About Us
About Us
Our business was founded in 2005 by Romain Bapst and Martin O'Dee, who shared a passion for travel and a desire to create unforgettable experiences for their clients. What started as a "one-off tour" for their friends in the Chaine des Rotisseurs has grown into a successful bespoke tour business.
Every trip we offer is an exclusive experience and has many elements that you cannot get on normal tours. We conduct boutique tours with a maximum of 8 guests only, ensuring a high degree of personalised service and an intimate group size. Our tours take you to areas that commercial tours don't go, allowing you to experience a greater level of local culture, cuisine and wines.
Romain Bapst is a culinary legend and an acclaimed executive chef, originally from the Alsatian city of Strasbourg in France. After intensive training in France, Romain moved to Australia in 1990, where he has worked at numerous award-winning restaurants, including Mietta's Melbourne, Hayman Island Resort, Il Centro Brisbane, Drift restaurants, and his own Lutèce Bistro & Wine Bar in Bardon.
Martin's role is more "back of house", assisting with logistics and administration to ensure that each tour runs seamlessly. Martin first joined Chaine des Rotisseurs in 1996 and was the Echanson d'Australie for Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs (OMGD) for several years. In the early 2000s, Martin started a business teaching wine and spirits, now called Bacchus Academy, that teaches international qualifications in wine and spirits. Obviously, he has a strong interest in wines and spirits, and our tours reflect that as well.
“We believe that travel is not just about seeing the sights but also about creating memories that last a lifetime. We strive to provide a seamless and stress-free experience for our clients, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the culture, history, and beauty of Europe. Many of our guests have traveled to Europe a number of times but have never been disappointed with our tours. They are always amazed by the experience and our first group, over 15 years later, are still talking about it with fondness.
We invite you to explore our website and discover the tours we offer. Join us and experience a tour with access, bespoke experiences, food, and wine that will be second to none. Meet the Chefs, visit the wineries, and see the history of the regions. Our bespoke tours are purposely exclusive and designed for small groups, ensuring that you get the most out of the experience.”