YOUR WINE TOUR ADVENTURE STARTS HERE
Kim Kelliher is the Co-founder and President of Grapeline Wine Tours, one of California’s most acclaimed wine tourism companies.
In 2002, Kim and her husband, John Kelliher, launched Grapeline in Temecula Valley with a simple but savvy idea: offer safe, seamless, and fun wine tasting experiences in a region just beginning to bloom. Today, Grapeline operates across five major wine regions—Temecula, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Sonoma, and Napa—and has become one of the highest-rated wine tour companies in the country, serving over 25,000 guests annually.
Before starting Grapeline, Kim brought a diverse background to the table—first as a political journalist in Washington, D.C., and later as a Special Events Manager at Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula. It was there that she saw firsthand the potential of Temecula wine country and pitched John's original idea to pivot from airport shuttles to wine tours. That spark of creativity laid the foundation for a company that’s now a staple of California wine tourism.
Kim is also co-owner of Stryder Transportation, which operates a 30-vehicle fleet offering executive and group transportation throughout Southern California. From small group wine tours to full-scale corporate charters, Stryder and Grapeline reflect the Kelliher commitment to excellence in guest experience.
Kim has long been a leader in the Temecula Valley business community. She served as Chairman of the Board for the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce and was honored as Temecula’s 2009 Citizen of the Year. In 2023, she and John were recognized with the 2022 Welty Award for Tourism Professional of the Year, underscoring their deep and lasting impact on regional tourism.
Her leadership has helped Grapeline earn numerous accolades, including being voted the Top Wine Tour Company in America by USA Today, receiving Temecula’s 2024 Sterling Business of the Year Award by the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, and having its Vineyard Picnic Tour named one of the 2025 Top 10 Beverage Tours and Experiences in the U.S.
Kim doesn’t just enjoy wine—she gets it. Her knowledge is grounded in years of experience planning winery events, building relationships with winemakers, and personally curating guest experiences across multiple California regions. She knows which Temecula Viognier sings on a summer afternoon, where to find the best barrel-aged reds in Paso, and how to pair a BLTA with the perfect Rhône blend. Her palate is as refined as her sense for hospitality—and both are unmatched.
She’s also the person behind the joyful, guest-centered culture Grapeline is known for. Her advice on hiring? “Skills can be taught. But we hire for attitude—humble, helpful, and joyful.” It’s a philosophy that’s created a team guests rave about, year after year.
Kim and John have been married for 34 years and moved to Temecula in 1997, where they raised
their three sons. Today, they’re proud to call the valley home—and even prouder to share its
wine country magic with others.
