Accessible Scenic Sips Wine Tour
There’s nothing quite like wine touring along a scenic route on a sunny Okanagan day with your closest friends, catching up and enjoying the spectacular vistas that each winery has to offer. Read on for some Staycation inspiration featuring four of Lake Country’s beautiful wineries with great accessibility features.
“Accessibility can mean many different things to people with accessible requirements and our aging population. When businesses take simple action in designing space, services, products and experiences that are usable by people of any age, size or ability - inclusion and enjoyment by all becomes possible! ☺”
ARROWLEAF CELLARS
Start your day enjoying your packed Charcuterie picnic on the patio overlooking Okanagan Lake at Arrowleaf Cellars, or purchase your ingredients here. Relax, unwind and sip on any one of their fabulous white wines, the perfect pairing for conversations on a sunny afternoon.
Accessible Features:
Paved level parking lot
Two large accessible parking spaces
Wide main entrance
Great wheelchair accessible washroom
No-step level patio
Open concept tasting room
Friendly and accommodating staff
Level grass picnic area
GRAY MONK ESTATE WINERY
Photo by Sharla Pike
Experience the European ambiance and find some of your favorite gifts in the fabulous wine and gift shop at Gray Monk Estate Winery. Gray Monk's name comes from one of the first grape varieties they produced, Pinot Gris or “Grauer Mönch” in German, hence the translation to Gray Monk.
Accessible Features:
Paved parking lot - slightly sloped
Accessible parking space
Level main entrance
Good wheelchair accessible washroom
Large open tasting room - lower tasting counter available
Restaurant and patio - elevator access
O’ROURKE’S PEAK CELLARS
Next stop is O’Rourkes Peak Cellars. Request to experience your wine tasting at one of the bistro tables out on the vineyard-side patio as you take in another breathtaking view of Okanagan Lake and the surrounding orchards and rolling mountains. This is the perfect place to compare notes on some of the favorite wines you have tasted thus far!
Accessible Features:
Level paved parking lot
Accessible parking stalls
Level main entrance
Good accessible washroom - heavy door
Open concept tasting room
Accessible tables for tasting experience
Accessible restaurant & outdoor patio area.
50TH PARALLEL ESTATE Winery
Photos by Jon Adrian
Be WOWED as you approach 50th Parallel Estate Winery, an architecturally designed winery second to none! Experience your tasting in their large open spaced tasting room at a lowered tasting bar if you choose. This is a great place to wrap up a fabulous day with dinner at their open air restaurant. Consider anyone of their delicious menu options, perhaps a Forno Oven Wood Fire pizza paired with their award winning Pinot Noir and more great conversation to finish off!
Accessible Features:
Level paved parking lot - north entrance
One accessible parking space
Level paved sidewalk from parking stall to main entrance
Wide main level entrance to restaurant and wine tasting room
Tasting room - two lower tasting bars
Great accessible washroom
Restaurant - lower & higher height tables
… Enjoy! ☺
This tour can be done independently or you can book an accessible tour with our friends at Cheers Okanagan.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sonja Gaudet is a retired 3x Paralympic Gold Medalist and World Champion. She lives in Vernon with her golf-obsessed husband Dan and two adult children Alysha and Colten. Sonja has a passion in locating and creating accessible experiences in the Okanagan region. Some of her adventures include kayaking, exploring the accessible hiking trails with her dog Lina, and enjoying Charcuterie with her most recently discovered favorite glass of red wine, more than likely from somewhere in the South Okanagan or Similkameen region!
IG @sonjagaudet