Accessible Scenic Sips Wine Tour

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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 and Vacation inspiration featuring beautiful wineries with great accessibility features in Kelowna and Lake Country.

Accessibility can mean many different things to people with accessible requirements. 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.
— Sonja Gaudet

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Image by Arrowleaf Cellars

Start your day enjoying your packed charcuterie picnic on the patio overlooking Okanagan Lake at Arrowleaf Cellars, or purchase your ingredients and bring them. Relax, unwind, and sip on any one of their fabulous wines, the perfect pairing for conversations on a sunny afternoon.

Accessible Features:

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Image by Arrowleaf Cellars

  • 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


Photo by Sharla Pike

Photo by Sharla Pike

Experience the European ambiance and find some of your favourite 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:

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Image by Gray Monk Estate

  • 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


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Image by 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 favourite wines you have tasted thus far!

Accessible Features:

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Image by Peak Cellars

  • 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. 


Photos by Jon Adrian

Image 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:

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Image by Jon Adrian

  • 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 the Okanagan’s first Urban Winery located in the north end of Downtown Kelowna. Sandhill features a trendy tasting lounge that fills with natural light from their high ceilings of the renovated industrial building. Try their delicious red and white varietals grown throughout the South Okanagan and the Similkameen Valley.

Accessible Features:

  • Paved level parking lot

  • Accessible parking spaces

  • Automatic Door

  • Wheelchair accessible washroom

  • Lower & higher height tables

  • Open concept tasting room

  • Friendly and accommodating staff

… Enjoy!

Wine tours 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

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