Las Vegas is a make-your-own-adventure city. Whether you come for the vibrant nightlife, to see your favorite artist in residency, or to explore the cuisine, there’s something for everyone.
One of the most interesting ways to spend an evening is with a curated wine tour, hosted by Las Vegas Wine Tours. Guests start their experience walking a red carpet and being greeted with champagne and caviar before they’re whisked away to visit several top tier restaurants, sampling unique wine and food pairings at each stop.
The tour is the brainchild of sommelier Matthew-Lorèn Lindsey, who started conducting wine tours as a way to showcase some of the amazing wine programs that Las Vegas restaurants have to offer. Lindsey says the idea came to him while he was a director of fine wine at a distribution/distributing company. “I managed about $5 million in wine and spirits, and helped build a lot of incredible wine programs in town,” he says. While Las Vegas needs little help promoting its nightlife and even cocktail programs, Lindsey wanted to share the city’s access to incredible bottles through wine tourism. That idea became Las Vegas Wine Tours.
There are several available tours, but the most popular one takes participants around the city in a luxury party bus. The tour takes three to four hours and each stop features a themed wine and food pairing at a fine dining establishment — each with a different vibe. “The first might be a French pairing, the second may be at an Italian restaurant, and the third could be at an American steakhouse,” says Lindsey who adds that the wines offered are unique vintages that aren’t readily available. In addition, the evening includes a photo op at either the Las Vegas sign or the Bellagio fountains. Attendees also get a video reel of the tour as a souvenir, along with a VIP goodie bag.
The tours are offered seven days a week and are popular with corporate groups, anniversaries, ladies’ nights, or for any reason. Everyone is welcome whether they’re a serious collector of rare vintages or someone who just likes to relax with a glass of chardonnay by the pool. In fact, besides being over 21 years of age, there’s only one rule, according to Lindsey: “Pretentiousness is not allowed. The goal is to make wine accessible and fun.”
Lindsey remembers when he started his own wine journey. The Oklahoma native moved to Las Vegas to work in entertainment marketing. While entertaining clients, he would be asked to choose wines for the table. “At first I didn’t know the difference between a Coca-Cola and a chardonnay. I was terrified,” he confesses. Slowly, he learned about various wines, and grew his collection — taking photos of wine labels and researching them at home. “I would read about the vineyards and the families who ran them for generations. I really fell in love with the stories and how wine brought people together.”
If you’re visiting Las Vegas, check out Las Vegas Wine Tours — if you like wine, food, and fun it’s a safe bet you’ll have the time of your life.
