Meet Dylan Jung | Wine Tour Owner & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dylan Jung and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dylan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
As a local resident for over 20 years, I’ve been impressed and inspired by the local wine industry and its growth. I fell into the industry in a very organic way, and haven’t looked back since.

Working in tasting rooms and helping out during harvest season, eventually lead to leading wine tours. I started my company in 2021 because I was in love with showing guests our local wine scene, but also our community and small businesses.

What should our readers know about your business?
When I started Sip Sedona Wine Tours, I knew I’d have to have my own angle as there were already a few good companies out there. I decided that beyond the wine, it was really about experiencing the Verde Valley. The local businesses, art galleries, historical points, and things that provide guests with a broader experience than just getting buzzed at a few wineries.

As a business owner who is also working in the local wine industry, I find that my guests really appreciate the industry insider aspect. I love to share whatever knowledge about wine I can, while still gauging the guest’s level of interest on the technical side of it all.

As a small business, I face the challenges of advertising and making things appealing to earn new customers. I don’t have a team behind me, which means it’s all up to me. Website, social media, marketing, SEO, bookkeeping, all of it. You learn a lot in your first year of business, and it never stops there.

I rely on organic marketing, word of mouth, customer reviews. social media, and service industry contacts such as hotel owners and concierges to help bring customers my way. I love this as it’s very natural, but it’s certainly challenging at times.

I’m very appreciative to all the guests that I’ve had who seem to really love their experience, and who help spread the word.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I always let my guests know that I’m happy to help them with their vacation/trip itinerary beyond their tour with me. I’m always excited to share some of my favorite restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, etc.

A typical wine tour day with me means that guests will visit 4 local wineries. Although many guests stay in Sedona, it means visiting the surrounding towns of Old Town Cottonwood, Cornville, and Jerome. Most tasting rooms are actually outside of Sedona, which lends an opportunity for a lot of sightseeing around the beautiful Verde Valley.

My tours are completely customized, so I chat with my guests about their wine preferences and other details in order to determine the exact places we’ll visit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My introduction into the Arizona wine industry was through working for Caduceus Cellars, owned by Maynard James Keenan (of Tool, Perfect Circle, Puscifer fame). My co-workers were very supportive in helping me learn about wine, and throwing me into the trenches. From there, I read as many books and did research in whatever spare time I had.

I then worked for a great team at Chateau Tumbleweed in Clarkdale. AZ. Owners Kris Pothier, Joe Bechard, Jeff Hendricks, Kim Koisten, and the rest of the crew. By team, I actually mean we’re more like family. During that time, there was lots of learning about what was happening in the cellar, during harvest season, etc. I’m extremely thankful to that whole crew. They’re amazing and produce incredible wines.

Website: www.sipsedona.com

Instagram: @sipsedona

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sipsedona