About Us
Alfio Moriconi is the inspiration behind Insider Wine Tours. He has dedicated his life to finding great wines and to creating meaningful relationships with the people that make them. With Insider Wine Tours, his experience in the wine industry complements his daughter’s vast experience in tourism. Our guides are the best in the business. Local experts accompany you on every wine tour to reveal the essence of each wine region. Here are a few words about each of the people who are excited to make your wine tours in France and Italy "the memories of a lifetime."
Alfio Moriconi
"I fell into a bottle of wine, and I’m still swimming in it!" That is how Alfio sums up his over 40 years in the wine business. As wine buyer and importer for decades, Alfio has combed his European homeland for the best French, Italian, and Spanish wines. Many of them are on his own label: the "Alfio Moriconi Selection". Helping people learn about wine has always been important to Alfio. He cofounded and managed Les Amis du Vin, America’s largest wine club. He has lectured about wine across the United States and taught courses at George Washington University. Alfio has led countless wine tours in France, Italy, and Spain, and hosted TV’s "Wine and Cooking Center". He is a Chevalier du Tastevin and, in 1972 the French Government awarded him La Croix de Chevalier du Mérite Agricole for his academic work in wine.
Alfio has a hand in creating all our wine tours, and sometimes he comes along to lead them.
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Sabrina Moriconi
A native of Washington, D.C., Sabrina was born into the world of wine. Before she was of school age, she was accompanying her parents on wine tours in Europe. Wine makers fondly remember replacing the table’s centerpiece with Sabrina’s basinet. At home, wine was part of daily life. Over the years, Sabrina developed a vast knowledge. She did not follow her father’s example immediately. Her major in European History at Columbia University first led to work for the World Bank and the United Nations.
It didn’t take long before she followed her heart and moved to Italy. Her work in Europe started in hotel and restaurant management. Later she organized and led tours for a US active travel company and after 8 years, she opened Insider Wine Tours with John and her father.
Sabrina lives in southern Italy with husband Pasquale, and their children Marco and Giada. She is fluent in Italian, French and her native English. When you get in touch with us, Sabrina will help you arrange your vacation.
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John Giebler
As a certified sommelier, John has an intense enthusiasm for food, wine, and travel. After graduating as a classical guitar major from the University of Denver, and several years as a head produce buyer in the retail world, John traveled the globe. His travels through Latin America, Asia, and Africa led to finally putting down roots in Europe. In his seven years in France, he gained a unique understanding of agricultural life on organic farms, making and selling goat cheese, and working in vineyards in Burgundy.
Now in his fourth year in Italy, John relishes every opportunity to share the food, wine, history, and culture of his adopted countries and native United States. John is a member of the Associazione Italiana Sommelier and has arranged and led guided tours in France, Italy, and Spain since 2000. John is our ‘Field Man’ and will lead your wine tours, along with our local wine experts.
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At Insider Wine Tours, we are honored to collaborate with some of the most respected experts in the wine business. Here are a few people who will contribute to your vacation.
Giorgio Carratelli
Giorgio is a native Tuscan, born in the gorgeous renaissance town of Pienza, near Siena. Giorgio became involved in the world of wine as a young man. Mostly involved on the sales end of things, he was the sales director of a large producer in Montepulciano, before beginning his collaboration with Montepulciano’s Cantina Gattavecchi.
Giorgio’s knack for finding great Tuscan producers, special vintages, and bottlings is invaluable in helping us design our itineraries for our Tuscany Wine Tours.
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Vincent Fabre
Vincent Fabre is the expert wine maker for the Domaines Fabre. The Fabre family has been farming and making wine for centuries. Vincent has been involved for more than 15 years in leading the Bordeaux Wine Industry, so he knows a lot about the French wine business. A humble man, Vincent is delighted to tell you about his domains, as well as the Médoc in general. Vincent will join you on our Wine Tours in Bordeaux. Domaines Fabre produces Chateau Lamothe-Cissac, Chateau Landat, Chateau La Tonnelle, Chateau Le Chene, and Chateau Fonseche.
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Claudio Gori
Claudio was born in Empoli and studied agriculture in Siena. He adored the fresh air of the Chianti hills and specialized in oenology. After studying in Bordeaux and Montpellier, he began traveling throughout his native Italy. At various universities and research centers he rediscovered the local vines: from colorino to canaiolo, and barbera to rouché to primitvo and nero d’avola. His professional passion is to give a sense of place to these local vines and wines, in an international market. And he does this with VinoVigna, his oenological consulting firm.
Claudio’s hobbies range from reading to horseback riding to long walks amid the olive groves. You will meet him on our Tuscany Wine Tours.
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Jean-Pierre Nié
Jean-Pierre Nié is the modern Duke of Burgundy, a Burgundian through and through – he was even born in the Hospices de Beaune. His family has owned vineyards in the Côte de Beaune, Santenay, and Aloxe-Corton since at least 1580. Jean-Pierre majored in oenology at the University of Beaune. In the 1970’s, he was hired to taste wine at wine producers throughout Burgundy, unearthing the best for local wine shops and supermarkets. More recently, he owns and operates his own wine business selling $15 million worth of the best Burgundies across the world.
In addition to Jean-Pierre’s vast knowledge about wine, he enjoys sharing Burgundy’s historical monuments and warm, natural ‘art de vivre’. You will meet him in September on our Burgundy Wine Tour.
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Jean-Pierre Rousseau
A native from the Southeastern part of France (a small town halfway between the Basque Country and Bordeaux), Jean-Pierre Rousseau followed a totally unconventional career path... and he loves it! He graduated from the Institute of Political Sciences of Bordeaux, and instead of entering administration, chose... to run a cinema in his hometown. A decade later, he switched to the wine business and launched Vignes & Traditions, which he merged with what is now one of the top Bordeaux negociants: DIVA. Today, besides managing his company and taking care of the relationships with Chateaux owners and clients, Jean-Pierre can fulfil his numerous passions: traveling, wine tasting (he is a member of the “Commanderie du Bontemps du Médoc et des Graves”), but also jazz music, literature and cinema, of course.
If you happen to come across a man with a Basque beret cycling in the streets of Bordeaux, beware: that could be one of the most famous wine professionals in France! Jean-Pierre is with us for our Bordeaux Wine Tours.
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Nicolas Schilling
Nicolas Schilling, Swiss by birth, went to Burgundy as a young man. He quickly fell in love with the region and its wines. Now Nicolas flies his own jet all over Europe, coaching and representing over 700 small wine producers. He is a wine exporter that buyers respect, trust, and even envy. Nicolas brings a great wealth of knowledge and experience to our Burgundy wine tours
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Laurent Terrisson
Laurent Terrisson, son of an oenologist, was born into a family of winegrowers. Since the late 80’s, Laurent has been in the wine business. In the 90’s, he worked at the Cave de Tain l’Hermitage and his passion for wine soared. Since 2002, Laurent has his own business selecting wines and exporting them to the United States. Laurent has a knack for finding fantastic winemakers for his exports. On our Provence & the Rhône Valley Wine Tours, Laurent gets you into these top domains for private wine tastings. Thanks to Laurent, you will taste wines that truly express their terroir and are excellent value for the money.
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Would you like more information about our wine tours? Please give us a call at 1-800-449-7147 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!
