A World of Wine, Friendship, and Shared Experiences
Our story is not just about wine — it’s about the people behind it and the passion for sharing their craft. Over the last 15 years, we’ve built deep, personal relationships with winemakers across the Mediterranean.
These are not just professional connections; they are friendships forged over shared meals, long conversations in sunlit vineyards, and the quiet magic of tasting wine straight from the barrel. Beyond curating intimate wine journeys, we’ve also played a pivotal role in wine marketing, helping to bring the stories of these winemakers to a global audience. Our expertise bridges the gap between producers and wine lovers, ensuring that each bottle carries not just exceptional flavor but also the soul of its origin.
Since 2014, we have been crafting bespoke journeys at Paladar y Tomar, opening the doors to a world few get to experience—where wine’s true magic unfolds in the vineyards, cellars, and kitchens of passionate artisans.
Alongside our private, tailor-made tours, we launched Cúrate Trips back in 2017, a collection of small-group experiences designed for those who share our love for wine and gastronomy. Today, Cúrate Trips has evolved into The Valfers, a community-driven journey that deepens our commitment to expertly led, immersive adventures across the Mediterranean’s most captivating wine regions.
The Valfers is more than just travel—it’s about bringing together kindred spirits who seek not just great wine, but the people, places, and stories that make it unforgettable.
Every journey we design is a reflection of our passion for this world — the winemakers, their stories, and the remarkable places that bring their wines to life. With The Valfers, you’re not just visiting a vineyard; you’re stepping into the heart of our network, our friendships, and our way of life.
Welcome to our world!
WHY JOINING US
✧ Unparalleled wine expertise: with over 15 years immersed in the wine world, we provide rare access to winemakers, vineyards, and cellars that few get to experience.
✧ Intimate group experiences: traveling with The Valfers means more than a small group; it’s an invitation into our personal world, where every destination feels like home.
✧ Authenticity: as locals, we show you the heart of each destination — unfiltered, unadapted, and truly immersive. You’ll experience places as they are meant to be.
✧ Education: through wine and gastronomy, we open the door to a deeper understanding of Mediterranean culture, sharing our world through our eyes in a way that goes far beyond the surface.
✧ Sustainability & Connection: every journey is rooted in our commitment to the local communities we visit. We collaborate with winemakers, chefs, and artisans, ensuring that their traditions are not only respected but celebrated and shared with the world.
OUR 4 PILLARS
SUSTAINABILTY & LEGACY
We aim at building a responsible travel model that preserves and uplifts local cultures, ensuring that traditions and communities thrive for generations to come.
✧
AUTHENTICITY & MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS
We don’t curate a version of reality—we show it as it is. Every journey is an unfiltered immersion into the heart of a place, its people, and its traditions. By fostering genuine connections, we ensure that every experience is deeply personal, honest, and truly transformative.
✧
THE MEDITERRANEAN AS A WAY OF LIFE
Embracing the essence of the Mediterranean through its wine, cuisine, and rich cultural heritage, inspiring travelers to live and breathe its timeless traditions.
✧
LUXURY IN THE ART OF LIMITATION
For us, luxury is defined by its rarity and exclusivity—the privilege of experiencing what few can. Our journeys are limited by design: limited in departures, ensuring intimacy and authenticity; limited in access, built upon private connections and fleeting opportunities; and limited in availability, as every detail is meticulously crafted and thoughtfully curated. True luxury is not excess, but precision, where every moment is meaningful, rare, and unforgettable.
THE TEAM
Economists Turned Wine Enthusiasts
We’re Valeska Idarraga and Fernando Paredes, two economists whose professional paths took an unexpected turn when we fell in love with the world of wine. What started as a personal interest quickly became a lifelong passion, leading us to explore the vineyards, cellars, and stories that make wine so captivating.
To deepen our understanding, we earned our WSET Level 3 certifications, equipping us with advanced knowledge of winemaking, viticulture, and the nuances of wine appreciation. Alongside our studies, we’ve built a private wine collection that reflects our journey and the close relationships we’ve nurtured with winemakers across the Mediterranean.
Today, we bring this passion and expertise to every journey we curate, sharing not only exceptional wines but the stories, people, and places behind them.
Fernando Paredes
Co-Founder & CEO
Fernando’s journey bridges his deep roots in Barcelona and Jerez, reflecting a lifetime of connection between Northern and Southern Spain. With a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Barcelona University, Fernando began his career in pharmaceutical consulting, gaining extensive international experience across dozens of countries. However, his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for exploration led him to pursue a new path in 2005, joining the tourism industry as General Manager of a global bespoke travel group.
