
Forget crowded and inpersonal bus tours, the best way to tour wineries is to walk! You can try this in British Columbia's beautiful Naramata Bench wine region in Canada. Click here to read our experience. offtracktravel.ca
With over 40 wineries along one 15km stretch of road, the best way to wine tour on the Naramata Bench in British Columbia, Canada, is to walk! Here's how we did our own walking wine tour of the beautiful Naramata Bench wine region. offtracktravel.ca

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Pat Marshall

Sunday 16th of April 2023

Now that it's 2023, might you be offering your guided walking wine tour?

Gemma

Wednesday 19th of April 2023

Hi Pat,

Thank you for the interest and reminder that I should update this page. Due to being so busy (a nice problem to have!), we do not intend to run these tours.

Sheila

Tuesday 24th of May 2022

I am trying to plan a trip to Oliver in mid September. My husband and I do like to walk. Your walking tour sounds fun bur maybe another time. Which wineries would you recommend for first timers to this area? We are from Vancouver Island drink mostly red wine. Any advice would be appreciated. We plan to be in the area for five day or so.

Gemma

Wednesday 25th of May 2022

Mid September is a great time to visit Oliver! Have you read this post yet, featuring some of my favourite wineries in the area? Specifically for reds, I'd go to Burrowing Owl, Culmina and Nk'mip, but honestly, you can't go too wrong in this wine region. If you like hiking, go for a tasting at Tinhorn Creek Vineyards and check out the Golden Mile Trail (behind the winery) afterwards. Or vice versa :)

Lindz

Sunday 6th of June 2021

Walking wine tours are the bomb dot com! I can't wait to come out and join you on one of your tours. C'mon, 2022!!

Gemma

Tuesday 8th of June 2021

Thanks Lindz!! Can't wait to see you! It's been a long time coming ;)

Jelena

Sunday 7th of July 2019

Hi, did the walking and wine yesterday starting in Hillside for lunch. Thanks for the suggestion!

Gemma

Saturday 13th of July 2019

Sounds wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

J.C.

Tuesday 26th of June 2018

The walking tour looks great; we hope to follow in your footsteps this weekend. Question: Is there a trail to follow, or do you have to walk the Naramata road? Looks like a busy road with no sidewalks.

Gemma

Wednesday 27th of June 2018

Hi J.C.!

For the most part, a walking wine tour on the Naramata Bench would involve walking on the main Naramata Road. You are correct in that there is no raised sidewalk. However, I have done a walking tour before that started at Howling Bluff Winery, followed Naramata Road as far as Red Rooster and Ruby Blues and then cut back to Penticton on the Kettle Valley Railway trail (walk down the road between the two wineries towards the lake and it connects). Perhaps take this as your backup option if you feel uncomfortable next to the road. The longest section between wineries is from Little Engine to Township 7, so this completely cuts this out. Be sure to bring a hat and sunscreen! I do have more info and route info in my Naramata Bench eBook, as linked in this page. This post was originally written in 2015. Since then, I have done about six more walking wine tours!