This private tour and wine tasting was made possible as part of the exclusive Distinctive Voyages package provided by travel advisors associated with Travel Leaders Network to their clients. During our recent nine-night Atlas cruise from Lisbon to the Canary Islands, we had the great luck to make some amazing friends that included Julie and…
The winter preceding 2025 was mild and dry in the Carpathian Basin. Budbreak began in mid-April, in line with the multi-year average. However, by late April some wine regions (e.g. Central Hungary) experienced sub-zero temperatures, resulting in varying degrees of spring frost damage. Overall, 2025 was slightly cooler than average, with dry conditions in eastern…
TWSC Says Their Top ‘Best of the Best’ Award Has Never Been Awarded to Two Whiskies Before TAIPEI, /PRNewswire/ — In the final round of the 2025 Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition (TWSC), Taiwan’s premier whisky distillery achieved the impossible, scooping not just one “Best of the Best Single Malt”, but two of the same award. Organisers said: “Due to a…
IRVINE, Calif. – Carter Creek Winery and South Coast Winery, both owned by family-operated Carter Hospitality, earned distinction among the best in the West, bringing home four medals – including a coveted Best of Class – at the prestigious 2025 Sunset International Wine Competition. The wins spotlight standout vintages from Texas Hill Country and Southern California’s Temecula Valley,…
Do you remember the movie Sideways, the comedy film set in Santa Ynez? Memorable for wine lovers was the time the two despicable pals spent wine tasting at the Hitching Post…and things changed forever. Fast forward to today, last week in fact, when Eddie and I spent the day in the Danish-themed town of Solvang,…
When we asked Emily Rasmussen of the Historic Vineyard Society for her suggestions of other wineries to visit in Sonoma County, especially in the Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys, she listed a few for us. One that got our attention was Nalle. Driving Northwest on Dry Creek Road, the sign for the winery might…
“It’s one from the cellar tonight, Eddie!” Looking for something to try, that ended up scoring well with the critics, I got my corkscrew into a St-Emilion 2009 Chateau Monbousquet with my husband Eddie’s blessing. It had been a bit since my last one bottle post so I got my pen and pad ready too….
Viarae is the groundbreaking collaboration between GALLO and award-winning actress and producer Issa Rae HEALDSBURG, Calif./PRNewswire/ — Viarae Prosecco is being recognized as Innovator of the Year by Wine Enthusiast for their 25th Annual Wine Star Awards. Viarae is a partnership between Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated actress, producer and entrepreneur Issa Rae and GALLO, the world’s leading family-owned wine…
Very excited about our now-annual November visit to Napa wineries – our Thanksgiving Chef Ann (my husband’s sister) moved to No CA so we follow her there now for dinner and enjoy wine tasting on the same trip! I had already shared a teaser of who we were to visit in this blog, read it…
NEW YORK /PRNewswire/ — The Botanist Islay Dry Gin has unveiled Distiller’s Strength, an ultra-premium, high-strength gin crafted by the experts at Bruichladdich Distillery. The release is distilled with The Botanist’s signature 22 hand-foraged, wild Islay botanicals at a new level of intensity: 50% ABV (100 proof). The result delivers bold flavor and sumptuous viscosity uniquely suited…