Today we’d like to introduce you to Colleen Brooks.
Hi Colleen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
For years, I dreamed of creating a business that combined several things I’ve always loved — Virginia’s beautiful countryside, its history and wineries, and creating really special experiences that bring people together.
My husband Jim and I, both UVA alumni, have long enjoyed exploring Virginia wine country together. Over the years, we would visit wineries, bring along our own cheese and crackers, and spend the afternoon relaxing, taking in the scenery, and enjoying the day together. At some point, we realized that the experience itself — slowing down, stepping away from everyday stress, and sharing time with people you care about — was what made those days so special. We wanted to create a business that could bring a little of that magic to others.
Before starting All ABoard VA, I spent many years in corporate leadership roles, much of that time in digital marketing. While I truly valued my corporate career, which shaped so much of my professional life, I eventually felt drawn toward creating something more personal — a business that would allow me to combine my professional experience with my creativity and my passion for creating thoughtful experiences that make people feel special.
We officially began building All ABoard VA in early 2025 and launched later that year. Since then, it has been an incredible journey of learning and growth. Starting a business from the ground up meant navigating everything from licensing and food safety certifications to launching a website, building a social media presence, establishing relationships with wineries, and learning how to operate efficiently as a small business owner.
One of the most rewarding parts of this experience has been becoming part of such a supportive community of local businesses, many of them women-owned. The encouragement, collaboration, and relationships we’ve built along the way have meant so much to us and have played a huge role in helping our company grow.
Today, All ABoard VA combines curated winery tours and charcuterie experiences under one brand, creating personalized outings that help people celebrate special moments, reconnect with family and friends, and experience the warmth and beauty of Virginia wine country. Every tour and board is still very personal to me, and I genuinely put my heart into making each experience feel thoughtful, welcoming, and memorable.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road, although it has been incredibly rewarding.
Starting a business from the ground up requires wearing a lot of different hats at once, and there were many moments where I simply had to figure things out step by step. In addition to building the creative side of the business, there were also many operational and logistical pieces involved — establishing the company, obtaining licenses and certifications, building a website and online ordering system, learning the nuances of social media and content creation, and developing relationships within the winery and small business community.
One of the biggest adjustments was shifting from a structured corporate environment into entrepreneurship, where nothing is automatic and every decision rests on your shoulders. There were definitely moments of self-doubt along the way — wondering whether I was ready for certain opportunities or challenges — but I’ve learned that growth often comes from stepping into things before you feel completely prepared.
I also think one of the challenges for many small business owners today is learning how to do more with less. You have to become resourceful very quickly. Interestingly, AI became an incredibly valuable tool for me throughout the process and helped accelerate so many aspects of getting the business off the ground, from website development and marketing to content creation and operational efficiencies.
At the end of the day, though, my passion for the vision kept me moving forward. Seeing the positive reactions from clients, building relationships with other local businesses, and watching people unwind, step away from the stresses of everyday life, and enjoy time together through the experiences we create has made all of the hard work incredibly worthwhile.
As you know, we’re big fans of All ABoard VA. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
All ABoard VA is a Northern Virginia–based winery tour and charcuterie company that creates personalized experiences through curated winery outings in Virginia wine country and thoughtfully designed cheese & charcuterie boards for everything from small gatherings to larger celebrations and events.
At the heart of what we do is helping people slow down, celebrate special moments, and experience the magic of Virginia’s countryside and the warmth of its local hospitality. What makes our business unique is that we combine two things people already love — winery experiences and charcuterie — into one cohesive experience under a single brand. As far as I know, we are one of the only businesses in Virginia offering both together in this way.
On the winery side, we specialize in curated small-group tours throughout Loudoun County, Northern Fauquier, and the Charlottesville region, often highlighting boutique wineries where guests can enjoy a more personal and relaxed experience. We focus heavily on personalization and thoughtful planning so that each tour feels tailored to the group rather than one-size-fits-all.
