In early 2009, Tom Plant was nearing the end of his second career, though he didn’t know it at the time. He was a REALTOR at Coldwell Baker Residential Brokerage in Wildomar and had served as President of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Riverside County Association of REALTORS. Prior to his real estate career, he spent decades behind a microphone as a disc jockey, voice actor and news, sports and traffic reporter.
Living in Murrieta, he had been spending a lot of time visiting Temecula wineries and had visited Paso Robles on numerous occasions and had begun to forge relationships with several winemakers and winery owners. On a visit to Paso Robles with another couple, his friend Denny saw something Plant hadn’t. “It’s clear that wine is your passion. You need to figure it out.”
By May of 2009, he left real estate and launched a website he named WINEormous. Rather than writing wine reviews, he felt it would be far more interesting to visit with winemakers and winery owners and tell their stories. Later that year he joined the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association and in 2010 he began offering intimate winery tours for groups of seven people or less to Temecula Valley wine country.
Using his extensive knowledge of the Temecula Valley wine history and his relationships with people in the wine industry, he offers an experience few others can. “Tom was fantastic! His knowledge and passion for wine was obvious, but the friendliness and hospitality is what truly sets Tom apart. This wasn’t the first wine tour I had been on in Temecula, but by far the most enjoyable!” That’s what JR from Los Angeles had to say.
Nick Palumbo, owner/winemaker of Palumbo Family Vineyards and Winery had this to say: “Tom is a local with experience in other wine regions but stays true in his belief and support of Temecula Valley wines and wineries. He has always been supportive of our winery and all this after tasting some of the best wines offered anywhere.”
Why not experience Temecula Wine Country with a guide who knows the area perhaps as well or better than anyone else. You can reach Tom Plant at (951) 907-9701 or via email at tom@wineormous.com