Today we’d like to introduce you to Dave Love. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Hill Country Wine Tours was founded on the principal of providing an all-inclusive, elevated door-to-door experiences in the Texas Hill Country around the amazing Texas Wines and Whiskey locations that are a big part of tourism in Central Texas. Founded by music entrepreneur Dave Love, founder of Heads Up International Ltd. a Seattle then Cleveland-based international recording company who released many albums by the likes of Esperanza Spalding, Take 6, Fourplay, Spyro Gyra, Yellowjackets, Philip Bailey, Incognito, Taj Mahal, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Hugh Masekela, Michael Brecker and over 300 albums many that were Grammy-nominated or Winning albums in a variety of categories. After Heads Up merged with Telarc International Corporation the entities sold to to Norman Lear and Hal Gaba’s Village Roadshow Pictures in 2008, Love went on to manage a slough of Grammy Award-winning international artists such as Esperanza Spalding, Buena Vista Social Club, Omara Portuondo, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Liebman, Fatoumata Diawara, Etienne Charles, Rene Marie, Marion Meadows, Roberto Fonseca and others. “I have been organizing artist’s careers, recordings and their world tours, contracts and marketing them as a personal manager for most of my life. Organizing fun people who would like to explore the Texas Hill Country was very natural for progression for me.”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Shortly after we started Covid had shut down the wine touring industry for almost nine months. It was very difficult during those times with all the restrictions being put on estates and TABC and CDC rules.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I truly love curating days in the Hill Country. I have a good sense after one or two conversations with a client to choose the best spots for them to enjoy their day. There are so many wineries on the 290 Wine Trail, the second largest wine tourism destination in North America that not every location is right for every person. I talk to them about their palate what and if they are celebrating an anniversary, birthday, bachelorette party, keeping in mind weather and food options throughout as well as geographically mapping their day to keep them at an estate and out of our vans enjoying some great wine, friendship and family. For us serving Central Texas with pick-up point as far North as Killeen and as far South as San Antonio and of course west to Fredericksburg is what has set us apart.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Primarily through a handshake by a client or vendor with the words uttered “well done, or I had a great time, or you brought us a great group” It is important we approach everyone from the client to the vendor with an all-winning attitude. Our guests need to be treated with white gloves, we want our partner wineries to make members and our guests buying their wine or whiskey. Building repeat business not only for our tours, but introducing them to their new favorite wine or whiskey that they then purchase regularly is exceptional.
Pricing:
- We range from $169.00 – $275.00 per guest depending upon the size of the group and the day of the week. The larger group the less the price, but experiences are also factored into the pricing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hillcountrywinetours.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/texashillcountrywinetours/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEXASHILLCOUNTRYWINETOURS
Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Hill Country Wine Tours LLC
