Wine Tours or Not?

GaryandEllen · 01-19-2020, 01:51 PM

We are attending our first Osoyoos rally this year. Trying to decide on the wine tours. Not sure we want to spend a full day doing wine tours. Might want to visit ONE one day and maybe another a second day. Do some people just do their own visits to wineries for tasting, keeping the "activity" shorter? Just talking about doing ONE tour/tasting stop, not several.

Brian B-P · 01-19-2020, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryandEllen

Do some people just do their own visits to wineries for tasting, keeping the "activity" shorter?

Perhaps, but if you do that, who drives? Sampling a bunch of alcohol while driving between wineries is great if you have a chauffeur, but most people don't.

GaryandEllen · 01-19-2020, 02:42 PM

We are just talking about going to one, not several. If we did several, of course the tour would be the way to go!

**Donna D.** · 01-19-2020, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryandEllen

We are just talking about going to one, not several. If we did several, of course the tour would be the way to go!

Yes, some do. There's a really beautiful winery right up the hill from the campground. You can see it from the campground, but it would be a long walk on the road. I think I got a brochure with a bunch of local wineries online before I went in 2015.

gbaglo · 01-19-2020, 03:10 PM

Fifteen minute walk according to Google Maps. ( that's uphill. should be shorter heading back after a few glasses ).

gbaglo · 01-19-2020, 03:34 PM

Ten minute walk to Adega.
I don't drink wine so don't take these as recommendations. If you are planning on driving, depending on events, parking can be a premium. We stopped at one winery so my wife could buy a particular bottle of wine and couldn't find a parking spot and in trying to leave, we were surrounded by vintage automobiles on a one lane road.
From the smiles on those who did the wine tour, I'd say getting a ride with the experts and enjoying a day with other Escape owners is the way to go. I'd go, but the wineries don't serve beer.

GaryandEllen · 01-19-2020, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I'd say getting a ride with the experts and enjoying a day with other Escape owners is the way to go. I'd go, but the wineries don't serve beer.

lol on the beer! Yeah, the tour does definitely sound fun.

gbaglo · 01-19-2020, 03:43 PM

There are cider brewers and I think a gin distillery in the area as well.
https://www.google.com/search?client...oos+area+cider

https://www.yelp.ca/search?cflt=dist...yoos%2C+BC+V0H

cpaharley2008 · 01-19-2020, 03:53 PM

I stay with the dogs and my better half has gone at least twice in the past 6 years. I'm there to socialize with the other owners plus after driving 3,000 miles, the last thing I want to do is get into another vehicle. Highly recommend bringing a bike to get around the campground, it is huge. She always returns with some wine and always has a good time since we have made friends with several other owners over the years.

Brian B-P · 01-20-2020, 12:36 AM

Oh, yeah, for just one then stroll over to one of the ones you can see from the campground. I've had some good wine (meaning we liked it) from Nk'mip.

cpaharley2008 · 01-20-2020, 07:21 AM

There is also socializing performed on the van rides between tours, here is a picture of Arizona Jack on one.....

Red · 01-20-2020, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryandEllen

We are attending our first Osoyoos rally this year. Trying to decide on the wine tours. Not sure we want to spend a full day doing wine tours. Might want to visit ONE one day and maybe another a second day. Do some people just do their own visits to wineries for tasting, keeping the "activity" shorter? Just talking about doing ONE tour/tasting stop, not several.

We were parked near the pick up and drop off location for the wine tours at the rally last year. It was interesting watching people get on the tour vans along with a bunch of people they didn't really know. The morning groups were quiet and somber getting into the tour vans.

A few hours later, not all day, the vans would return and the passengers would roll out with clanking bags of wine and a great deal of laughter and friendships for the balance of the rally. The tours are fun, the wineries are entertaining and the wines very good.

If you want to do things on your own there are dozens of wineries within 30 minutes of the campground just google it. If you have a pet that you do not like to leave, come see us we love dogs and will watch for you.

GaryandEllen · 01-20-2020, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red

If you want to do things on your own there are dozens of wineries within 30 minutes of the campground just google it. If you have a pet that you do not like to leave, come see us we love dogs and will watch for you.

Thanks, yeah the dog is one consideration. I know people swap pet help. Thanks for your offer! And I guess with the third winery and beyond, I probably wouldn't even be thinking about the dog!

cpaharley2008 · 01-20-2020, 02:03 PM

Something else to consider is attending the September Escape Rally in Niagara Falls, Ont. which is also located in wine country. Although no transportation, there are dozens of wineries within an hours drive north as well as the cute town of Niagara on the Lake. Regardless of which tour, just be aware of customs entering and reentering US with alcohol purchases. We had to drop our wine case from Napa, Ca at a store in Oroville, Wa and pick it up upon return after the rally.
All they wanted was for us to make some purchases, which we did upon return to US.

arniesea · 01-20-2020, 07:24 PM

This year will be our 4th rally and 4th wine tour. We go for the good time and getting to know some wonderful folks as much as for the wine. If this is your first rally, it is a great ice breaker, with a bit longer time to have some good conversations than the other planned activities such as the potlucks. (They are fun too, just not as in depth.)

Welcome!

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