Some of the most meaningful travel experiences happen when you slow down – sit with a glass of wine, linger over a local meal, and get to know a place through the people who live and work there. Slow travel is a philosophy built around that idea. It’s all about experiencing the rhythm of daily life, supporting local producers, and engaging with a region in a way that feels personal and connected.

Slow food and wine travel is about experiencing a region through its local food and wine culture – with time built in to actually enjoy it.

This is the viewpoint I bring to every trip I plan. For years, I’ve helped guests and clients experience Oregon’s Willamette Valley through food and wine, and I’ve since expanded to regions that share that same grounded, regional character, like Southern England’s sparkling wine country and Portugal’s inland and coastal wine regions.

Planning Trips With Me

I work with travelers who want more than a standard tour – people who care about where their food comes from, who want to taste regional wines at the source, and who value thoughtful recommendations over trend lists. Each trip is different, but you can expect:

• Well-paced itineraries with the right balance of structure and spontaneity
  
• Distinctive accommodations – from boutique inns to refined hotels – chosen for quality, location, and design
  
• Curated visits to wineries, restaurants, and producers with a strong sense of place
  
• Personal guidance shaped by firsthand experience in each destination
  
• Access to local culture through food, wine, and the people who make them

Featured Food and Wine Travel Regions

While I plan trips all over the world, I’ve spent the most time developing deep knowledge and forming relationships in a few key regions where food, wine, and local culture are central to the experience. These are the places I return to often, and where I offer the most curated, insider itineraries.

Oregon & the Pacific Northwest

From wine tasting in the Willamette Valley to coastal escapes, mountain towns, and urban foodie stays, I plan trips across Oregon and the broader Pacific Northwest with a strong focus on food, wine, and a sense of place.

Whether you’re flying into Portland for a few days or mapping out a longer route that includes the Columbia Gorge, the Coast, or into Washington or Northern California wine country, I’ll help you make the most of your time here. I can coordinate lodging, winery appointments, dining, scenic routes, and local experiences, all personally vetted by me and tailored to your interests.

Southern England

Southern England is one of the most exciting (and still under-the-radar) wine regions in Europe, especially if you’re drawn to countryside charm and traditional-method sparkling wines. I’ve spent a lot of time in the area, and plan trips that blend vineyard visits in Sussex or Kent with time in historic towns, coastal walks, and standout meals at country pubs, inns, and farm-based restaurants.

Itineraries are often relaxed, combining cultural highlights with food and wine experiences that reflect the character of the region. Lodging might be a boutique hotel, a design-forward B&B, or a converted estate property. I’ll guide you through it all, based on personal experience.

Portugal

Portugal offers an incredible range of food and wine experiences in a compact, easy-to-travel country – from the olive groves and wine estates of the Alentejo to the dramatic Douro Valley, the energy of Lisbon, and the sun-soaked beaches and orange groves of the Algarve coast.

I work with boutique hotels, quinta-style wine estates, and local guides to create itineraries that bring you into the heart of each region. That might mean a multi-course lunch overlooking the vineyards, a private port tasting, a market-to-table cooking class, or time simply spent wandering the quiet streets of a charming town.

I can also provide help with lodging only as a complimentary service – I’ll get to know your preferences, provide in-the-know suggestions for where to stay, complete your bookings for you and apply the special VIP perks that take your trip to the next level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you only plan food and wine-focused travel?

Food and wine are my soulmates, but every itinerary is shaped around your interests. That might include a mix of wine tasting, food experiences, nature, wellness, design, or just time to slow down and enjoy where you are. 

Can you help with other international or US-based travel destinations?

Yes! While I have specialized, in-depth experience in certain regions (Oregon, Southern England, and Portugal) I also plan custom travel around the world. If your travel goals align with my approach, I’m happy to help.

Why do you specialize in Oregon, England and Portugal wine regions?

Wine travel is my thing – I’ve been to 22 wine regions across the world – and I truly enjoy planning (and going on) wine and food-focused trips. As a local and short term lodging host, Oregon’s Willamette Valley was a logical place for me to start my travel advisory adventures. Multiple trips to England’s sparkling wine region and Portugal’s Duoro Valley, Vinho Verde, Alentejo and Algarve wine regions gave me the knowledge and confidence I needed to expand my focus to those areas.

That said, I’d love to plan trips to any location where great food and wine are found. Tops on my list are countries I’ve taken several trips to, and would love to spend more time in: France, Spain and New Zealand.

Do you book flights?

I don’t book airfare directly, but I am happy to offer guidance and make suggestions on the best options.

What does your pricing include?

Pricing for my Itinerary Planning covers all research, custom day-by-day itinerary creation, booking support for hotels and ongoing communication leading up to your trip. If you book your lodging with me, I will also handle your restaurant and activity reservations. Costs start at $85/day and depends on the length and complexity of the itinerary, as well as the number of travelers.

Pricing for my Highlights offering includes a higher-level overview of the trip with a personalized, vetted list of activity and dining suggestions for each location, starting at $150/week.

I can also provide help with Lodging Only as a complimentary service if you book with me, as hotels provide commissions for our services.

Can you help with restaurant and wine tasting suggestions and reservations?

Yes! These are often at the core of the trips I plan. I’ll recommend vetted options that fit your taste and schedule, with a focus on those that feel genuine and local. If I’ve made your hotel reservations, I’ll also handle your dining bookings wherever possible.