A seasoned leader, Fernando’s management acumen and strategic vision have been pivotal in overseeing operations across multiple international offices. His ability to create tailored, immersive travel experiences has made him a trusted authority in the field. Beyond his operational expertise, Fernando is deeply engaged in the world of wine, combining his Jerez heritage with a refined understanding of wine consulting. His ability to curate wine experiences that reflect a region’s unique identity is a testament to his expertise and passion.
Fernando’s travels have taken him to some of the most fascinating corners of the globe, from the vibrant landscapes of India, Thailand, and Vietnam to the cultural richness of Turkey, Yemen, and Morocco. His adventures span the wildlife-rich terrains of South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia to the natural wonders of Costa Rica, Canada, and the United States. Yet, no matter how many miles he covers, Fernando approaches every journey with the enthusiasm and curiosity of a first-time traveler.
Drawing on his extensive experience, Fernando now dedicates his efforts to crafting highly personalized wine and travel experiences. His deep understanding of both the wine and tourism industries allows him to seamlessly blend culture, hospitality, and authenticity into every project.
He is the personification of wanderlust and always thinking about his next destination — Australia and South America are next on his bucket list. Mediterranean and Asian cuisines are Fernando’s favorites but he appreciates any meal cooked with love. He is responsible for designing over 140 different pairing menus a year. He has a special sensitivity for wine and he is an avid wine collector – in fact, he is a Certified Sherry Wine Cellar Advanced Expert, as well as a WSET 3 certified with merit.
Valeska Idarraga
Co-Founder & CEO
Valeska’s passion for food and wine is deeply rooted in her upbringing, shaped by a rich culinary heritage. Her Basque grandmother’s remarkable three-decade career as a chef for one of Spain’s most esteemed government institutions left an indelible mark on Valeska’s appreciation for fine cuisine. Growing up immersed in gastronomic traditions, her family’s influence extended across borders, with formative years spent living and traveling in France, where her palate for gastronomic culture was refined.
A native of Barcelona, Valeska pursued her academic journey with a degree in Economics from Barcelona University and later graduated in Journalism from Pompeu Fabra University. Her passion for hospitality led her to complete advanced studies, including a postgraduate course in Hotel Management at Glion Hotel School in Switzerland and an executive program in Yield Management at the École Hôtelière de Lausanne. These experiences laid the groundwork for her early career, which included roles at some of the most prestigious hotels in Barcelona and Costa Esmeralda.
Valeska’s entrepreneurial spirit emerged with the creation of Xtrême & Trends, a luxury personal concierge service that quickly garnered media attention from leading outlets such as Wallpaper, The Globe and Mail, Robb Report, and Fuera de Serie. Later, she transitioned into corporate leadership, spending nearly a decade as Marketing Communications Manager for a Japanese multinational.
A Certified Sherry Wine Cellar Advanced Expert and holder of WSET Level 3 certification with merit, Valeska combines her professional expertise with her love for food and wine. Her international background, having lived in France, Switzerland, and the United States, has enriched her perspective, and her multilingual abilities—fluent in Spanish, French, English, Italian, and Catalan—allow her to connect seamlessly across cultures. In her free time, she enjoys hosting intimate gatherings, showcasing her culinary skills, and curating memorable experiences for her guests.
THE VALFERS' COMMUNITY
Wine, Friendship, and Lifelong Connections
Over the past eight years, The Valfers has become more than a travel company — we’ve built a community of kindred spirits. Through wine, food, and shared experiences, we’ve brought together people who value connection, authenticity, and discovery.
When you join us, you’re stepping into a network of travelers who, like you, find joy in shared tables, uncorked bottles, and conversations that turn strangers into friends. Our journeys are designed to foster meaningful relationships — not just with the places we visit, but with the people we meet along the way.
This community doesn’t end when the journey does. We are working on The Valfers Club, our private members’ club, we will keep the bonds alive with exclusive events, insider insights, and unforgettable experiences that continue to celebrate the love of wine and travel.
For us, wine is more than a drink. It’s a bridge between people, a way of sharing stories, and a foundation for friendships that last a lifetime. That’s what it means to be part of The Valfers Community.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE VALFERS
Sign up to receive updates on our current journeys, inspiring stories, bite-sized news, and more!
