We are chilling high above the scenic town of Kotor (rhymes with Motor) situated in this amazing, southern most Fjord in all of Europe. We are staying with a family in their home in the hills above the main part of town. The city is lit up, the breeze warm, and the musty earthy smell of the surrounding fig trees all around us. We are also enjoying a late harvest dessert wine from Oremus, one of Hungary's finest wineries in the Tokaj region. Not … [Read more...]
A Bunch of Rocks: The Environmental Gutting of Malta
As you look down from the hillside onto the apparent perfection of Malta's Blue Lagoon, you struggle to imagine it in any other condition. Land embraces lagoon like a protective parent. Water shines like a molten blending of sapphires and emeralds. The perpetually cloudless sky appears hazy against such brilliance. Craggy islets guard the entrance like dorsal spines on some mythic leviathan. But you walk the Malta of the modern world, a … [Read more...]
Harvest time in Brentwood
Every year we make the annual trek out to Brentwood (no, not that Brentwood), but the Brentwood on the edge of the San Francisco Bay Area (California) that is home to lot of agri-tourism, including the U-Pick Cherry Orchards. From around Memorial Day weekend through the mid to the end of June is cherry season. These orchards are extremely popular with folks who come over from the Oakland and San Jose areas to pick. Cherry picking makes a great … [Read more...]
The Lovely Inishowen Peninsula and More
As our plane dipped down below the mist, patchwork fields of green came into view. Then we went in for the landing in Belfast and could see sheep in a nearby pasture. This was hard to explain, but I felt like I was entering into an ancient homeland. Maybe because my family had distant Irish ancestry. My sister-in-law met my mother, sister and I and we went by car to the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal along the coast to Moville. The … [Read more...]
Three Days in Apimsu – Ghana, West Africa
The brilliant sunlight stings my eyes as we make our way out of the airport in Accra, Ghana, but it's the view ahead that has me fighting tears. Our son Casey has been waiting at the entrance gate. Since he entered the Peace Corps in West Africa his father and I have been separated from him for many months and 7,000 miles. Now, just fifty feet across the courtyard, I see that his pale northwest skin is shades darker, his brown hair cropped close … [Read more...]
California Cabernet Society Tasting
The California Cabernet Society's annual Spring "Passport to Cabernet" tasting will be held Monday May 2 at the Bently Reserve from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. Tickets are $45. This is a rare opportunity to barrel taste the latest 2010 harvest from over 75 producers, as well as taste their newest releases while speaking with the actual wine makers and winery principals. The member wineries are heavily based in Napa. Several of the producers present aren't … [Read more...]
GranMonte Vineyards, All in the Family
After returning from Brunei and a quick day of rest we set out for the jungles of Khao Yai National Park and part of Thailand's "wine trail". GranMonte Vineyards located in the heart of the small Asoke Valley was the highlight of our day. This winery was founded by Thai couple Visooth and Sakuna Lohitnavy. Their daughter Visootha (or Nikki) is Thailand's first female winemaker (only in her 20's, she has many harvests ahead of her). The entire … [Read more...]
Thailand Village musings
So I'm back in my wife's village after a hectic several weeks of travel in Japan and Thailand (hence the shortage of blog posts). This is Eastern Thailand, about 90 minutes from the wild outpost of Poipet, on the Thai/Cambodian border. I've been coming here at least once a year for nearly the past 10 years for 5-6+ weeks at a time. This is a great escape from the city and urban life not to mention the undesirable weather in most of California at … [Read more...]
Wrapping up Harvest Napa Valley!
During the last 15 years I have been visiting, tasting and reviewing Napa wineries (The Napa Wine Project). This project to date has reached 10,000+ hours, 1,030 visits, tastings and extensive reviews of unique Napa Valley based wineries, producers or tasting rooms; eventually I have to write a book about this unique experience. During the project I met Emil Tedeschi, owner of Tedeschi Family Winery and I have been working here when I'm in town … [Read more...]
The Napa Valley Cultivates a Bounty of New Guest Experiences
America's Great Wine Capital Helps Guests Discover a Rich Variety of New Travel Offerings this Fall and Winter NAPA, Calif. (October 6, 2010) - Fresh new offerings make it easy to experience the art of living well in the Napa Valley, especially during the celebrated 'crush' and winter travel seasons. As North America's only Great Wine Capital of the World, the Napa Valley is home to a welcoming community wholly dedicated to sharing its natural … [Read more...]
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