Meet Tom, the Wine Expert

Food was my first love. I spent most of the eighties working in restaurants, front and back of house. I quickly learned that working 90 hours a week on my feet in 180F kitchens was going to make for a short career. After being part of the opening crew at the first wine bar in Orlando and also Tampa I pivoted to the wine business….

Through the 1990’s I was a regional marketing and sales manager for wineries (supplier rep.). I built brands like R.H. Phillips, Hogue Cellars, Seghesio and Rosemount Estates before tackling a large European portfolio from Remy Amerique. I closed the 90’s as a regional manager for Seghesio (Healdsburg-Sonoma) covering sixteen states and 26 wholesalers. After a decade of flying 140 segments a year and spending 240 days a year away from home I was ready for a bit more stability in my life. Even though I still identify as a supplier…

A month before the end of the century I got into retail wine using everything I had learned traveling the country selling wine to retailers and restaurants. I would spend the next twenty years (almost to the day) in retail walking away at the end of 2019 to open a winery tourism business with my wife Tiffany in Queretaro and Guanajuato (High elevation/Central) Mexico. Six years into the tour business and we are branching out into Europe using many of the contacts I made working for European producers and selling their wines over the decades. I’m closing in on 40 years selling wine and I am not slowing down.

Meet Tiffany, the Travel Expert

Travel has always been my way of life. Growing up as a military brat, it was “normal” for me and my family to move every 3-4 years. I continued that trend as an adult, both in the United States and internationally. I’ve worked in the hospitality industry from opening theme parks to directing logistics for conferences and wine tours. My wine expertise started as a wine rep for a new distributor in the Orlando area. Later, I was a project manager for Rioja Wines North America, handling trade show logistics and creating travel itineraries for VIP officials and guests.

Europe feels like “home” to me, and I love wandering the crooked streets, finding that perfect little cafe or wine bar tucked away where only locals go. I’m always ready to try new things and new places. I share Tom’s passion for food and wine, but I also enjoy the little things like people watching with a a gelato, or taking photos of storks in their nests around Spain.

Why Choose Vines and Villages?

We built our European wine tours around what we’d want from a tour company ourselves. First, we want to venture out and see the landscape up close. Then, we want to mingle with locals at regional markets. Along the way, we want to gain a deeper understanding of the products that make each region special. Just as importantly, we want free time to explore, eat, and drink exactly what we choose. We hope you feel the same way. So, join us on our next wine tour adventure around Europe.