Travel + Wine News: Stories Not to Miss – May 18
Picture it!
A Rose Trio – Alpha Omega Winery/Napa Valley, Calif.
Cheers!
Blue skies, reds and whites in the glass. Now that’s my idea of a good time! Last weekend I ventured to Napa. We started our journey at V. Sattui to stock up on a picnic lunch fit for a king (or three wine drinking pals). Personally, V. Sattui’s wines do less than nothing for me. But, their deli is to pure heaven. Pâté, cheeses galore, fresh bread, roasted garlic, specialty meats, olives, salads and, more. Still dry we made our way to one of the Valley’s most well known chardonnay producers, Rombauer - fantastic stuff, but my pick for the top chardonnay in the Valley still goes Newton’s unfiltered chardonnay (it costs a pretty penny, but it’s so worth it). We did our tasting, then hunkered down at a picnic table and devoured our treasures.
Next we hit up Charles Krug, then ended the day at Alpha Omega. The set up is amazing. They have a big water structure with seating in front. Servers bring your tastes outside. It’s magical. We did our tastes, then bought a bottle of their Cab and relaxed for the rest of the day. Definitely recommend checking it out!
Lodging: Saturday night was spent at Embassy Suites in the city of Napa. Great location and nice set-up.
Travel Report
7 Tips for Saving on Rental Cars
May 16, 2012 – On the road again! Just can’t wait to get on the road again! The weather isn’t the only thing hot during the summer. So are rental cars – and the price spikes from June through August confirm that. The NYTimes Practical Travler offers up seven tips to get you on the road for a reasonable price. Don’t stress over brand names. Pillage cyberspace for top deals. Try out different timing options. Do my favorite thing: Negotiate. Avoid airport locations. Prepay. Check out this article to get your price savings on!
Visiting the Frugal Promised Land: Business Class
May 8, 2012 – …we ask that you please use the lavatory in your cabin…Yep, that’s code for “we don’t want the riff raff mixing with the VIPs.” On the rare occasion that I get an upgrade (oh, how I love those two little words, “Upgrade Confirmed”), I pretty much never want to deplane. NYTimes Frugal Traveler gives a synopsis of his first experience in the fabled class called “Business”. Warm nuts, a video filled personal tablet, cabin-only bathroom, flowing drinks, gourmet food. Oh yeah, it’s good stuff. Check out the article and a glimpse into the good life.
How to plan a round-the-world trip
March 20, 2012 – Around the World. Around the World. Ever heard yourself say you want to take a trip around the world? And, then the thought just seems to disappear because the idea seems so far out of reach? Lonely Planet put together a breakdown of how you can plan that seemingly improbable trip. Consider: How exactly do you plan the travel part? How long do you need? When do you go? Where do you go? Read up and start your plan (real or imagined!).
Wine Report
Rombauer Chardonnay/Napa Valley, Calif.
May 16, 2012 – I’ll have another! Well, what a relief – wine consumption isn’t taking a hit. Yep, we’re gonna keep drinking. The cool(er) part here? Consumption has remained steady for the past three years – that means during the down economy we didn’t stop enjoying our fave fermented grapes. That’s commitment, people. The Wine Enthusiast article is based on a report by an independent non-profit trade association, Wine Market Council. Interesting findings include some tidbits on generational spending habits: “Millennials are willing to spend the most on wine: In 2011, 25% of Millennials were willing to spend $50 on a bottle…only 2% of Generation Xers and 4% of Baby Boomers were willing to do the same.” Check out the full report.
Happy Travels!
