By Tara Williams
Enter to win a spot on Tara Williams' Sip & Tour — an exclusive afternoon starting at a Johnson County winery, then a private limo tour of KC's most stunning custom homes with luxury realtor Tara Williams as your insider guide.
I have a confession: I've been waiting to announce this for months.
This August, I'm doing something I've never done before — and honestly, something I don't think anyone in Kansas City has done before. I'm hosting Tara Williams' Sip & Tour: an exclusive afternoon that starts with wine at a beautiful Johnson County winery and ends inside some of the most breathtaking custom homes in the entire metro.
And I'm giving away spots to my community. That means you could join me — for free — for one of the most unforgettable afternoons Kansas City has to offer.
Here's everything you need to know.
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What Is the Sip & Tour?
The Sip & Tour is exactly what it sounds like: a curated, VIP experience built around two of the best things Kansas City has going for it right now — incredible wine country right here in Johnson County, and the 2026 Artisan Home Tour of Greater Kansas City.
Here's how the afternoon unfolds:
The limo picks you up. No driving, no parking, no logistics. A private limo pulls up, you get in, and the afternoon begins.
First stop: a Johnson County winery. We're heading to a stunning local winery — think Aubrey Vineyards in Overland Park — for about an hour and a half of wine, light bites, and good conversation. This isn't a rushed glass at a tasting bar. It's a proper, relaxed afternoon among a small group of genuinely interesting people, in a setting that feels nothing like a real estate event — because it isn't one. It's just a beautiful afternoon out.
Then: the custom homes. After we've unwound a little and gotten to know each other, we load back onto the limo and head to 2-3 hand-picked homes from the 2026 Artisan Home Tour. I'm personally selecting the stops based on what I know about each builder, the home's design, and what I think is truly exceptional this year. At each home, you'll get my full commentary — not the brochure version, but the real version. What the construction actually tells me. What the finishes are worth. What this builder does differently from everyone else. The context that turns a beautiful room into genuinely useful knowledge.
What's included in the Sip & Tour:
- Private limo transportation from pickup through the full afternoon — door to door
- Winery experience — wine, light bites, and a proper hour and a half to enjoy it
- Curated Artisan Home Tour stops — 2-3 homes, hand-selected by Tara
- Tara's insider commentary at every home: construction quality, design decisions, finishes, price-per-square-foot context, builder comparisons
- Your Artisan Tour tickets covered — everything included, you just have to win and show up
- A small, intimate group — this isn't a bus full of strangers; I'm keeping it intentionally small so there's real conversation
This is the afternoon I've always wished someone would put together. I'm doing it because I love the Artisan Tour, I love showing people what's possible in KC's custom market, and — honestly — a winery stop first just makes everything better.
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Why the Winery?
Because luxury isn't just about the homes.
The Artisan Tour is already one of KC's best events. But I've always felt like it deserved a warmer, more human container around it. The homes are stunning, but walking through them with strangers in silence, clutching a printed floor plan, doesn't do them justice.
The Sip & Tour is built around a different idea: start relaxed, start connected, start in a setting that reminds everyone this afternoon is about living well — not ticking boxes. The winery does that. By the time we arrive at the first home, you're not a prospective buyer reading a spec sheet. You're someone who just had a lovely afternoon, now stepping into an extraordinary space, with someone who can tell you exactly why it's extraordinary.
That's the experience I want you to have.
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Why This Still Matters for Real Estate
If you're thinking about building or buying custom in the next one to three years — even if it's still just a dream — the Sip & Tour will make that dream much more concrete. And a lot more exciting.
Here's what I see every year at the Artisan Tour: buyers walk through $1.2 million homes, stand in the kitchen, and say "I love this" — but have no idea whether that kitchen represents exceptional value or standard spec for the price point. They fall in love with a builder's aesthetic without understanding their build process, warranty, or typical timeline. They're drawn to a neighborhood without knowing which lots are still available.
My job — what I've been doing in Johnson County's luxury market for years — is to translate what you're seeing into what it actually means for your purchase decision. Walking through custom homes in Leawood, Stilwell, and Loch Lloyd with me is a fast-track education in the KC custom market that most buyers never get.
The wine just makes the education more enjoyable.
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How to Enter
Entering is simple, and every action you take earns more chances to win:
1. Follow me on Instagram at @TaraWilliamsHomes — that's your first entry
2. Like the contest post and share it to your Stories — bonus entries
3. Tag a friend in the comments who would love to join you — one tag per comment, tag as many friends as you want
4. Share this post to your feed with the hashtag #SipAndTour2026 — extra entries for every share
The more you share, the better your odds. And if you win, you can bring a guest. The Sip & Tour is better with your people.
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Contest Details
- Contest opens: May 1, 2026
- Contest closes: June 20, 2026
- Winners announced: July 1, 2026
- Tour date: TBD — I'll schedule the Sip & Tour for one of the three Artisan Tour weekends (Aug 7-9, 14-16, or 21-23) based on winners' availability
- Prize includes: Artisan Tour tickets for winner + one guest, private limo transportation for the full afternoon, winery experience (wine + light bites), and Tara's guided commentary throughout
Winners will be contacted via DM and email. Must be 18+ and located in or willing to travel to the Kansas City metro for the tour date.
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Spread the Word
If you know someone who's been dreaming about building a custom home in Kansas City — a friend relocating to the area, a family finally ready to upgrade, a couple who's had a Pinterest board of dream homes for years — do them a favor and tag them. The Sip & Tour is for real buyers and real dreamers alike.
Building custom is one of the most meaningful investments a family can make. I want more people to see what's possible — and to see it in the best possible way: starting with a glass of wine, surrounded by good conversation, with someone who knows every inch of this market.
Follow along, enter to win, and I'll see you this August. 🍷🏡✨
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Questions? DM me on Instagram or reach out here. I'm always happy to talk custom homes — and Kansas City's best wineries — whether or not you win the contest.
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