Headed out to Lisbon this week to catch up with my brother who is living in Verona, Italy - it was a good chance to deliver his mail from California as well as spend some time sightseeing in a city neither one of us have been to before. The airport is a small one and easily navigable. Oh and the metro connects right to the arrivals hall. I quickly jumped on the metro - found the hotel, buzzed up to the hotel room and we headed out. My brother … [Read more...]
2013 Dave’s Travel Corner Travel Essay Contest
Of all the past travel writing contests, this was the most difficult year to narrow down the entries to the top three winners. We initially selected 11 from over 100 entries. One entry stood out from the others and was the unanimous choice for our top spot. After discussion among the three judges - the three top entries are: Bring Adventure Back to Europe, by Richard Bangs Without An Address, You Can’t Go Home, … [Read more...]
Antiquing & Wine Tasting in Shenyang
Today was another fun filled day in Shenyang. The group that is hosting us owns a number of incredible antique stores - featuring some of China's finest wood furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. A couple of pieces certainly stand out: the largest ancient sandalwood closet in all of China, an amazing large piece of amber with a million year old scorpion preserved perfectly inside, and a huge quartz crystal rock with a number of partially … [Read more...]
Hanging out in North Eastern China
I am currently in North Eastern China for some wine and tourism related fun. I'm with Sandi and John, the owners of Arns Winery and Bob and Nancy of Montagana Estate (both premium Napa wineries). We spent the day shopping around Beijing and trying to stay indoors out of the frigid cold. Headed up to Shenyang in the evening - where the temperatures are even colder than Beijing! Today we walked around Shenyang's version of Beijing's Forbidden City … [Read more...]
What a night, “Appellation Tasting” – Flavor Napa Valley
The Napa Valley is the only region in the world where I can go to an event and feel right at home because I know so many people and instantly recognize so many faces - and that feels good. Flavor Napa valley is the latest in a number of world-class food and wine events to come to Napa. This is only its 2nd year; the event features five days of incredible food, wine, and education. Tonight was the "Appellation" tasting at the CIA (Culinary … [Read more...]
Mad Scientists at Raymond Winery
My first impression of Raymond Winery when I arrive for my "Winemaker for a Day" blending experience with my fiance, Tom, is that we are at a traditional Napa winery. The "Winemaker for Day" experience involves creating my own wine blend and bottling the wine to take home with my own label - which I am currently designing with a happy employee named Casey at the tasting room counter. The tasting room has beige walls and white counter-tops with a … [Read more...]
Finding the Flavors, Spring in West Sonoma County
The allure of wine tasting at family owned boutique wineries of West Sonoma County is calling. The romance of several nights tucked away in Guerneville - away from crowds, hidden in the gentle fog of west county is downright appealing. Located only about 25 minutes from Santa Rosa and under 90 minutes from San Francisco this region of Sonoma County makes a great multi-day destination/weekend getaway. In order to avoid the summertime crowds … [Read more...]
Moveable Thirst
Moveable Thirst by Rick Kushman and Hank Beal Join the authors as they spend time in the Napa Valley between bud break and harvest visiting every open to the public by walk-in tasting room (141 of these at the time of their project) in the valley. Insightful and often humorous commentary accompanies each one of their winery reviews. One of the authors is a "newbie" and one is the "expert". Learn about wine, the people in the industry and … [Read more...]
Lonely Planet Napa & Sonoma
Lonely Planet Napa & Sonoma by Alison Bing Based on our large project in Napa (The Napa Wine Project) we try to review as many related books as possible. Recently this one came across our desk. Napa & Sonoma Encounter is a mini guide featuring the best of the Sonoma and Napa wine regions. Locations are organized by individual valleys each of which is a prominent wine producing region in its own right. This is the perfect guide for those new … [Read more...]
Moon Napa Valley
Moon Napa Valley by Philip Goldsmith For those specifically focusing on visiting the world famous wine growing region of the Napa Valley, Moon Handbooks features the "Napa Valley" spotlight. This book is essentially contained within their much more exhaustive in focus, "Northern California Wine Country" (see below) but the advantages of this book are price and its much smaller size. This is a very good introduction guide to the Napa Valley with … [Read more...]
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