Sarah D’Orria is a long-time local, and having lived in the Goulburn Valley for more than 40 years she is heavily involved in the community and frequently lends a hand to whoever needs it.
A busy mum-of-four, Sarah worked in the real estate industry but dreamed of starting her own business.
In 2021, when COVID-19 restrictions eased, she saw a gap in the market for sustainable tourism, and living in one of Victoria’s best wine regions, Rambling Wine Tours was born.
The business offers high-quality, private, customised tours showcasing local award-winning wines and local produce, and supporting other small businesses and producers in the region.
Despite the hardships of the past few years, including the COVID lockdowns, October 2022 floods and high inflation, all taxing factors for the regional hospitality and tourism industry, Sarah’s business has gone from strength to strength.
Rambling Wine Tours recently was awarded a TripAdvisor 2023 Travellers’ Choice Award.
Sarah has also been nominated for the 2023 Community Achievement Awards for Victoria, which will be judged in September.
In late 2022 Rambling Wine Tours also won a bronze medal in the 2022 Victorian Tourism Awards in the new business category.
Sarah said the secret to the business’s success was its ability to capture the essence of the region, with experiences such as behind-the-scenes tours and ‘meet the maker’ tastings, as well as ‘stay and tour’ packages with local luxury accommodation providers.
Sarah works with more than 60 local wineries, restaurants and accommodation providers in central Victoria, including Trawool Estate, Mitchelton Wines, Silver Spoon Estate and Munari Wines, just to name a few.
“I’m passionate about supporting my local community ... I feel the ethical responsibility to support other local businesses, particularly the small producers who were hit hard by the pandemic and then the devastating floods in 2022,” Sarah said.
“As a small community, we had a unified vision to rebuild the regional visitor economy, so together we had to provide an unforgettable travel experience that was enjoyable and exceeded our customers’ expectations.”
As someone who knows the value of community, Sarah is proud to say her family have provided consistent support along the way.
“I have a very supportive husband, who honestly must have thought I was crazy leaving a stable job and steady income to start a tourism business in the middle of a pandemic,” Sarah said.
“But he has backed me all the way and even does the occasional tour for Rambling despite being very busy with his own businesses.
“We even have repeat customers who request Robbie to be the tour guide because they love him so much!
“Our four children show a lot of interest and seem proud of what I have achieved, which is nice.”
For Sarah, the award nominations are reassurance that make all the bumps in the road worthwhile.
“Nominations like this really boost morale and motivation to keep pushing through the current challenges, and it also helps to establish and promote the business I have created, the amazing producers and makers that we visit and the beautiful part of Victoria that we explore,” she said.
“I’d love to see the business continue to grow and maybe expand into neighbouring wine regions. But it’s still baby steps as we navigate the challenges in the tourism industry.”