Traveling Vineyard—through my wine tastings, company-sponsored training events, and people that I’ve met within the company—has helped me grow as a mom, wife, friend, entrepreneur, and person.
Tanya Van Someren | Wisconsin
Tanya’s Story | Flexibility to Make the Most of Family Time
I was attracted to Traveling Vineyard because of the product, who doesn’t love wine? I made the decision to join after learning that I could have a flexible schedule and conduct wine tastings when it worked for me. At that time my boys were nine months and three years old and I needed and wanted a way to earn extra cash for our family while still being able to stay home with the kids. My boys are now 10 and 13, and we all enjoy the flexibility that my schedule offers so we can take day trips to the water park, take our kayaks on the lake to catch some fish, and I can chaperone school field trips. Traveling Vineyard—through my wine tastings, company-sponsored training events, and people that I’ve met within the company—has helped me grow as a mom, wife, friend, entrepreneur, and person. I have gained confidence, leadership and communication skills and a whole new level of appreciation for wine and food. I joined for the financial reward, but I’ve stayed because of the fun, flexibility and friendships.
I love spending more time with my family and friends, waking up every morning excited about my “job”, and having the flexibility to schedule my life anyway I please.
Niqui Douglas | California
Niqui’s Story | From Part-Time Parties to Retirement Plan
Traveling Vineyard began as something I thought would just be for fun. It’s wine, and I would be paid to share it with others (win-win). I quickly discovered it would be so much more! I saw this as an opportunity to build a business for my second career (also known as retirement). While working as an executive for a Fortune 50 communications company, traveling nationwide 75% of the time, I found any available moments to touch my side hustle. I met so many amazing people that have become lifelong friends. We were having so much fun wine “working” together that I didn’t immediately realize I’d built a strong business and team, doing this very part-time. I recently left that corporate career of 20 years to run my wine business full-time. It’s been one blessing after another! I love spending more time with my family and friends, waking up every morning exciting about my “job”, and having the flexibility to schedule my life anyway I please. Work travel has a new meaning and it’s often tax deductible!
As a military spouse there are relatively few professions that I can carry with me from one state to the next without having to re-certify or apply for new licensing, etc. Being a Wine Guide affords me the flexibility that many other careers would not.
Elizabeth Allen | North Carolina
Elizabeth’s Story | Working in Wine as a Military Spouse and Mom
I have been a Wine Guide for almost eight years and it’s really hard to pick just one of our “5Fs” that I connect with more than others. This wine gig has been so much more than a side hustle. As a military spouse there are relatively few professions that I can carry with me from one state to the next without having to re-certify or apply for new licensing, etc. Being a Wine Guide affords me the flexibility that many other careers would not. I live in a world where the needs of the Coast Guard almost always come first for my husband and I’m proud to support him, and also help support my family with additional wine income. The coolest benefits of my time as a Wine Guide so far have been pretty unexpected. I was honored with the role ofkeynote speaker last year. I found a hidden talent in public speaking, something I never dreamed I would love, and I am actually pretty good at it! As a wine guide, I’ve rediscovered myself. Often parents, moms especially, are so defined by that part of our identity, it’s easy to forget the other things that make you who you are. Traveling Vineyard gavemeback to me. A sense of purpose outside of my family, even though my Wine Guide gig benefits my family tremendously. I’m a Wine Guide for life.
Financial reward attracted me to the business but the ‘F’ that has come to the forefront is Fulfillment. I’ve learned so much about myself, it has truly been a process of self-discovery.
Kisha Dlugos | West Virginia
Kisha’s Story | A Journey of Self-Discovery
The word serendipity sums up my journey with Traveling Vineyard. When I started my Traveling Vineyard business, I was merely looking for the F that initially draws us all in: financial reward. At the time, I was a busy mom and wife working as a full-time, salaried state employee. I simply wanted a way to make extra income to pay off medical bills. Am I a wine expert? Absolutely not. All I knew, and still know, is that I enjoy wine and if there was ever a perfect opportunity, this was it! I came into the selling world with zero experience (I never sold a thing prior to Traveling Vineyard) yet I have been very successful thanks to the support team from world headquarters, the business model and hard work and dedication. Financial reward attracted me to the business but the “F” that has come to the forefront is Fulfillment. I’ve learned so much about myself, it has truly been a process of self-discovery. I have gained the confidence of public speaking by sharing my knowledge with my fellow Wine Guides at our national Harvest conference, I have discovered that I have an eye for and major passion food photography … truly one big beautiful butterfly effect. I am thankful every day for the life-changing moments Traveling Vineyard has brought to me and my family.
