Wohoo! Spring break is here and if you miss that feeling of carefree abandon and going on a road trip...then read on my friends. Frankly, I think many of us in our college years were too busy prepp

I like the fact I get to meet a lot of different winemakers. They’re creative types, focused on crafting beautiful wines. They come in all shapes and sizes of course. They’re young, they’re old

You like wine tasting? Are you up for a little adventure? I bet you love a deal. Can I package all this for you into a rustic vineyard romantic getaway? Yup! Read on.

I know you often

Hey aficionados ~ as you know wine prices are down, quality is up, and retailers are offering some tremendous buys. I like wines of all kinds. I see great buys often. However…you know you have a

I really love a bottle of wine that is not only good, but has a story behind it too. That’s why it’s such a treat to introduce you to Gioia Wines and owner/winemaker Teri Love. Gioia is one of t

It may just be the event planner in me, but I L-O-V-E- anything with a cool theme. So it’s not going to come as a surprise to anyone that I want to introduce you to Continue Reading →

Time moves on, seasons change, and it’s seems inevitable that winemakers will come and go. So it is that David Raffaele, formerly part of the winemaking team at Maurice Car'rie and Van Roekel Vine

It’s really cool when I get to spend some quality time with a really smart winemaker. Such was the case when I sat down with Etienne Cowper, winemaker for Continue Reading →

With spring in full swing and summertime in our collective sightline, I am pretty sure we’re all chomping at the bit for some time off to relax and renew. Since we still have a few weeks left to go

Looking for some high seas adventure with a decidedly gourmet food and wine focus? Then check out the Schooner Stephen Taber fo

I am always on the lookout for unique up-and-coming wine regions that present an interesting story and a 2-7 day destination of food, wine, and fun. For heaven sakes, there must be a wine-life bey

Did you know there is an award-winning, 2,500 case winery in Laguna Beach, California? I do now, and so should you. Continue Reading →

You‘ve probably heard the term “small lot wines” and took a guess that it refers to wine produced in limited quantities. You would of course be right, but there’s more to it than that. A small lot

I love Sauvignon Blanc in all its forms, but I especially enjoy the New Zealand style. So when marketing rep Catherine Seda recently sent me a sample of the Continue Reading →

Like most wine regions, there’s always a favorite or more publicized area of a state’s wine region. For Washington State it’s been Eastern Washington. Well…Ok, and fine….but in my quest to find th

You have to love a wine tasting adventure that is nestled between a national forest and the sparkly Pacific Ocean. A destination that doesn’t get the proper respect it deserves yet continues to st

I have a tale of two cities to share with you today. This is a tale of a city by the sea and at the same time a city that stretches into gentle foothills and rugged mountains. A city whose reputat

I have a tale of two cities to share with you. This is a tale of a city by the sea and at the same time a city that stretches into gentle foothills and rugged mountains. A city whose reputation is

I love visiting emerging wine regions with small lot, family-owned wineries that just don’t seem to get the press they deserve. So it came to be that my friend Ginger and I left fast paced So Cal

Nova Scotia is so much more than I expected. It’s a delight to the senses, a city that speaks to the soul. I went there to learn about the wines, and came home with a wider appreciation of their d

Ooh, ooh, ooh how I love discovering underappreciated wine regions.  The next best one just might be (it certainly gets my vote) Santa Barbara County’s Santa Rita Hills. Located about 30

I tend to go on overload when I walk into a wine store if I don’t have a “buy” list. Yes it can be fun to whirl and twirl my way through racks and racks of wine, but in the end I

There are all types of getaways.  The choices are limitless…from big adventure to soft adventure, romantic to family, glamping to camping.  The key to getting it right is understan

So what do you get when you take a handful of diverse people like chefs, photographers, investment bankers,  hippies, actors,  financiers, studio drummers, brew masters, wine importers, e

I really like the whole group hug kind of wine tasting experience.  Getting together with a group of peers and friends to taste and discuss 6 wines has its special moments of give and take, ed

I love Spanish wines, so I was delighted when I received several wines from a PR Company representing a variety of wines from the northern region of the Spanish wine DO (Denomination of Origin) Continue Reading →

While in the Czech Republic last week, I kept hearing about a special Czech wine that is only offered in the fall.  It’s so popular that it’s the only official wine sold at the Zno

Well…I am impressed.  America’s first wine country not only boasts some solid wines, but also has its very own state grape glass – the Riedal Crystal Norton Wine Glass. Hard

One of the treats of visiting the Far Out Wineries group  in Paso Robles, CA  Wine Country is finding that one very sp

I am finding that coming together with a group of fellow wine buffs is a creative way to really understand wine.  A group atmosphere offers the opportunity to share opinions and conclusions, s

Today’s casino is a rich tapestry of poker, entertainment, food and wine.  There’s a seductive aurora that greets you at the door, staying with you until you retrieve your car from

I love exploring destinations that don’t always get the media attention they deserve.  Places that include all the amenities and adventure a traveler could want, but done in a style that

I receive a ton of email every day; offers for this, suggestions for that, questions on all sorts of topics.  So it’s not uncommon for me to face off with my computer each morning fortif

Looking for a truly unique pre or post-Christmas getaway in a magical setting? Is it innovative cuisine, a romantic hotel, Christmas activities, and amazing Napa Valley premium wines that are on yo

I am thinking as a confirmed chocoholic there’s not much you can give me that I haven’t had “something like it” before. After all I’ve spent the majority of my life ch

It feels like Christmas at my house every few weeks or so with new wine shipments arriving for my review.  I was especially thrilled to see 4 wines from Dunning Vineyards arrive last month: th

I never really understood Champagne until I had the really good stuff. Like most people, I tasted wine at weddings, New Year's Eve galas, and retirement parties… but just didn't get what the fuss w

Meet Janis Denner owner of Pelletiere Estate

I generally meet vintners and winemakers at their place of business. We sip the wine, we talk shop and we walk the vineyards. When an i

While I have tasted many types of sparkling wines over the years, I have always been fascinated with Cava wines. There is just something about the affordability, quality and versatility of Cava th