The Founder

Peter Smith is one of, if not the world's most experienced wine tour specialist. Operating wine tours to the world's finest wineries since 1993, Peter has developed a profound knowledge of winemaking that has earned him the respect and friendship of many of the top winemakers around the globe.

Regarded as a leading expert in the wine tourism industry, Peter has been a keynote speaker at international wine tourism seminars and has consulted for wineries in developing their wine tourism programs.

Peter is a member of the Institute of Hospitality, the Jurade of St. Emilion and a member of Les Chablisiens.Peter's affiliations include: The Society of Wine Educators, Wine Educators Worldwide, The American Wine Society, The French Wine Society and the Orange County Wine Society. He is an acclaimed wine and travel journalist and currently writes for the Sommelier Journal (www.sommelierjournal.com) as well as other wine and travel publications. Peter and his wife Holly own the OC Wine School located in Newport Beach, California.

With a background in food, wine and hospitality management, Peter is well qualified to accommodate the most demanding needs of our clients - and his commitment to excellence is passed on to each and every guide who works for him. Prior to founding Avalon Wine Tours, Peter managed hotels and restaurants, and for several years he and his wife Holly catered to the world's elite on private yachts as a captain/chef team.

Peter & Holly Smith split their time between their beach house in Southern California and their farmhouse in France.

Avalon Tours was founded in 1993, and is the world's

oldest wine-specialist tour operator. With clients that

range from major collectors to the enthusiastic novice, from celebrities to winemakers, each and every guest is treated equally as a VIP.

Avalon Tours attention to detail and customer service extends from the minute we start planning an itinerary through every aspect of the tour, from special dietary needs to winery visits to special occasion requests.

We offer the most exclusive personally hosted groups with a maximum of 8 people on most tours. We visit the most famous wine estates, as well as the smaller undiscovered vineyards, in the best wine regions of the world.

Because of our personal relationships over the past 25 years in the wine industry, winemakers receive our guests as our personal friends rather than as tourists. Our clients are treated with a genuine respect and openness not found on other tours. Our guides know the wine regions, the customs and people intimately and provide an experience for our clients not possible with any other tour company.

Avalon Wine Tours provide unique accommodation in historic chateaux, luxury hotels and elegant country homes. You will enjoy private tastings at top chateaux, winemaker meals as well as invitation only events not open to the public.

Avalon Wine Tours offers fully inclusive , scheduled small group tours year round as well as custom chauffeured and self drive itineraries upon request. We are happy to design a custom itinerary to include whatever you prefer, with our experience always at your disposal. We also offer cooking classes, golf, fishing, hunting, photography and more.

We invite you to discover the wine regions of the world on a trip of a lifetime!

About us