Recognised as one of our Top 10 Hospitality Leaders 2024, Cork & Keg Tours, LLC is a tour company based in Northern Virginia. Owned by couple Nich and Julissa Kendall since late 2023, this provider offers guests all of the beauty and elegance of its local region through a series of personalised luxury experiences revolving around wine, beer, and spirits. Deeply rooted in their community, Nich and Julissa support hundreds of local businesses across the area through their excursions, sharing this beautiful pocket of the US and its award-winning produce with visitors from all over the world.
Cork and Keg Tours is a small, family-owned business that cares deeply about its home region of Loudoun County, Northern Virginia. Nich, Julissa, and the team pride themselves on being active members of this community, which is one that values its local heritage and traditions, all whilst extending open arms to the tourist trade. Famed for its Loudoun County wine tours, this business is situated in a hidden gem of a landscape, a gorgeous destination that makes some of the best local alcoholic beverages that the US has to offer.
Providing the perfect wine tasting tour and other similar experiences across Northern Virginia’s wineries and breweries, Cork and Keg Tours stands out by simply providing an unparalleled guest experience. This can be seen in the more than 200 five-star reviews left by delighted customers, and Nich is immensely proud of the fact that not a single review in the company’s history has ever been less than five stars. Thus, upon purchasing the business back in December last year, Nich and Julissa had impeccable standards to uphold.
Thankfully, they have done this remarkably well, ushering in a seamless transition and putting their own unique spin on the guest experience to continue to diversify these fantastic tours, which see the red carpet rolled out to all guests at every stop. As Nich explains, “our guests receive VIP treatment, including access to member only wines, tasting rooms, and reservations.” The high of this experience does not dip between stops, as the transport provided is almost as special as the locations themselves.
As Nich details, “we provide transportation in a one-of-a-kind custom designed Mercedes Sprinter Limo Van, with a fully stocked wet bar, Bluetooth surround sound speakers, and two 40-inch TVs.” This commitment to keeping the party going is something that defines the spirit of every Cork and Keg Tour, and when this is combined with the VIP access afforded to Northern Virginia’s best wineries and breweries, every member of a group is guaranteed an unforgettable experience and memories that will last a lifetime.
This all starts with a great first impression, as the company will offer all guests a champagne reception to set the tone and hint at the luxury experience that will unfold over the course of the day. A welcome speech underpins the personalised nature of these tours, with everyone toasting to making terrific memories together. To ensure a streamlined itinerary throughout the duration of the tour, the team will always get to the rendezvous at least 15 minutes early, depart on time, and keep to a strict schedule to avoid delays and disappointments.
Since every member of the Cork and Keg Tours team is a certified tourism ambassador through the local government, this tour provider offers guests much more than just a driver. A guest experience manager is on hand to plan every route, and should guests be staying in Loudoun County for the week, staff are on hand with recommendations of things to see and do. Nich and Julissa also work closely with wedding parties due to the nature of these tours, which serve as great bachelor or bachelorette party ideas.
Moreover, with both Loudoun County and Northern Virginia more broadly well on the way to becoming legitimate wine destinations on the back of new breweries and vineyards popping up at a rapid pace, Nich tells us that this year is a special anniversary for one of the local market’s trailblazers. Willowcroft Vineyard, the first winery in Loudoun County since the Prohibition era, is celebrating having opened its doors 40 years ago this year.
In fact, during a speech at the Loudoun County Tourism Awards earlier this year, Willowcroft Vineyard Founder and Owner Lew Parker stated: “40 years ago, when we planted our first vines, no one in Loudoun County really knew anything about making wine. Today, as I stand on this stage, I see a room filled with winemakers trained in the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Napa, and Tuscany.”
As this region continues to gather steam and acclaim for its regional wines, Nich shares that he is hoping the region will soon have its own ‘Judgement of Paris moment’, where its wines will be catapulted into the public eye just as California’s were against the French back in the 1970s. To help work towards this one day being the case, the team at Cork and Keg Tours strive to stay current in the ever-changing world of wine, beer, spirits, and wider tourism, making them cheerleaders for their array of world-class local partners.
Commenting on the bright future of Cork and Keg Tours, Nich tells us, “we are looking at mature wine markets like Bordeaux and Napa Valley as examples of what a wine tour business can do in a single local market, and we have the added benefit of Loudoun County and Northern Virginia also being wonderful places to visit for craft beer and spirits.” Nich continues, “as the Northern Virginia wine market continues gaining international recognition, Cork and Keg Tours will be here to help get tourists out to DC’s wine county.”
Regarding more imminent projects, the company is presently nurturing a partnership with a neighbouring Greek company, Narratologies, which specialises in the combination of historic and treasure hunt tours across the region. This collaboration will hopefully see Cork and Keg Tours featured on their app, so that a new historic/beer and wine tour can be created that represents more of what this beautiful land can offer the bustling tourist market.
“After buying Cork and Keg Tours in December, we acquired DiVine Wine Tours in February. Our goal this year is to exceed the expectations of our existing customers who have already been supporting these brands for years before we took over. While ownership has changed, the same attention to detail and over-the-top hospitality that makes Cork and Keg Tours great has not!”
To offer just a taste of some of the remarkable reviews that Cork and Keg Tours has received in recent months, Nich and Julissa proudly share with us some of their favourites. The first comes from Aleksey D., who said, “five-star experience all round. The hosts were amazing and so knowledgeable about the venues in these areas. My event was better than I could have ever asked for and everyone had the best time. 10/10, I recommend!” A similarly positive experience was shared in a glowing extensive testimonial by Phylicia Bowman.
Phylicia recounts, “there aren’t enough superlatives to describe Cork and Keg Tours’ concierge service from my first conversation with Lori Wiegand in February and throughout the planning process to the evening of April 19th, when Patricia Miller brought the six of us back to where we started, on time, in Bethesda that same morning.” Over the course of her tour, Phylicia experienced the full extent of this tailored service, from restaurant reservations through to her even tracking down a local ancestral home with help from tour guide Patricia.
As these testimonials highlight, Cork and Keg Tours is the perfect solution for everything from a corporate event through to a wedding or simply a fun weekend out with friends. Ultimately, those in search of a Loudoun County wine tour need look no further than Cork & Keg Tours, LLC, which has been championed as a leader in the field of hospitality for its unwavering commitment to setting a new gold standard for luxury tours, offering unforgettable and personalised experiences like no other provider can.
For business enquiries, contact Nich and Julissa Kendall from Cork & Keg Tours, LLC on their website – https://www.corkandkegtours.com/
