How We Began...
When the recession impacted Shira’s career in 2009, the mergers and acquisitions consultant resisted the temptation to get depressed. Instead, she decided to reinvent herself. “Do what you love and the money will follow.” Those words motivated Shira Bliss to combine her love of walking (along the beach in La Jolla), fine wine, and gourmet food into a tour company that would introduce residents and visitors to the local restaurants and wineries and help boost the local economy. In July 2010 she formed La Jolla Wine Tours.
In 2011, La Jolla Wine Tours was starting to outgrow its name. Included now in the tour routes were tour stops all over San Diego County. Guests shared with Shira that they loved beer as well as wine. Shira was raised in Northern Ireland and was quite familiar with great beer, herein the expansion of La Jolla Wine Tours to San Diego Beer and Wine Tours.
Fast forward to 2016: The Spirits get involved. San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tours has expanded to include Distillery Adventures throughout San Diego County!
2025 and beyond: We’re concentrating on wine tours and bringing you to best of San Diego’s wine paired with farm-to-table food, iconic sightseeing, and fun education on the local viticulture and history. Cheers!
Shira Bliss, founder/owner of San Diego Beer, Wine & Spirits Tours, is originally from Belfast, Ireland where she received her culinary education, as well as creative background with several leading international performance groups. Shira has lived in the village of La Jolla for 14 years and is pleased to pass on her experience in scoping out the best local beer, wine and food offerings. With these talents and interests she continues to research (and taste) all that San Diego has to offer. Raised in a wine business family she shares a wealth of information and enthusiasm bringing unique and memorable experiences to all.
Paul Anthony Vild, tour guide for the San Diego Winery and Brewery Chauffeured Tours brings his knowledge and passion of great wine, beer, and food from his heart to your palate. His delightful humor will brighten your day as you travel with him to hand-picked gems. Born in Cleveland, raised in Simi Valley, California, Paul Anthony has lived in San Diego most of his life. He enjoys travelling to exotic places, trying new cuisines and socializing with diverse cultures. As a young man his only experience with wine was a white zin. He still remembers, back in 1997, his first taste of a red; a 1995 Fetzer Cab that changed his view of wine. Since then he has been expanding his palate and especially loves the local winery offerings, and getting to know the winemakers who craft these wonderful wines.