Top 10 Marketing Leaders 2024 | 43 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. Contact Details Contact: Nich and Julissa Kendall Company: Cork & Keg Tours, LLC Web Address: https://www.corkandkegtours.com/
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