The Latitude Wine Tours Story

I wanted to take some time to jot down the Latitude story. Because, since I am the owner, driver, and educator extraordinaire, the Latitude story is really my story, and I am nothing if not a storyteller. So, if you’ll indulge me, we’re going to start at the beginning.

I grew up in California wine country. We’re not talking Napa or Sonoma. We’re talking Lodi, Amador County, Fiddletown—if you know, you know. I call this wine country “cowboy wine country”, where the most common answer to the question, “Why did you decide to plant these types of grapes?” is “Because that’s what we like to drink.” Excellent. No notes. Zinfandel. Barbera. Petite Sirah. Incredible stuff.

When I was about 19 (notably, before I turned 21), my mom said, “Faith, we know that you’ve been drinking.” Uh oh, I’m in such big trouble! “Well if you’re going to be drinking, you may as well be drinking good wine.” Uh, hell yeah! So my parents instilled in me early on that the pinnacle of enjoying an adult beverage is drinking delicious local wine. Smart folks.

Well a few years later, I graduated with my degree in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College (again, if you know, you know). While in school, I absolutely thrived as a campus tour guide (foreshadowing!), and I always joked that once I’d had my illustrious career in corporate engineering, I could retire and pour wine in a “cowboy wine country” tasting room. Around this time I started dating my now-husband Donovan, and he was living up in Southern Oregon while I was in Southern California. We would date long distance for three years. And about that three year mark, I had had enough of the flights, the weeks and months without seeing him. It was time for this short-lived city girl to move to the Rogue Valley.

And while I was looking for engineering jobs in the area, I was getting very demoralized. I was applying to jobs like “Lumber Logistics Specialist” and “Freight Operations Manager” and all these very reputable, respectable, and important jobs that just sounded. So. Boring. And then I stumbled on a job posting at one of our local wineries. And I asked Donovan, “What do you think about me applying for jobs in the wine industry?” And he, being the most amazing man on the face of the planet, said, “That’s the best idea I’ve ever heard.”

My first job in Rogue Valley wine country was as the tasting room manager at Troon Vineyard. If you haven’t been, please add it to your must-visit list. It’s a stunning estate with incredible wines and just such nice staff. And at Troon I learned that wine, other than being delicious, is also a beverage of sharing. There’s a reason it comes in a big bottle rather than single serve cans; wine is meant to be shared.

My next wine job was (and still is) as the wine director at Partake in Grants Pass. International wine was entirely new to me, and through this role I’ve learned that wine is a beverage of discovery and exploration.

About a year ago I started my third job in the wine industry, as the program director for Rogue Valley Vintners, our local winemakers’ association. In this role, it’s my job to market our local wine region, engage with locals and tourists alike to get them out into our beautiful wine country. And this job taught me that wine is a beverage of community and connection.

If anyone is keeping track, you’re doing the math and you’re thinking, “Wait, so Faith has two jobs in addition to her business?” Yes, I do, because I want to live and breathe wine, and I cannot be stopped. You can see where this is going.

So on a beautiful April day in 2024, I was out sitting on my porch, sipping a delicious local pét-nat, with my heart and soul, Islay the cat, sun-bathing in her harness. I was thinking about all of this: wine as a beverage of sharing, discovery, exploration, connection, and community. And I was thinking, How can I be part of sharing our local wine country with folks who want to discover, explore, and connect? And that’s how Latitude Wine Tours was born.

And that’s why Latitude isn’t just a driving service. I have personal connections with each winery I include on my tours, and I engage with and learn about each group ahead of time in order to curate a tour that speaks specifically to them and their interests. If we’re going to connect with our local wine country, the wine tour can’t be one-size-fits all.

I never expected to make my career in wine, let alone be a small business owner, but each step in this journey has felt as natural as breathing. I’m sure a lot of you can understand that feeling. And that’s what Latitude is all about.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope your find yourself sipping a delicious wine in a beautiful place very, very soon.