Wine

What are your options for shipping wine back to the United States? Five solutions, from wine suitcases to shipping and more. Which is best for your travels?

A Guide to Bucks County Wine Trail in Pennsylvania Thirty-five miles north of downtown Philadelphia sits the Bucks County Wine Trail, made up of eight Pennsylvania wineries. The wineries themselves are within a few miles of one another, making it an easy wine country escape with ample sipping opportunities. While it’s only eight Pennsylvania wineries – …

When the winemakers fell head-over heels in love…with wine. Over the past few years I have had the privilege to interview several amazing winemakers for Carpe Travel’s Interview with a Winemaker’s series. I’ve shared most of these interviews already BUT I haven’t shared ALL the questions I’ve asked them. Yes, I’ve been saving some of …

By Tom Masters, Contributing Writer Santa Cruz is well-known for being the “birthplace” of surfing and hosting more than 20 luxurious miles of sandy shoreline where surfers gather to hit the waves. You may be surprised to hear that just like Napa Valley and other popular wine worthy areas of the country, Santa Cruz is …

Carpe Travel sits down with Earl Sullivan with Telaya Wine in Idaho for its series, Interview with a Winemaker.

“Idaho…the new frontier of wine growing?!?!” That’s exactly what I said, after I did a quick Google search to make sure there were in fact wineries in Idaho. I mean, really isn’t Idaho all about meat and potatoes?  Apparently not. Or so I learned after spending a few days with the Idaho Wine Commission exploring …

It’s no secret the state of Washington has been producing exceptional wines for decades. Here are five wineries are proving to be some of the best.

It is all about balance, balance, balance… Of course it’s about the balance, we’re talking wine with Jessica Munnell, the winemaker at Mercer Estates in Washington. I have yet to spend time exploring the Washington wine region – outside of my local wine shop – so I jumped at the chance to learn more by …

The tale of a European sommelier turned California winemaker… I’m a huge fan of Cabernet Sauvignon, which Alexander Valley in Sonoma County is known for, yet I’ve never spent time sipping my way through the valley. On our last trip to California we decided it was high time to explore its big Cabs for a …

Carpe Travel presents a list of the MUST VISIT wineries in Napa Valley & Sonoma County based off recommendations from locals in the wine industry. Thank amazing wine finds!

A Charming Napa Valley Bed & Breakfast in Calistoga The Craftsman Inn is one of the top rated Calistoga bed and breakfasts in Napa Valley, and for good reason. This upscale bed and breakfast occupies a restored 1910 Craftsman house in downtown Calistoga. The house was restored in 2006 and the owners did a fabulous …

15 Napa Valley Facts You Might Not Know I’ve spent a lot of time in Napa Valley exploring the different vineyards and wineries but it wasn’t until this last trip that I wanted to really dig into it. Literally, I wanted to dig in the dirt of every place we stopped. I’ve always known the …

Carpe Travel sits down with Jeff Freeland at Oso Libre Winery in Paso Robles for our Interview a Winemaker series.

Carpe Travel sits down with Michelle Cleveland of Creekside Cellars for its series, Interview with a Winemaker.

Sipping in Colorado Wine with Jay Christianson, Canyon Wind Cellars Earlier this summer I was invited to a small, private, wine tasting for writers here in Colorado. The gathering was specifically put together to preview wines that had won the Governor’s Cup Wine Competition, an annual competition recognizing the top wines in Colorado. This year, …

Wine should be appreciated but so should those who produce it. Carpe Travel sits down with Janet Myers of Franciscan Estate to share her story.

There are so many wine regions in the US outside of California that are often overlooked – including Florida wineries. Some must visit Florida wineries.

Carpe Travel sits down with Paul V Bonarrigo of Messina Hof for its series, Interview with a Winemaker.

Carpe Travel sits down with Greg La Follette for its Interview with a Winemaker series.

I’ve visited several wine regions but there are still soooo many I want to try. Mendoza Argentina is one of my top five I still want to get to. My fellow travel writer and wine lover, Claudia Tavani has visited Mendoza on multiple occasions and has shared a few tips and things to know if …

Carpe Travel sits down with Theresa Heredia of Gary Farrell Winery for its Interview with a Winemaker series.

To know a country is to know its drink… Have you ever had a Pimm’s Cup or an ice cold Abita Amber in New Orleans? Perhaps a Pina Colada in Puerto Rico – where the drink originates – or Champagne in France? When I travel, I love to try the local wine, beers and drinks …

Carpe Travel sits down with Renée Ary of Duckhorn Vineyards for its series, Interview with a Winemaker.

Planning a wine tasting trip isn’t as easy as it may sound, especially if you’re planning one in a wine region you are unfamiliar with. I have learned this the hard way… When it comes to Napa Valley and Paso Robles I can map out at least a weeks worth of wine tastings but put …

I’ve been exploring the process of becoming a certified sommelier, not because I need it but because I LOVE learning about wine, the regions and different methods used to create such an important piece of so many cultures. Not to mention, I would REALLY enjoy my homework. But, you don’t have to take a “class” …

Have you heard the story about the family from the United States who moved to France, bought a vineyard and started making wine? And did I mention they didn’t have any winemaking experience? One might think that story ends badly – either in vinegar or bankruptcy. But thanks of a few Angels – angel investors …

This week I’ve partnered with WearEverYouGo.com for a very special and fashionable Wine Wednesday. WearEverYouGo.com is a travel site dedicated to providing women with the inspiration and ideas to pack the perfect travel wardrobe. This week we’re talking WINE and what to wear when you’re wine tasting, especially along the Finger Lakes Wine Trail. (Have …