On the charcuterie side, we create everything from elevated grazing boards and themed boards to customized spreads for intimate gatherings, celebrations, corporate events, gifting, and special occasions of all sizes. Creativity and presentation are certainly a big part of what we do, but what matters most to me is creating something that feels warm, inviting, and truly exceptional in both quality and experience.
One thing I’m especially proud of brand-wise is that All ABoard VA truly feels personal and heartfelt in everything we do. We worked with an illustrator to create a whimsical visual identity that carries throughout the brand — including our winery tour bus, which has become hard to miss around town. We wanted the artwork and overall look of the company to reflect not only the beauty of Virginia wine country, but also the creativity, warmth, and sense of joy that are central to the experiences we create. Given that we officially launched in late 2025, it’s been especially meaningful to see how warmly the community has embraced what we’re building in such a short amount of time.
We also care deeply about supporting other local businesses and building genuine relationships within the community. So much of our early growth has come from other small businesses who believed in us, encouraged us, and helped introduce us to new clients, and that spirit of support and collaboration has become deeply embedded in who we are as a company.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think both the winery and charcuterie industries are moving more and more toward curated, experience-driven hospitality rather than simply products or services on their own. People increasingly want experiences that feel personal, memorable, and thoughtfully designed — whether that’s a winery outing with friends, a small celebration at home, or a beautifully presented grazing table for a really special occasion.
On the winery side specifically, I believe Virginia wine country is still in a very exciting growth phase. Virginia now has more than 300 wineries, tripling in number over the last 20 years, and regions like Loudoun County and Charlottesville continue gaining national recognition for both the quality of their wines and the overall visitor experience. While California remains the dominant wine producer in the U.S., Virginia wineries are often smaller, boutique operations that focus heavily on hospitality, wine tourism, and direct relationships with guests. I think that creates a very special and personal experience for visitors, and it shows, as Virginia wineries welcome over 2 million visitors per year.
I also think we’ll continue seeing wineries evolve beyond traditional tastings into more immersive experiences centered around storytelling, food pairings, events, scenic tourism, and the warmth of local, boutique-style hospitality. In many ways, people are no longer just looking to taste wine — they’re looking for experiences that allow them to step away from the pace of everyday life for a while and leave them with something they’ll carry with them long after the day itself has ended.
On the charcuterie side, I think the industry will continue expanding far beyond the traditional “party platter.” People now see charcuterie as part of entertaining, gifting, celebrations, and even artistic expression. There’s also growing interest in customization, themed boards, elevated presentation, locally sourced ingredients, and more interactive food experiences.
Another major shift I see is the role technology and AI are beginning to play for small businesses. As a former digital marketing executive, it’s been fascinating to see how tools like AI are helping entrepreneurs, like me, move faster, operate more efficiently, and compete creatively in ways that simply weren’t possible a few years ago. I think we’re only beginning to see how dramatically it will reshape the way businesses and individuals work, create, and communicate over the next decade.
Ultimately, I believe the businesses that will thrive are the ones that make people feel something — businesses that create experiences that are thoughtful, personal, high quality, and, to put it simply, genuine.
Pricing:
- Individual seats on our public winery tours, which are intentionally kept small and intimate with a maximum of 10 guests, typically range from approximately $125–$150 per guest depending on the destination. We also offer private tours, where guests may reserve the entire bus for their own group of up to 10 guests.
- Most Northern Virginia winery tours are full-day experiences, typically running from approximately 10 AM to 5–6 PM and visiting three curated wineries. Charlottesville tours are generally longer day trips due to travel time.
- Winery tour pricing generally includes luxury transportation, a signature boxed lunch, bottled water throughout the day, and thoughtfully curated winery reservations and itinerary planning. Wine tasting fees are typically separate and payable directly to the wineries.
- Custom winery tour pricing is customized based on group size, region, itinerary preferences, and any special touches or celebratory additions clients may wish to include.
- Cheese & Charcuterie board offerings range from approximately $59 for smaller boards (serving 4) to larger boards, customized grazing tables and event spreads for celebrations and corporate events, which can range into the several hundred to thousand-dollar range depending on guest count and customization.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allaboardva.com
- Instagram: @allaboardva
- Facebook: @AllABoardVA
