Meet the Featured Specialist from your region
Virtuoso has selected fourWarm Weather specialists representing each region of the country. Learn more about the specialists from the Southwest, Northeast, Southeast, Central US and Canada and Northwest regions.

The travel bug bit me at an early age. The world is a place to discover; different cultures, different foods, different attitudes. I went to travel school and became a consultant 27 years ago, and have since traveled each continent with the exception of Antarctica.

My love of food and wine developed gradually. A few wine events in the San Francisco Bay area and was hooked; this became my great adventure. Soon every weekend was spent traveling California’s appellations (it’s not just Napa). Each region has a different personality and you can taste 100 Cabs and no two are alike.

Traveling throughout Europe, I focused on France and the great champagnes, the lovely burgundies, Rhone’s, Italy’s Chianti. Everywhere you travel you find great food and excellent wines.

After marriage (and children), most my adventures were close to home for a while, but the children learned to enjoy our wine adventures. It’s amazing how a cork and the odd water feature can keep a child busy. Now that they are older we’ve been able to venture out more. The past two years’ Christmas’s were spent Down Under.

Australia has everything that we love; great food, especially shell fish, small cheese and farm opportunities, hiking, unique animals and lots of friendly wineries. The first year saw Tasmania and the Hunter Valley, and this year we drove the coastal route from Sydney to Adelaide, which takes in all their great wine regions.

It’s such a joy to help clients realize their travel dreams. With the help of Virtuoso I’m able to gain access to the VIP wineries. Five years ago I was awarded the top 125 agent specialist for Travel & Leisure magazine and have held onto it ever since. Great food, great wine, nice people; that’s what travel is all about.

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Northeast Region
Katie McCormack
McCabe World Travel

My appreciation for wine and food was born through my travels. Over the years it has become my passion, as I visited more wine regions around the world and found myself enjoying fantastic scenery combined with incredible cultural experiences.

Whether I was sipping wine at a boutique winery while taking in breathtaking views from Waiheke Island, tasting Chateauneuf de Pape in historic cellars of Southern France, or enjoying fresh pesto pasta with a crisp Pinot Grigio gazing at the scenic Portofino Bay, I reveled in these cherished moments.

One of the things I find fascinating is how wine can tell the story of a country and its people. When you travel through wine, you gain unique insight of a region opening yourself to truly appreciate one’s culture and share in a common passion for the good things in life.

I have had many wonderful wine experiences, but one of the most special memories must be of my honeymoon in Napa and Sonoma. My husband and I selected this region because of the endless variety of wineries and gourmet restaurants. During this trip we shared one amazing experience after another, but a favorite was simply sitting in the hot tub on the patio of our suite, sipping a perfectly chilled sparking wine watching the sunset over the valley. That was such a perfect moment I want to live it over and over!

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Southeast Region
Diane Wilkinson
Century Travel

I began my love affaire with food as an International flight attendant for Pan American World Airways in their late 60’s glamour days. First Class stocked large tins of Iranian caviar; finely dressed passengers barely touched it, but I became ‘hooked’! Paris or Rome layovers meant 3 nights at Le Scribe or the Metropole and I dined from Europe to Asia in style. My mission: experience everything possible from Tuileries picnics of Fauchon Foie Gras to ‘Truffe en croute’ at Laserre (served burnt - I quickly learned cost doesn’t always equate to quality!).

After getting married, we spent a few years in Europe as he served his country. Vacation time was abundant and I loved spending days organizing future travels -- usually focused on food and wine. I was passionate about both food and travel, and decided that after our tour of duty, I would study Culinary Arts and teach cooking classes.

I obtained Certification at the Paris Cordon Bleu, studied with Marcella Hazan, spent time in several of France’s finest restaurants and completed a few Wine Studies. Soon after opening my cooking school in 1974, students inquired about luxury Culinary Tours. For over a decade I led small groups on insider’s trips through every important region of France and Italy: private cooking classes in 3-star restaurants, exploring local markets and specialty producers – from the incredible Maison Bonnat chocolatiers near Grenoble to the Roquefort cheese caves to exclusive family owned vineyards.

