Wine Enthusiast
Discovering Canada's Okanagan Wine Country by Train
By Sarah Doyle
Curious about exploring British Columbia’s Okanagan wine valley, but don’t know where to begin? The Rocky Mountaineer (North America’s largest privately-owned passenger train) is offering a new tour that combines its first-class “GoldLeaf” service with a multi-day stopover to explore the burgeoning Okanagan wine region. Departing from Vancouver, luxurious, glass-domed trains offer passengers spectacular views of the Canadian Rockies, where the scenery ranges from the forests of Fraser Canyon, to expansive ranchlands, arid desert landscapes, and the immense rocky slopes of the Thomson River. For lunch, chefs introduce your palate to the Okanagan with a regionally-sourced menu accompanied by local wines.
During a three-day stopover in the Okanagan, a private motor coach transports guests to a well-chosen selection of wineries per day, beginning with Grey Monk Estate Winery, whose crisp, stainless steel Pinot Gris was the first varietal of this kind in Canada. Additional wineries include Summerhill, Sumac Ridge, Hillside, NK’ Mip Winery, Tinhorn Creek, and Mission Hill Winery, with its global-inspired architecture, award-winning wine, and profound wine and food pairings.
Wine-paired lunches and dinners are offered each day, with evening accommodations at Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort, whose desert landscape and First Nations inspired architecture makes you feel like you’re in the American Southwest.
A final train ride takes you to the stunning Fairmont Banff Springs, where guests conclude their tour in the heart of Banff National Park. Here, GoldLeaf guests receive highly personalized service with private check-in, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and a wine paired dinner. A complimentary round of golf at the base of the Rocky Mountains or an awe-inspiring helicopter excursion through Banff makes the Rocky Mountain tour one you will never forget.
Prices start at $6899/per person
Phone: 1-877-460-3200