I have started to be referred to as The Wine Guy by my guests and customers and have completely embraced it, truly living the #wineGUYlife in-person and online!
Troy Kuntz | North Dakota
Troy Kuntz | North Dakota
I joined Traveling Vineyard over six years ago and can’t imagine my life without it! Being an elementary school teacher in an oil field town, I originally became a Wine Guide for the flexibility and the financial reward, two of the company’s “5F’s”. What I did not expect to get from the business was a sense of purpose and a brand new family of wine lovers that extends across the country. Just like I do in the classroom, I put 100% of myself into everything I do. My Traveling Vineyard wine tasting events not only feature five of ourphenomenal wines, but are they’re also jam-packed with fun, information, and personality. I have started to be referred to as “The Wine Guy” by my guests and customers and have completely embraced it, truly living the #wineGUYlife in-person and online! I now have a fully-stocked wine rack, a supplemental income that I can count on, and an incredible customer base that extends well-beyond my home state of North Dakota!
I have made endless friendships not only with fellow Wine Guides and teammates, but also customers
Lisa Velazquez | Connecticut
Lisa’s Story | Endless Wine, Fun and Friendship
I am an independent Wine Guide and Team Leader with Traveling Vineyard. I started in January of 2017 just for fun, and of course wine. I always knew I loved wine, Merlot to be specific. During this wine-soaked journey, I realized that being a Wine Guide was more than just having fun and drinking great wine. After meeting other Wine Guides in my local area and following and applauding their every goal, I thought to myself, “I can do this too,” so I went ALL IN! I have made endless friendships not only with fellow Wine Guides and teammates, but also customers. Friendship, fun and flexibility is what makes Traveling Vineyard home for me. I never knew that wine would come coupled with so much fun and allow me to want to grow and learn more about wine. Traveling Vineyard is truly a godsend to me, and it has changed my life and it has made me blossom into an entrepreneur I did not think I could ever be. I am so happy and cannot wait to see what the next few years will bring for me.
The ability to make a little extra money through the financial reward and the flexibility of being able to work my business when I wanted to work, without a minimum number of events or monthly quotas to obtain, was what originally drew me to this business opportunity.
Charlene Lucas | Pennsylvania
Charlene’s Story | Earning Extra Income on My Time
In 2016, after completing my MBA I was looking for a part-time opportunity that could help me add some additional income to the household budget when my student loan payments started. I have always enjoyed wine and when I found Traveling Vineyard through a Google search it seemed like the perfect opportunity for me. In the beginning, the ability to make a little extra money through the financial reward and the flexibility of being able to work my business when I wanted to work, without a minimum number of events or monthly quotas to obtain is what originally drew me to this business opportunity. Fast forward 3 ½ years later, it is the fun that I have hosting events, in-home and virtually, as well as all of the wonderful people I have met and the close friendships that I have developed along the way that make me love my business more than ever.
I’ve learned, grown, and achieved so much over the past few years. I have stepped out of my comfort zone both personally and professionally.
Kim Kunchick | Georgia
Kim’s Story | Never Miss a Moment
Flexibility was my number one “why” for becoming a Wine Guide. I needed to make money for some extras and to take some financial burden off my husband’s shoulders, but I didn’t want to miss any milestones in my daughter’s life. The last several years have been so much fun. I enjoy sharing my passion for wine and I don’t feel like I’m working because I make my own schedule. I have never missed being there for all of my daughter’s moments. Two surprises happened on this wine journey. The first was the friendships I made. I have become so close to some of my wine family, they are like sisters. We even plan vacations together every year. The second was the personal fulfillment. I thought my “career days” were over when I became a stay-at-home mom. I was wrong. I’ve learned, grown, and achieved so much over the past few years. I have stepped out of my comfort zone both personally and professionally. I’m blessed to mentor a great team and to have had the opportunity for travel and new experiences. These things would not have been possible had I not taken that leap of faith with Traveling Vineyard. Becoming a Wine Guide was truly life changing and I look with anticipation to whatever the future holds.
Success starts with a kit
While most direct sales companies have a starter kit, we have a Success Kit—with the essential tools and wine to get you started and set up for success at first sip. Once you decide what kit is right for you and enroll as a Wine Guide, you will receive your kit. All that’s left to do is get ready to launch your new wine business!