Wine tours have a way of blending travel, culture, and storytelling into one unforgettable experience. For me, they are not only about tasting a glass of wine but about opening a window into a landscape, a tradition, and the people behind each bottle. My own journey into the world of wine tours began almost by chance, and looking back, I realize it shaped everything that came after.
My First Winery Visit — November 1997
I still remember it vividly. It was November 1997, and I was traveling through Tuscany with my boyfriend whose family owned a restaurant along the Tuscan coast. Someone suggested we should see Montalcino, and so, without much planning, we drove there and casually stopped in front of the gates of Biondi Santi, one of the most historic wineries in Italy.
We rang the bell, and to my surprise, the gates opened. Inside, we were welcomed by an American lady working for the family. She was gracious, knowledgeable, and had the rare gift of making the complexities of winemaking feel simple, human, and alive. By the end of the visit and tasting, I was completely enchanted.
Looking back, I think I had the best introduction to wine tourism and wine itself that anyone could hope for. It wasn’t just about Brunello di Montalcino — it was about feeling the soul of a place through its wine.
A Forgotten Love Rekindled
Life, of course, carried on. My fascination with wine stayed with me but remained somewhat dormant for years. Then, in 2004, something unexpected reawakened it. I was living in Florida at the time, and like many, I went to see the film Sideways. That quirky, heartfelt movie about friendship, life, and Pinot Noir reignited the spark I had felt years earlier in Tuscany.
Not long after, a dear friend from Berkeley, California invited me to spend Easter holidays with him. I immediately agreed — but with one request: “Can we go to Napa?”
And just like that, my curiosity turned into a calling.
Discovering Napa — Easter 2004
The trip to Napa was amazing. My friend John was a judge in Berkeley County, and we spent much of the drive laughing about the irony of a judge leading me through a day of wine tasting.
Our first stop was at Mondavi Winery, where John, in his charming way, told them I was “in the wine business in Tuscany.” That was, of course, far from the truth — I was simply from Tuscany. But the story worked, and we were given a private tour. To be honest, I didn’t even protest. The experience was too special to spoil.
We had lunch in Calistoga, soaking in the relaxed Napa vibe, before heading to Joseph Phelps Estate. That visit was another revelation for me. The wines, the setting, the hospitality — it all left a deep impression, and once again I felt that same spark I had first discovered at Biondi Santi years before.
It was as if the wine world was calling me back, more insistently this time.
Connecting the Dots
My very first harvest happened when I was just three years old. My grandfather took me to his vineyards to pick grapes. To me, they all looked the same — sweet and delicious — but he would hand me a cluster and say, “Taste, and tell me if these are ready.” It was my first, playful attempt at training a palate.
As I grew older, I would help him bottle the family wine, carefully filling and corking each bottle by hand. At dinner, he would always pour a splash of red wine into my water — a tradition meant to connect me with the table, though at the time I absolutely hated it! Still, those early experiences planted something deep in me: the idea that wine was not just a drink, but part of life, family, and place.
Since then, I began to connect the dots. Looking back, I realize that wine was always there, quietly shaping my path. One of my very first jobs after graduation was selling Chianti wines in Germany during trade fairs — an early lesson in not just presenting a product, but in interpreting and translating culture through a bottle.
Later, in 1999, another opportunity brought me across the Atlantic to New York, where I worked for a worldwide importer of Italian wines in Hoboken, New Jersey. Once again, wine was at the center of it all. Even when I thought I had stepped in another direction, somehow, it always found me.
From Montalcino in 1997 to Napa in 2004, from Germany to New York, wine became more than an interest — it became the thread running through my life, tying experiences, places, and people together.
A Pause — But Not Really
However, my “wine life” came to a pause between 2002 and 2010, when I moved to Florida and worked as an assistant director at a mutual fund. I even went back to school and earned an Associate Degree in Financial Management — a world that felt far removed from vineyards and tastings.
And yet, wine found its way in. To my surprise, nearly every business meeting with bankers seemed to end with a glass of Italian wine. Even in the world of finance, wine was there — a quiet reminder of where I had come from and, perhaps, where I was meant to return.
The Return Home
In 2010, I decided to close my American chapter and return to Tuscany. The question was: where do I want to plant my roots?
The answer was natural: Bolgheri.
At first, I simply welcomed English-speaking friends, then clients, showing them the lifestyle, wines, and beauty of this unique corner of Tuscany. What began casually grew into a calling — and eventually into Bolgheri Wine Tours.
Deepening My Knowledge — The WSET Path
Of course, passion alone wasn’t enough. I wanted to deepen my expertise. In 2017, I signed up for WSET Level 2 in Radda in Chianti. It was such a great experience that I told myself, That’s enough.
But wine has its way of pulling you further. In January 2020, during a cold, snowy week in Montalcino, I sat for WSET Level 3. Once again, I swore: No way I’ll ever go for the Diploma.
And yet, in 2023, the urge returned stronger than ever. I signed up for the WSET Diploma, the most challenging step of all. It demanded time, discipline, and no small amount of money, as each exam required me to travel to London.
In August 2025, after years of study and countless glasses, I passed. The joy was indescribable. To my knowledge, I may even be the first WSET Diploma holder in Bolgheri — and even if I’m not, it feels extraordinary to carry this achievement here, in the very heart of the wines I love most.
Why This Matters for My Guests
For me, these studies weren’t about titles, but about giving more depth to the stories I share. They allow me to connect my guests not just to the romance of Bolgheri, but also to the technical, sensory, and cultural details that make its wines so extraordinary.
So today, when I welcome visitors to Bolgheri Wine Tours, I bring not only a lifetime of experiences but also the knowledge and perspective of someone who has walked the long road of study and discovery.
Because in the end, wine tours are not just about tasting: they’re about learning, feeling, and living wine in its fullest expression. And that’s exactly what I hope to share with everyone who joins me here in Bolgheri.
Why I Do What I Do
Looking back, I see how all the dots connect: my grandfather’s vineyards, Montalcino in 1997, Napa in 2004, Germany, New York, Florida, and finally Bolgheri. Wine has always been there — shaping my journey, quietly guiding me back home.
Today, with Bolgheri Wine Tours, I share not only the wines of this extraordinary region, but also the stories, history, and passion that have marked my own life. For me, guiding a tour is not just about pouring wine — it’s about helping others experience what I discovered long ago: that wine is never just in the glass, it’s in the land, the people, and the stories behind it.
Why Wine Tours Fascinate Me Today
What fascinates me most about wine tours is that they are never the same twice. Even in the same winery, every vintage tells a different story, every host shares their perspective, and every guest experiences it uniquely. A wine tour connects you with history, tradition, and craftsmanship — but also with people, their passions, and the land itself.
For me, guiding wine tours in Bolgheri today is not just about logistics or tastings; it’s about recreating that sense of wonder I first felt at Biondi Santi in 1997. It’s about helping others discover that wine is more than what’s in the glass — it’s a story you can see, touch, and taste.
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