Tara O’Leary, the Wine Passionista, is a freelance wine writer, presenter, sommelier and author of Every Wine Tells a Story. Her enthusiastic, down-to-earth approach encourages wine drinkers to expand their experiences and try different and exciting wines from around the world. Originally from London, where she now lives, Tara grew up in the States, spending time between Florida, New York and California. Follow Tara’s passion for wine on Twitter and Facebook.
Cheapflights: You are the Wine Passionista. How did this passion develop and when did you know you wanted to make the leap into the wine world as a career?
Tara O’Leary: I’ve been drawn to wine for as long as I can remember! I’ve always loved how you can be transported around the world by the wine in your glass. There was a day many years ago when I made the decision to follow my passion and make wine my career. After all, what’s better than spending your days meeting passionate winemakers, traveling to far-flung, beautiful wine regions and drinking great wine? Getting paid to do it!
CF: Although with wine you are traveling in a sense when you taste wine (if it’s a well-made, terroir-driven wine of course), how does traveling to the place where a particular wine is made change the experience?
TO: Nothing compares! There is simply nothing better than experiencing a wine in the place it was made – it puts everything in context. You can read all the great books, magazines and blogs and take numerous wine courses, but there is something that happens when you stand in a vineyard and taste wine. You literally drink in the surroundings. You feel the sun, the wind, the soil and the passion – you feel the wine. I highly recommend visiting as many vineyards as you can – and don’t forget to pack your glass!
CF: For people who want to go on wine vacations, would you recommend getting packaged “bus –type” tours, or organizing things yourself?
TO: There are pros and cons to both. The pre-packaged tours (if they’re really good) usually have great relationships with the local producers and can often give VIP tours or access to wineries that might not otherwise be open to the public, but you’ll be part of a larger group and more than likely be on a schedule. If you arrange your visits yourself, you have the freedom to pick and choose which producers you go to and, with some advanced notice, they’ll be only too happy to take great care of you. However, if you do take this route, it’s always a good idea to arrange a car service – getting behind the wheel is never a fun way to end a day of wine tasting.
CF: Any tips on researching a new destination before taking off?
TO: Many wine regions have a ‘generic body’ that promotes the producers of a region (Wines of New Zealand, Wines of Chile) that will no doubt be a font of information and only too happy to point you in the right direction and offer recommendations of wineries to visit given your specifications of where, when and how long you’d like to spend touring. Also, it’s worth looking into the region’s visitors bureaus, as they often have interesting insights into the wine scene of their locale. Those in the social media mix can get some fantastic advice and referrals by asking friends on Twitter and Facebook – personal recommendations are second to none.
CF: Of the airports you’ve passed through – Stateside and abroad – which is the most convenient?
TO: I live in London so I spend a lot of time at Heathrow and despite its size, I always enjoy some time in the departures lounge. They have a great range of shops and restaurants – I especially love flying from Terminal 5 and enjoying a stop at the Champagne Bar before take-off!
CF: Who’s the most memorable seatmate (or what’s the most memorable conversation) you’ve had on a plane?
TO: I was traveling home to visit my mother in Florida recently and we had a longer-than-planned delay at the gate before take-off. So when finally in the air and the drinks trolley came around, it was a most welcome sight. I asked for two little bottles of the red wine (the length of the delay required a bit extra!) and following my lead the couple next to me did the same. We started talking about wine – they drink a lot of Rioja – and I agreed that there are some excellent wines from the region, but that Spain has a number of excellent regions including Ribera del Duero, Priorat and an up-and-coming personal favorite, Bierzo. We chatted about wine and travel until both bottles were empty – then we found refills.
CF: Do you have a routine for staying healthy when you travel?
TO: It’s going to sound boring, but sleep and exercise. They (and wine with dinner) are the foundation to any healthy lifestyle, at home and especially while traveling.
CF: How do you incorporate fun into a business trip?
TO: I’m very fortunate that my business is wine and that’s always fun. The people, the places and the food are always exciting, often different and unusual (which is fantastic), and everything comes with wine, so what’s not to love? I would say the best way to incorporate fun into a business trip is to take any free moments you have to really enjoy the destination. Escape the tourist traps and try to get a real sense of the place – for me the best way is simply to experience the local food and drink, preferably somewhere off the beaten path.
CF: How do you get around a new country if you don’t speak the language?
TO: A smile is a great way of bridging language barriers. That and perhaps a pocket dictionary. I find people are usually happy to help if you make an effort to say a few words in their language and use a lot of hand gestures – they transcend language.
CF: What is an absolute must on your packing list?
TO: My wine opener of course! Never know when it might come in handy.
Cheapflights is proud to have guest voices express their opinions. The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheapflights Media (USA) Inc.
