Since 2012, Priority Wine Pass has provided its customers with unforgettable wine tasting experiences. They’ve done this through their unparalleled relationships with premiere and family-owned wineries along the West Coast. Priority Wine Pass provides personalized tasting itineraries and helps customers discover new wineries. They do this by matching people based off the types of wine they love most. They also extend exclusive discounts to their customers through their Wine Pass. With over 450 discounts in California, Oregon, and Washington, Priority Wine Pass has grown into the largest tasting program of its kind. The Wine Pass is well known for helping customers slash tasting costs and saving hundreds while wine tasting.
In 2020, Priority Wine Pass was one of the first to launch virtual wine tasting experiences in response to COVID-19 tasting room closures. Building off their existing relationships from the Wine Pass, they were able to quickly become a leader within this new tasting format.
In Loving Memory
Priority Wine Pass, Inc. was created in memory of James Michael Cegelski, who lived with zest in life and in wine. Prior to passing away in 2010, he had the dream of owning a winery and creating a wine in which he loved. It is now our mission to give the gift of sharing wine and the exhilarating experience, which embraces all that surrounds each unique winery. At the same time we aim to assist boutique wineries and help broaden the exposure of their efforts and the fruits of their labor to the world, along with assisting larger vintners, which we also love and support, making them more accessible and familiar to all whom have an appreciation for the culture of wine.
When you become a member of Priority Wine Pass, we promise to make sure you have the best experiences possible at each vineyard and introduce you to wineries that we have come to know and regard with high integrity.
“We aren’t here for a long time, we’re here for a good time”
– James Michael Cegelski Jr
June 1958 – March 2010
A portion of the proceeds go to the Cegelski Cancer Research Fund
Meet the team
Jamie
Friends, family, travel, wine, and of course finding good deals. These have always been an integral part of Jamie’s life. But it was her long held a passion for networking mixed with her family involvement in the wine business that lead her to start Priority Wine Pass. Created in memory of her late father, this passion project was designed to introduce people to the wine world he loved so much. Since inception, her goal has always been to help Priority Wine Pass members create long lasting memories with a glass in hand. She lives by the quote from her father above and hopes she can help members do the same.
Nolan
Nolan has been a long time lover of wine and wine tasting. He even spent the 2011 harvest season picking grapes in France. That’s why he gladly partnered with Priority Wine Pass in 2015 to bring his expertise in product development and user experience to the company.
Jamie
As our concierge, Jamie N. brings years of experience in customer service and hospitality to the team. Her attention to detail shows in her custom and personal itineraries, helping our Priority Wine Pass members plan their wine tasting adventures and saving money along the way. An avid traveler, she understands the challenges in planning a trip to a new destination and transfers that passion to helping our members unlock the secrets to our wine regions.
Andrea
As a young woman growing up in Chile, Andrea was introduced to many beautiful wines while studying for her bachelor’s degree in culinary arts. After graduation and working for some of the best chefs in Chile, she got away from it all and ended up moving up to California where she met her husband and had two beautiful children while living in Napa. While in Napa her love of wine, and the business of wine, really took off. For the past 8+ years she has worked in various aspects of the wine industry and loves the variety and versatility that it has offered her and her family.
Wally
Wally is a true California native. He’s lived in and thoroughly explored the far reaches of the state. He also shares a deep love for wine tasting and writing. In fact, he actually wrote many of the original TripAdvisor guides on Napa Valley. Fast forward to today and he now runs a handful of the top tourist websites including Napa Tourist Guide , Sonoma Tourist Guide, Localwally.com, and Maui’s Best Vacation Guide. He also serves as an advisor at Priority Wine Pass keeping the company honest and up-to-date. He’s a valuable asset to uncovering hidden gems, the best deals, and the hottest new tasting rooms around.
Wine for Good!
Although our company is about enjoying wine it is also accompanied by a big heart. Here is a list of organizations that we support with our donations. If you are a charity interested in working with us please contact us at info@prioritywinepass.com.
- American Canyon High School
- Bay Area SMACNA
- Pleasant Hill – Wine, Woman, and Shoes
- The Glass Slipper Guild – Raising money for Orange Counties Children’s Hospital
- Polish Saturday School Portland, OR
- San Francisco Pacific Academy
- Diablo Equestrian Heritage Association
- Thomas Edison Language Institute-Sacramento
- Make A Wish San Francisco
- V Foundation
- Walk With Sally
- Matthew Turner Elementary
- LevelBar
- Apple Blossom Elementary
- Cancer Support Community
- French American Chamber of Commerce
- Dominican University of California
- Build It Green
- Samuel Merritt University
- JDRF
- West Park School Carnival
- St. Raymond School in Dublin
- Santa Clara High School
- Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter
- Shelter Inc
- Hannah Boys
- NAPW Foundation
- Spark
- Rhythmix Cultural Works
- Cocktails and Covers
- Wine, Woman, & Shoes
- Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area
- Vallejo Charter School
- The Bollinger Canyon Education Fund
- Faces for the Future
- Walnut Creek Intermediate
- Voices for Down Syndrome
- Soille San Diego Hebrew Day school
- Wine Woman and Song of the East Bay
- Capsa
- Mission Early College High School Santa Clara
- Steindorf Steam K-8 School San Jose
- Creative Play Pleasant Hill
- San Francisco Pacific Academy
- Play for All Parks-Vacaville
- Our lady of Grace School-Castro Valley
- Planned Parenthood Illinois Action
- American Red Cross
