Hi, I’m Laura and I have lived on the Central Coast for over a decade. My husband Dave and I fell in love with the area while taking our middle son Kyle (we have three boys!) on a college visit to Cal Poly SLO, where he majored in Wine and Viticulture. Already being a lover of wine, I experienced a whole new dimension of local flavor when I moved to San Luis Obispo County. From getting to know all of the wonderful people who run the wineries to making a barrel each of Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Petite Sirah the past few years, living on the Central Coast has made wine a focal point in my life.

As time has passed, I’ve learned more and more about wine—starting by asking my son questions, then taking Cal Poly Wine classes through the extension program, and recently traveling firsthand to international wine regions like the Swiss Vaud, Portugal, Galicia in Spain, and Alsace, Bordeaux, Champagne, Burgundy and the Northern Rhone in France. This experience led to further study, and I am now a Certified Sommelier, Level 2. I have volunteered for nine years at wine events including Earth Day, SLO Wine, Roll Out the Barrels, the Oyster Festival, and Harvest, and most recently, I was the Wine Coordinator and Manager for the 1st Annual SLO Jazz Festival. After taking out-of-town friends to all the beautiful wineries of the Central Coast, the idea for 101 Wine Tours was born—after all, my passion is introducing people to incredible wines for the first time. Kyle, as well as my other sons Ryan and Myles, encouraged me to follow my dream and start a small business.

In the six years since I have received TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence each year from 2016 to 2021 and was awarded the Visit SLO CAL 2018 Tourism Service Champion Award. In addition to operating 101 Wine Tours, I share my knowledge as a contributing writer for Tolosa Press and its affiliate publications. I’ve also been certified by the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) as a Level 2 wine educator. My knowledge and enthusiasm for wine are always growing, so when you join me for a wine tour, yours will too!

While we were closed throughout much of last year due to COVID-19 lockdowns and California regulations, I was so honored to receive a 2020 and 2021 Trip Advisor Travelers’ Choice Awards during that time. With new safety features installed in our touring vehicles and winery tasting rooms opening back up, I look forward to planning an incredible tour for you soon!