New Year's Wine Country Bus Tour

Escape to Wine Country for a four-day, three-night New Year’s Eve getaway at the fabulous Walnut Beach Resort in Osoyoos, with the BC Wine Appreciation Society!

Why pay big bucks for a one-night New Year’s party in Vancouver, when you can visit Wine Country for a four-day celebration instead? Let us do the driving from Vancouver – all you have to do is have fun!

Included in this trip:

• Luxury bus transportation from Vancouver, leaving Friday, December 29, returning Monday, January 1 (bus can also stop in Coquitlam, Langley, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack for pick-ups if requested).
• Welcome reception with appetizers and bubbles, and a sabering demo. If you’ve always wanted to saber a bottle, this is your chance to try!
• Wine tasting and touring December 30 and December 31.
• Gourmet wine-paired lunches both days.
• Multi-course Winemaker's Dinner with Bill Eggert of Fairview Cellars December 30.
• New Year’s Eve theme night with wine and dinner at Tinhorn Creek's award-winning Miradoro Restaurant.
• Polar Bear Swim party at Walnut Beach the morning of January 1 - dare to be a Polar Bear!

All this for only $495!

Your price includes all taxes, gratuities, and fees. The lunches and dinners on December 30 and 31 include wine as well. Please note that accommodation is the only thing not included. We have reserved a block of rooms at the gorgeous Walnut Beach Resort, for December 29, 30, and 31. Quote "BCWAS" to get our reduced rates as noted below. (These are the same rates we paid two years ago – thank you, Walnut Beach!)

• Studio mountain-view suite, $99 double occupancy
• One-bedroom mountain-view suite, $119 double occupancy
• One-bedroom lake-view suite, $149 double occupancy
• Two-bedroom lake-view suite, $199 double occupancy (only two suites)

Relax for three nights in 4-star accommodation. Soak in the hot tubs, steam in the sauna, swim in the heated pool, savour the view! If you have alternate accommodation, that is no problem – just be at the resort in time for the bus departures. You can park for free (just let the resort know your plate number).

Scroll down to see the full itinerary – we’re going to have fun!

There are only 36 spaces available, so sign up FAST if you want to come to the biggest party of the year!

How to reserve your seat: e-mail us at info@bcwas.com
Payment: $125 deposit is due at time of booking, balance of $370 is due by Friday, December 8.
How to pay: send an e-transfer to info@bcwas.com or mail a cheque to: BC Wine Appreciation Society, PO Box 48912, Bentall Station, Vancouver, BC, V7X 1A8

Questions? E-mail us at info@bcwas.com.  Hope to see you there!

Other details:

• The bus has a washroom, and we’ll also be stopping at Manning Park (halfway) for a washroom and coffee break. There is a small store at Manning Park that will be open which sells coffee, some food, and souvenirs.
• The Vancouver-Osoyoos trip takes about five hours. You might want to bring a granola bar or something to nibble on, and water for the trip. BC’s liquor laws prevent open alcohol on the bus.
• Walnut Beach’s suites all have full kitchens or kitchenettes and a washer & dryer. We will be doing a grocery and liquor store stop on the first day, so you don’t need to bring a bunch of food with you. Walnut Beach also has a small store for essentials, including laundry soap and basic groceries. The rooms have coffee, tea, sugar, and creamer. Bring or buy your own salt, pepper, condiments, etc.
• The hotel’s restaurant is not open for breakfast, so make sure you have a plan to make something to eat each morning.
• Don’t forget a bathing suit! The heated pool, hot tubs, and sauna will be open.
• We suggest you bring boots with low heels – the winery parking lots can be slippery.
  
• You will have time each day for relaxing, hot tubing, going for walks, etc. Enjoy yourself!

Full Itinerary:

Friday, December 29:

• 8:30am - Bus leaves Vancouver Convention Centre (optional stops in Coquitlam, Langley, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack if requested)
• 11:30 - Stop at Manning Park resort for washroom and coffee break
• 2:30pm - Grocery and liquor store stop in Osoyoos
• 3:00 - Arrive at Walnut Beach
• 4:30 - Welcome reception in lakeview penthouse suite; includes appetizers and sparkling wine (food contributions welcome!)
• Evening - treat yourself to dinner at the hotel, or make your own meal in your suite to enjoy with friends.

 
Saturday, December 30:

• 10:30am - Bus leaves for winery tour and tasting: Noble Ridge Vineyards tasting, Wild Goose Vineyards tasting, lunch at Smoke & Oak Bistro, Liquidity Wines tasting
• 6:30pm - Multi-course dinner with wine at Walnut Beach joined by Bill Eggert of Fairview Cellars

 
Sunday, December 31:

• Multi-course lunch at Walnut Beach featuring Jesce and Charlie Baessler of Corcelettes Estate Winery
• 1:15pm - Bus leaves for winery tour and tasting: Black Hills Estate Winery tasting (they’re opening just for us!), one additional winery to-be-determined
• Late-afternoon - return to Walnut beach and freshen up for dinner
• 7:30 - Bus departs Walnut Beach for our New Year’s Eve Party at Miradoro
• 12:30am - Bus leaves promptly headed back to Walnut Beach

 
Monday, January 1:

• 10:30am - Polar Bear Swim. Join us on the beach, and dare to be a Polar Bear! Or you can watch the insanity from the hot tub, which is nice and warm…
• Mid-morning - optional New Year’s Day brunch at Walnut Beach ($19.95 per person)
• 2:00pm - Bus leaves for Vancouver
• 4:15 - Stop at Manning Park for bathroom and coffee break
• 7:30 - Arrive in Vancouver