Did you know today is National Piña Colada Day? When I visited San Juan, Puerto Rico my family stayed at the Caribe Hilton hotel. Upon doing my research I realized a bartender at THIS hotel was responsible for creating the infamous Piña Colada. Apparently Ramón ‘Monchito’ Marrero Pérez is said to have made the FIRST …

It’s Wine Wednesday! Time for a little wine trivia for you wine lovers – and those traveling to Paso Robles. The Paso Robles wine region is California’s third largest and fastest growing wine region and it’s becoming quite the wine destination for travelers. Here are 20 fun facts, try quizzing your friends on your next …

Last year I spent a week in Toronto and was able to see a lot of things and taste some great Candaina Icewine BUT I didn’t have a chance to get out to any wineries. So, I’m very excited to have Tamara Gruber a family travel blogger at We3Travel.com share her thoughts and experience after …

Summer doesn’t actually begin until June 21, 2014 but for my family it begins this week with the kids getting out of school for THREE MONTHS. Did I mention, they would be home for three months… There will be several adventures to come over the next three months, not to mention several bottles of wine …

Did you know airlines are judged on their inflight wine selections? I didn’t but I do love having wine on a plane. Not only are they “judged” on the wine selections but they’re given an award for their list of wine. The annual Business Traveller’s Cellars in the Sky awards, which recognizes the best business and …

Welcome to this month’s edition of A Winemakers Tale where I feature interviews with winemakers from different wine regions around the world. Seeing as I’m still feeding (or rather sipping) my mild obsession with Oregon wine country I have discovered yet another AMAZING Pinot Noir to grace my dinner table. It seemed only fitting to try and interview its …

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are two of my favorite summer wines. This summer I discovered two new favorites from Phelps Creek Vineyards in the Oregon wine country. I  recently had the privilege to interview its winemaker, Alexandrine Roy who brings a bit of old world to new world winemaking. Alexandrine is a fourth-generation winemaker at Domaine Marc Roy in the village of …

Planning a trip to Oregon Wine Country? A starting guide for planning your visit filled with tips on where to go and what to see.

Carpe Travels sits down with Austin Hope, the winemaker and president at Hope Family Wines to learn more about his wines and background.

Ten years ago the Paso Robles wine region was home to only 35 wineries, that number has since grown to more than 200. As Matthew Liberty noted in a guest post for Carpe Travel, Paso Robles is not so much an up and coming region since its already up there, but that seems to be …

Wine tasting in Tuscany? How Montalcino wine tasting at Caparzo turned out to be the best day of the Tuscan wine experience.

As I started my research for an upcoming wine tasting trip to Paso Robles I discovered  Matthew Liberty and his Paso Robles wine and food blog, HootnAnnieBlog. The site is filled with great insider tips for people who travel to Paso Robles wineries. All of which I tried to absorb before heading that way last week.  …

By Valerie Quintanilla I wanted to hike in Lake Como, but Mother Nature had other plans. Luckily I had a day of hiking and wine tasting in Barolo Italy planned with Kerrie from Australia. We started the near the bottom of La Morra at a small, colorful chapel. The day’s itinerary included a trip up …

By Valerie Quintanilla Tuesday morning started low key. I had no Piedmont wine tours planned so I thought I’d just hike it out a bit, write, read, and have a leisurely day in Neive. Returning from my morning walk I found Leslie getting ready to head to Ornella’s vineyard, Pasquale Pelissero, to help her prepare …

By Valerie Quintanilla Saturday morning started bright and early with a quick breakfast at my B&B (they just kept bringing food – such is the theme here!) Then, I was off with Robert for a wine tour in Barolo at Giovanni Rosso. We picked up Drew and Jamie from DC, then headed for the hills …

By Valerie Quintanilla If there is a heaven and we each get our own version, mine would mirror Piemonte. Calgone, take me away. In 2009 I had a business meeting with an Italian colleague visiting Denver for a project. I told her of a pending trip to Italy and how excited I was to explore …

Day two of my travel to Lake Como brought more rain. Ah well, it wasn’t pouring as it had in Milano or Bellagio (or my first 18 years in Vancouver, Wash.) I still had hiking on the brain and no way was I missing it. Things to do in Lake Como My plan for the …

Next stop on the Playing Italy Train: NYC for wine tasting at Italian Wine Merchants.I read Sergio Esposito’s Passion on the Vine over the New Year’s holiday in 2010/11, finishing the book in two days. I was enamored with the lifestyle, the food and of course the wine. With every page, I could almost smell and taste …

The last of my Mondavi visits this trip to the Napa Valley was to Charles Krug Wineryin St. Helena. There are still more Mondavi family wineries to visit next time though…I had not realized how excited I was to visit Charles Krug Winery until we were driving down the long, olive tree lined driveway to …

A visit to Newton Winery was a must on our visit to Napa Valley. They produce wines we’ve only enjoyed out and about, but never at their winery so this trip we made it priority. I had not realized just how far up Spring Mountain Newton was when I booked the 11am Newton Winery tour, …

After having read The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty, I became a little obsessed with the Mondavi family, it helped that I loved their wines. So, during one of our Napa Valley wine vacations, I made it a point to sip in a little more Mondavi than I …

I’m mildly obsessed with Robert Mondavi and his family’s story in the Napa Valley. The Mondavi family really helped shape what the Napa Valley wine industry is today by introducing higher quality wine making equipment and techniques to the area. They also put the Napa Valley on the wine map for the rest of the wine world through strategic …

Today I start my Piemonte wine tours.I don’t think words can truly describe Piemonte (“Piedmont” to Westerners). Somehow breathtaking, beautiful, and awesome all seem quite hollow. The land showcases rolling hills, acres and acres of vineyards (150,000 acres to be exact) and gorgeous colors. I can truly say that my first one tour in the …