Tag: travel
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Oregon’s finest: Wine and Cheese Pairing Bites
Every year, cheesemakers, retailers, consumers and food critics (and foodies) come together to judge over 4,000 cheese from over 40 countries for the World Cheese Awards. Surprisingly, Oregon’s Rogue River Blue Cheese won in 2019/2020, the first time an American cheese has won the title of “World’s Best Cheese.” Most people on the East Coast […]
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A Serious Wine: Napa’s Howell Mountain Cabernet
About a year ago, six of us piled into an SUV from the floor of Napa Valley in St. Helena for a half-hour climb straight up the Vaca Mountain Range, rising from the eastern side of the Valley to 1400 feet of elevation and beyond. It was 10:00 am and as we zigzagged up the […]
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Vegas Vino: Drinking Wine in Sin City
People travel to Vegas to gamble, see a show, eat amazing food, and indulge. They don’t go to Vegas to drink wine. I didn’t see one cool, modern, well-stocked wine bar, yet Vegas has twice as many Master Sommeliers as New York City. Vegas is a mix of high-rollers willing to spend $2,000 on a […]
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Paso-bilities Part II: More Wine, Coastal Hikes & a Hollywood Castle
While hubby and I really enjoyed our day tasting in Paso Robles Willow Creek AVA, no visit to California is complete without exploring the natural beauty and culture of the area. Here’s a highlight of the best of our trip: Coastal hikes. The beauty of wine tasting in Paso is that the area extends west six […]
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Rhône of the Americas: Paso Robles
What’s the best way to escape DC in the doldrums of winter? Jet off to a place that is the exact opposite. Hubby and I ventured to the central coast of California for wine tastings, breathtaking hikes, and delicious food and drink. For the first day of wine tasting, I honed in on one AVA […]
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Spring Mountain District: Exploring a Less Traveled AVA
While not nearly as distinguishable (um, regulated) as French or Italian wine-growing regions, many AVAs in California have an unique taste and history. The hubby and I decide to venture into Spring Mountain AVA, known for Cabernets that are intense in fruit flavor balanced by structured tannins. Two minutes away from the crowds of downtown […]
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The Wine Geek’s Essential Napa Packing List
The day is finally here! I actually get to do all of the things on my “Calistoga, Here We Come!” itinerary (that’s the actual title, by the way). What to pack? After careful consideration, Here is my ultimate wine country packing list. Giant wine map of Sonoma and Napa. If you are a serious wine […]