DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY, CORK+COMPASS TRAVEL

Dear fellow wine lover,

I've spent over 30 years immersed in the world of wine, traveling to its great regions, learning from its makers, and experiencing it from the inside. Over time, that perspective began to shape something more. Cork + Compass Travel was created from a simple belief: traveling like a wine critic transforms the entire journey. It doesn't replace the beauty of wandering — it refines it, adding depth, access, and intention to every moment.

Wherever we go — whether a renowned wine region, an intimate tasting, or a private event — we hear the same question: "Can I get in your suitcase?" It's the ultimate compliment, and it speaks to a way of traveling that feels elevated, seamless, and rare. Cork + Compass Travel was created to open that world to you.

To move beyond simply visiting wineries and instead step inside them — tasting with purpose alongside Wine Enthusiast reviewers and editors, connecting with founders and visionaries, and experiencing each region through a lens few ever access. When our first trips to Tuscany and Burgundy sold out in 2025, I was gratified but not surprised. Once you experience a region through the eyes of someone who has spent years studying its wines, its history, and its people, it's a different kind of travel altogether. Our guests don't come back with photographs. They come back with stories they'll be telling for the rest of their lives.

For 2026, we've added Bordeaux and opened a second Tuscany departure. Each trip is intimate — small enough that you're never lost in a crowd, large enough that you'll leave with real friendships. On select itineraries, we've also arranged access to private cellars and estates that aren't open to independent visitors: not because they're exclusive, but because they're the moments where a trip becomes a memory you genuinely can't replicate.

Burgundy, France

October 5-11, 2026

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Led by Anna-Christina Cabrales, Wine Enthusiast Tasting Director

Tuscany, Italy

October 22-27, 2026

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Led by Dr. Danielle Callegari, Wine Enthusiast Italian reviewer & Dartmouth professor of Italian studies

Bordeaux, France

November 2-7, 2026

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Led by Jeff Porter, Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large and Northern Italy & France wine reviewer

Along the way, you'll share these experiences with a like-minded circle, fostering new friendships and meaningful connections that linger long after the final glass. This is not simply a tour. It is a curated passage into the culture, craft, and people behind every bottle — designed for those who wish to travel with discernment, and arrive with a deeper sense of place.

Come join us. Step in as an insider, travel with the perspective of a Wine Enthusiast critic — and if you've ever wondered what it feels like… maybe it's your turn to get in our suitcase.

With warmth,

Denise Valenza

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY, CORK+COMPASS TRAVEL

Wine Enthusiast

THREE DESTINATIONS - FALL 2026

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1-877-916-4924

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