One of the things that makes our Fabulous Ladies Wine Tours so special is the mix of women who travel with us. Each group blends curious wine lovers with those who live and breathe the industry — winemakers, viticulturists, marketers, educators, small-business owners, and more. And the magic? Everyone learns from each other.

You don’t need encyclopaedic wine knowledge to enjoy our tours, and if you do bring years of technical experience, you’ll still find new inspiration, new wines and new perspectives. We design every itinerary so each guest can engage at exactly the level they choose. Our producers are masters at pitching their stories to a diverse audience, effortlessly shifting between technical depth and warm, approachable storytelling. They welcome in-depth industry questions just as wholeheartedly as the beautifully simple ones.

We’re seeing a growing number of women working in wine joining us — but many quietly wonder if they’ll fit in, whether it will feel professionally worthwhile, or whether travelling with non-industry guests will feel unfamiliar. The short answer: you’re not only welcome — you’ll likely love it.

Why women in wine love our tours:

• Exclusive access to producers and regions not easily reached on a typical trade trip
• Space to learn without being “on duty”
• A blend of technical insight and genuine downtime
• The chance to reconnect with why they fell in love with wine in the first place

And for those who simply love wine?

You’ll never feel out of place. Expertise is welcome — but never expected. Curiosity, enthusiasm and a sense of adventure are all you need.

To help bring this to life, we sat down with Debbie Lauritz, Chief Winemaker at Robert Oatley Wines, who recently returned from her first Fabulous Ladies Wine Tour. We asked her to share her honest thoughts — from what made her book, to what surprised her most.

Here’s what she said…

Debbie, how did you make the decision to join this experience?

I have been receiving The Fabulous Ladies’ Wine Society’s emails with amazing wine tours for quite some time and kept thinking one day I would try and join one.

Either the time of the year didn’t work for me or I had already visited and was more familiar with the wines.

I finally took the plunge on the Sicily wine tour as I don’t get the opportunity to taste many Sicilian wines, I was heading to Europe, the timing worked & Sicily was on my list of must visit places!

Did you have any doubts or fears before taking this tour?

Probably only the cost. But once you see the hotels, the visits, what’s included & that it is all done for you, you understand why it costs what it costs….

What is the #1 thing you’ve loved most? (Or two things!)

# 1 – The Wines! We visited some amazing vineyards and wineries, and all the wines we tasted were excellent. A lot of small, boutique, hands-on producers, and all had a genuine passion for their land and what they did.

The quality of the wines and the tasting experience was excellent and the diversity of sites, climate, varieties, (a lot of them indigenous) and winemaking style was astonishing.

# 2 – The Food! Not quite three courses for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, but not far off. The food was fantastic, fresh, local, seasonal, simple but just so tasty. At every new destination we would try a local delicacy, a different version of a Sicilian highlight, vegetables, fruits, eggs and cheese straight from the farmer, cheesemaker or vegetable garden to our plate.

Why would you recommend it to other women working in the wine industry?

It was a truly relaxing, educational and immersive experience all in one trip – which is not easy to achieve!

Jane and her team have done all the hard work and found the best hotels, wineries, restaurants and cultural experiences. You don’t need to think about driving, directions, booking appointments, translating, getting lost, running late – it’s all done for you.

Jane also has a local tour guide, who provides not only help with the language, but so much information of the history of the region, the people, the soil, the culture, the food & wine & a lot of humour along the way.

Plus, there are a few relaxation days scattered throughout, to spend shopping, at the beach, exploring, whatever you decide.

For women who work in the wine indusry — and for those who are simply enthusiastic drinkers — these tours strike a rare balance. You get the insider access and the joy of switching off. The deep learning and the laughter over long lunches. If you’ve been sitting on the fence wondering if it’s “for you,” Debbie’s story is a pretty good hint. We’d love to have you along!