Gradually, my focus shifted from teaching cooking classes to working as a travel consultant. Nowadays, with little time to teach, I maintain culinary friendships and professional associations, helping me to offer travel clients an added dimension to their travels. As it’s said, “It’s not just what you know, but who you know!”

Most gastronomes of today prefer mixing culinary experiences: fine dining, brasseries, bistrots. Even clients without special culinary interests usually adore exploring the roving local morning village markets – for the local culture, lively activity, colorful displays, and people-watching. In my personalized itineraries, I like including nearby morning market schedules.

With my worldwide Virtuoso and ‘foodie’ contacts extraordinaire, there are endless food and wine experiences that I can arrange: from a food specialist led Hong Kong day tour of its exotic markets, to private cooking classes in a Tokyo, to a Chef’s Table dinner in Cape Town’s Mount Nelson’s kitchen. I want every moment of your vacation to be the best it can be!

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Central/Canada Region
Kathy Clements
Four Corners Travel, Ltd.

I came to the travel industry through the food and wine door in 1986. After graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in home economics, I worked for Hotpoint, a division of General Electric, traveling to all the states except Alaska, demonstrating how to use the appliances and giving cooking lessons on the ranges. Then I worked for Leo Burnett advertising, as their home economist, supervising food photography for print and television for all their food accounts.

I had used Four Corners Travel to arrange family vacations and was asked by the owner to join them as an agent. I found that I not only loved arranging travel for others and traveling myself but that my friends and referrals truly enjoyed my knowledge, particularly of the foods and wines of France and Italy..

In 1988, I became the owner of Four Corners Travel with a partner and have stayed during the past 21 years because of my passion for travel and helping clients make their travel dreams a reality.

My favorite food and wine experiences have been the cooking classes that I attended at La Varenne in Paris and at the Acadamie du Vin in Paris. I have also taken classes on the Amalfi Coast, Provence and a cooking and marketing class in Paris.

My love of food and wine has led me to explore the areas of France and Italy that produce these wonderful experiences. I enjoy including them in my clients itineraries that I custom design for their specific desires, always striving to provide an experience and level of service that they would not be able to find anywhere else.

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Northwest Region
Michelle Melroy Alnawafleh
Melroy World Travel

I have been what is nowadays called a “foodie” for most of my life. As a teenager, my favorite birthday gift was to be allowed enough money from my parents to shop at the grocery store and make elaborate family meals. I remember, in my teens, making homemade pasta, croissants from scratch, Crepes Suzette, etc.

In my early 20’s I took cooking classes from a local French lady who was a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. I have a collection of close to 400 cookbooks from all over the world, adding several every year! I continue to love food and I appreciate its profound effect on cultures and travel.

My personal cooking “specialty” is Middle-Eastern food; my grown son’s father is Iranian and my current husband is Jordanian; and I love the spices and flavor combinations from that area of the world.

A wonderful recent wine & food experience I had was in May, 2006, on a Napa agent trip with BACKROADS. The Napa & St. Helena areas are tremendous for wine tasting/education/buying; the food is fresh and exquisite, and if you are biking or walking you have the added bonus of not only slowing down to really enjoy the scenery, but also working off the calories!

I have been to over 45 countries, and experiencing the local cuisine (and wine, spirits) is absolutely mandatory for me when I travel; so I truly enjoy helping my clients make these exciting discoveries, also.

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Maximize your Travel Experience
Our featured specialists are five of over 6,000 agents in the Virtuoso network, all specializing in different destinations, cruise lines, hotels, resorts and other travel opportunities. They have the knowledge and expertise to help you get the most out of your next getaway. What if the cruise you wanted isn't available? Virtuoso travel specialists don’t just say "No," they provide you with other options. Virtuoso agents, know your time is valuable and respected. When you call our Virtuoso Consumer Liaisons, they will find the specialist who is right for you.

If you would like Lynda, Katie, Diane, Kathy or Michelle to plan your next Food and Wine escape or would like to find a specialist to orchestrate your travel dreams, contact a Virtuoso Consumer Liaison and we’ll put you in touch with a specialist! Please call us toll-free at 1-866-401-7974 or send an email to travel@virtuoso.com

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