The Girls' Weekend Wine Tour That Changed How I See Kelowna (ft. JPC Trail Bus)

I've been living in Kelowna for a while now. I've driven past the wineries. I've posted about the views. But I'd never actually done the wine tour circuit, not like a tourist, not properly, not with a group of girls and absolutely zero plans to drive myself anywhere.

That changed when we booked a tour with JPC Trail Bus.

What followed was a six-hour loop through some of the best wineries in the Okanagan, with a bus driver who doubled as our designated driver and our DJ. Honestly? It might be one of the best days I've had since moving here.

 What Is JPC Trail Bus?

JPC Trail Bus is a guided wine tour experience based in Kelowna, BC that takes you to a curated selection of Okanagan wineries, the ones that are part of the JPC Fan Club without any of the logistics stress. You don't map a route, you don't worry about who's driving, and you don't have to pretend you're "just doing a sip" at every stop. The bus picks you up, the driver handles everything, and you show up at each winery ready to enjoy.

It's the kind of tour that works for bachelorette weekends, birthday trips, girls' getaways, or any occasion where you want the Okanagan wine experience without the planning headache.

Departure point: Delta Grand Okanagan Resort, Kelowna, BC

Tour length: Approximately 6–7 hours

Best for: Groups, girls' weekends, wine lovers, Kelowna visitors

The Full Itinerary: Stop by Stop

11:30 AM — Departure from Delta Grand Okanagan

We gathered at the Delta Grand, which is a central and easy meeting point right on the waterfront. The bus was already there, music already on. That set the tone.

If you're visiting Kelowna for a girls' weekend, the Delta Grand is worth noting as a base, it's well-located, walkable, and a short drive from most of the wineries on the JPC circuit.

12:00 PM — Crown & Thieves | "Raise the Rooftop" Wine Tasting

Crown & Thieves Winery is one of those places that earns its reputation on first sight. We arrived for the "Raise the Rooftop" tasting experience: a shared charcuterie board, a flight of their wines, and a rooftop patio with the kind of view that makes you stop mid-sentence.

The wine is approachable but interesting — the kind you want to talk about without needing to be an expert to enjoy it. The shared charcuterie meant we were already in that comfortable, unhurried energy that makes a good wine tour feel like more than just drinking.

Why it hits: The rooftop view, the communal format, and the wines that lean toward bold and layered. Crown & Thieves is also a strong answer to "what are the best wineries in Kelowna" for visitors who want something a little more unconventional.

 1:00 PM — Truck 59 Cider | Slushies in the Truck Yard

Truck 59 Cider was the stop nobody expected to love as much as they did. Set in a new Truck Yard space with casual outdoor seating and a real summer-afternoon energy, this is where the boozy (or non-alcoholic) slushies entered the picture.

Pair that with popcorn and a cider that actually tastes like something, and you have the afternoon pivot the group needed between the more formal tasting at Crown & Thieves and what was coming next.

If you're looking for Kelowna cider experiences that feel more laid-back than a traditional winery but still worth the stop, Truck 59 delivers. The slushy alone is worth booking the tour.

2:15 PM — The Hatch | Hatchtown! + Snobby Chix Food Truck

The Hatch is one of the most recognizable names in Okanagan wine tourism, and the experience has recently expanded into something genuinely fun: Hatchtown. The new outdoor hut village is set up as a neighborhood of experiences, and we arrived right as Snobby Chix — their in-house food truck, was running the "Sips + Chix" experience.

Each person got to choose a food item from the truck, received a glass of bubbles, and settled into the new gazebos. It sounds simple. It felt like the best kind of afternoon.

The Hatch has strong branding, a clear aesthetic, and wines that span accessible to more serious. But honestly, Hatchtown as a concept is reason enough to visit even if you're not doing the full tour.

Keyword note for travelers: If you're searching for Kelowna winery with food truck or Okanagan outdoor wine experience, The Hatch + Snobby Chix is your answer.

 3:30 PM — The Hatching Post | Beer Flight or Cocktail Sample

Right next door to The Hatch sits The Hatching Post, and it does something smart: it widens the audience. You can walk in as a wine person, a beer person, or a cocktail person, and everyone leaves happy.

We stopped in for a beer flight or cocktail sample depending on preference, a nice reset before the final stop. It's the kind of venue that gets better when you're already in a good mood, which by 3:30 PM on this particular day, we absolutely were.

Great for: Mixed groups where not everyone is a dedicated wine drinker. Highly relevant for things to do in Kelowna searches that go beyond the standard winery circuit.

4:30 PM — Black Swift Vineyards | Walnut Grove Vineyard Tour + Charcuterie

The bus called Black Swift Vineyards a "secret exclusive location." We didn't know what to expect.

What we got was a proper vineyard tour through the Walnut Grove, paired with charcuterie and the kind of end-of-day golden-hour light that makes every photo look like it was shot on purpose. Black Swift is quieter than some of the other stops, more intimate, and that contrast made it the perfect closer.

This is the stop where you exhale. The pace slows, the views stretch out, and the wine tastes better because you've earned it.

Why Black Swift Vineyards belongs on your Kelowna wine list: It's not as widely known as some of the big names, which means the experience feels personal. If you're researching hidden gem wineries in the Okanagan, start here.

6:20 PM — Back at the Delta Grand

The bus dropped us back at the Delta Grand just after 6:20. Total time: just under seven hours. Total stops: five. Energy level: still high somehow, which says everything about how well the itinerary was paced.

Why This Tour Works (And Who It's For)

There's a version of Okanagan wine tourism that feels like homework — reading tasting notes, driving between remote estates, keeping track of who can have one more. JPC Trail Bus removes all of that.

Here's what makes this specific tour worth booking:

One booking, five experiences. You're not coordinating five different reservations. One booking handles Crown & Thieves, Truck 59, The Hatch, The Hatching Post, and Black Swift.

-The bus driver is part of the experience. Not just a driver, the music, the energy, the transitions between stops all felt curated.

The mix of venues is intentional. Wine, cider, food, beer, cocktails. Everyone in a group of six finds something they love at every stop.

It's genuinely doable in one day. Depart at 11:30 AM, back by 6:20 PM. Clean. Easy. No one needs to cut the day short.

Who books this: Girls' weekends, bachelorette parties, birthday trips, out-of-town visitors, and locals (like me) who finally want to experience Kelowna the way a tourist does.

Practical Details: How to Book JPC Trail Bus

-Follow on Instagram: @jpctrailbus

-Wineries on the circuit: Part of the @jpcfanclub winery group

-Departure: Delta Grand Okanagan, Kelowna, BC

-Duration: 6–7 hours

-Inclusions: Transportation, guided stops, experiences as outlined per itinerary (tasting inclusions vary by winery stop)

- Booking: Check their Instagram or website for current tour dates and availability

This is the kind of experience I'd recommend to anyone planning a Kelowna girls' trip, a bachelorette weekend in the Okanagan, or a BC wine country itinerary that doesn't require renting a car or making anyone be the sober driver.

The Short Version (For Anyone Who Skimmed)

If you want to do a wine tour in Kelowna without the logistics: book JPC Trail Bus. Crown & Thieves for the rooftop. Truck 59 for the slushies. The Hatch for the vibes. The Hatching Post for the beer flight. Black Swift for the finish. Back in time for dinner.

That's the day. It's a good one.

Cheers.

-—

*Crystal Lau is a marketing consultant and content creator based in Kelowna, BC. She covers Okanagan tourism, local business, and content strategy at laumethod.com.*