Sandra Green
I have had the great pleasure of participating in three wine tours with Peggy and Brien. The first two, Tuscany and Bordeaux, were during Peggy's tenure as President of Willow Park Wines & Spirits. The third and most recent trip to Porto and the Douro Valley was the inaugural tour of their new company VINfluence. Each tour felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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Every evening, I'd think to myself, "Well it can't get any better than this", and then the next day it would. How is that possible? I believe it's a combination of three things: 1) painstakingly thorough research and planning - tailored to the interests of the group members, 2) extraordinary knowledge of the regions, their foods, wines and, traditions, and 3) most importantly, Peggy and Brien's stellar reputation and long-term friendships with major players in the industry. As their guests, we became the beneficiaries of the kindness and respect bestowed upon them from winemakers and their representatives.
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Peggy and Brien are exemplary hosts and are always attentive to the special interests and needs of their guests. They naturally cultivate a spirit of kindness and helpfulness amongst the group members and thereby nurture the formation of new friendships. On a more practical note, all VINfluence guests come away with an enriched knowledge of the food and wine of the region and many great life-long memories. If there was a five-star rating on these tours, I'd give them six. Can't wait for the next one!
Dale Williams and Elaine Mah Williams
Review of Porto & Douro Valley (2023)
We highly recommend this tour for its exceptional range of quintas, wines, accommodations and meals. Peggy demonstrated impressive expertise and stellar personal connections in the industry. The trip was well organized from the start but Peggy was always flexible and proved ready and able to adapt as required. Regular digital updates to the itinerary kept us well informed. The small group size was another bonus, permitting the development of friendships and shared experiences. The choice of activities, such as the Fado show on our first night in Portugal, a Tuk Tuk tour with tapas, the tour of the cork factory further up the valley, an evening cruise up the Douro, and the museums were unique, fascinating, and entertaining opportunities to immerse ourselves in the culture. The range and quality of the meals (picnics to michelin), along with Peggy’s choices for wine pairings, made the culinary aspects of this trip a definite highlight. All in, the value received outstrips the cost by a long shot - a wonderfully enriching tour.
Claudia Vorlaufer
Where do I begin to thank you Peggy for years of unbelievable travel and exposure to great wine, great food and great people, always in the most beautiful settings.
Our trip to Portugal this past May was simply exceptional. Your ability to create experiences that I believe you simply can’t find on your own is so evident. Your knowledge of the areas we travelled to in Puerto and the Douro Valley had us experience the best of the city and the best of the valley. To unique lunches at Quintas your relationships provided once in a life opportunities to settings and tastings that made this trip unforgettable.
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I have been so lucky over the years to travel to Italy, France, Spain and the Napa Valley with you as well! Thank you for the impact you have personally made on my relationship with travel and wine.”
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Nick Pollard
My trip to Porto with Peggy and VINfluence was just exceptional. This was my first escorted trip, while I have traveled extensively I had always found my own way and didn't know what to expect. The first night in Porto we did a tourist visit to a beautiful Port house and I thought this was what I would have found on my own. The next day we started with the Vinfluence difference with a private tour of Ramos Pintos and got to experience the difference a lifetime of connections and expertise makes. I am a massive Port lover and that tour was only the start of an experience like no other. Talking to the people who actually make the experience, hearing their passion, and seeing their process.
After the numerous unique moments in Gaia and the many port houses, we traveled up the Douro valley to see the vineyards and quintas of the finest port houses. Again we were treated to meals with the families of Port "royalty" - a priceless experience only possible thanks to Peggy and Vinfluence.
Apart from unique experiences and connections, we were also treated to personalized exquisite customer service where our every need was looked after proactively and with panache.
I wholeheartedly recommend anyone looking for a Fabulous experience in the vineyards of Europe travel with Vinfluence - I can't wait for my next trip.