Wineries in the south Okanagan tend to be isolated so having a car is absolutely essential as has been mentioned. If you are sommelier in training, you presumably swirl and spit a lot so driving shouldn't be an issue.

The 6 hour drive might be a little bit conservative but not too much by. The highway is single lane most of the way until one reaches Hope (or rather, only Vancoiver-Hope vor v-v is double lane) and is windy with more than enough elevation change.

If you want to pay in advance, the Coast hotel at the bottom of Oak Street in Vancouver has decent rates.