Why is it that small towns seem to possess a sense of place and taste all their own that a big city just can’t compete with?  Don’t you love it when you stroll a city’s downtown area poking your head into one place, sampling cuisine from another place …and you immediately get the feeling that you’ve arrived at a very special destination? And don’t you get a big kick out of the…

Some people like to bring a little comfort from home on vacation – like a pillow.  Others want to know their TV shows will be available for them to watch while on vacation. Still others want to leave home behind altogether to learn all new things and broaden their horizons.  This Wine Diva wants to bring her favorite wines with her on vacation AND  learn about new exciting…

Well…I am impressed.  America’s first wine country not only boasts some solid wines, but also has its very own state grape glass – the Riedal Crystal Norton Wine Glass. Hardly anyone gets that, let alone a small wine district in the middle of the country.   I had a chance to taste some great wines in that glass and spend a few days in Lake of…

Ooh, ooh, ooh -- how I love discovering underappreciated wine regions.  The next best one just might be (it certainly gets my vote)Santa Barbara County’s Santa Rita Hills. Located about 30 minutes from Santa Barbara, think Highway 246 off the 101 Freeway and the cities of Buellton, Lompoc and Los Olivos.  Total acreage is…

Oklahoma City is a place that exudes charm, character, sorrow and a spirit that inspires visitors to live their lives more meaningfully.  I spent three fascinating days in this city …and like others who came before me and those who will follow… my soul was changed forever.

Arriving at the easy breezy Will Rogers Airport I picked up my luggage in record time and headed…

There’s a lot to be said for Southern hospitality. There’s much more to be said experiencing it for yourself. I was very fortunate to do just that in a five-day trip to St. Simons Island, Georgia. For a traveling wine aficionado and foodie like me, this has got to be one of my top three trips this year. It’s quite clear that Southern hospitality focuses heavily on food and the…

Nova Scotia is so much more than I expected. It’s a delight to the senses, a city that speaks to the soul. I went there to learn about the wines, and came home with a wider appreciation of their dynamic and intriguing mix of heritage and culinary mastery. It’s such an easy trip to get there, you should definitely think about adding it to your “must travel to” list. I…

You have to love a wine tasting adventure that is nestled between a national forest and the sparkly Pacific Ocean. A destination that doesn’t get the proper respect it deserves yet continues to strive to showcase its fine wineries, classic beach culture, and amazing culinary scene. When you can just hop in the car for a short drive from the LA, Inland Empire, or San Diego area,…

Sometimes a vacation within a vacation is just the ticket before you head back to the everyday life you left behind a week ago.  I had just finished up a 4-day trip to trendy St. Augustine, Jacksonville’s neighbor to the Southeast. After all that fabulous wining, dining, touring, and shopping I needed a day off to relax and recoup before making my way back to the…

I am one lucky Wine Chix.  I received an invitation from the Czech Tourism Department to explore the wine, food and activities of the trending Czech Republic via Prague and South Moravia.  It was a short trip – just 5 days, but oh what a great 5 days it was.  I had the opportunity of a lifetime not just to explore, but to discover the soul of this sensual country. 

No…

Who would know that there are still some wine regions and vintners in France that American’s don’t know enough about? I do now, and soon you will too. I got an intriguing email on a Monday evening asking if I’d like to come meet one of the most influential and visionary French vintners -- Gerard Bétrand – on his turf – in the South of France., and by the way would I like to attend his annual Jazz Festival while I was there? The catch was… I…

There are all types of getaways.  The choices are limitless…from big adventure to soft adventure, romantic to family, glamping to camping.  The key to getting it right is understanding what your heart and soul needs.  Is it downtime you crave, or do want to lounge beside a pool drinking long cool drinks, or maybe you just need time to listen to your “creative” without distractions?  I call this last kind of getaway, Going Away To Go Within. If you’re an artist of any kind…

So what do you get when you take a handful of diverse people like chefs, photographers, investment bankers,  hippies, actors,  financiers, studio drummers, brew masters, wine importers, engineers, developers, and an attorney-- place them on land in the gnarly limestone hills west of Paso Robles… and let each one craft their own unique vision of the perfect wine experience?  Well, in short, you get the Far Out Wineries group, and it is my…

It’s not often I get the opportunity to right a wrong or set the record straight while thoroughly immersing myself in sugar white beaches, clear blue ocean waves, and warm tropical breezes. Pair that with total engagement in culinary nirvana, a high-end waterfront condo stay, art, music and eco-friendly golf cart tours and I can truly say I’ve lived the life of an oil-free Diva…

David Vergari ~ The Legacy Man

I'd like you to meet the newest member of the…

I love visiting emerging wine regions with small lot, family-owned wineries that just don’t seem to get the press they deserve. So it came to be that my friend Ginger and I left fast paced So Cal and headed north two hours to Ojai. What’s that? You didn’t think Ojai had a wine region of its own? Yes it does, thank you very much. Read on as I introduce you to an incredibly unique 2-day…

I have a tale of two cities to share with you. This is a tale of a city by the sea and at the same time a city that stretches into gentle foothills and rugged mountains. A city whose reputation is built on fine wines, culinary greatness, and adventure- based activities that range from the urban divine, to the salty ocean, to the rolling mountains. You might come for the Pinot as…

I have a tale of two cities to share with you today. This is a tale of a city by the sea and at the same time a city that stretches into gentle foothills and rugged mountains. A city whose reputation is built on fine wines, culinary greatness, and adventure- based activities that range from the urban divine, to the salty ocean, to the rolling mountains. You might come for the…

Like most wine regions, there’s always a favorite or more publicized area of a state’s wine region. For Washington State it’s been Eastern Washington. Well…Ok, and fine….but in my quest to find the fun, the fabulous, the unique parts of a particular wine scene, I organized an 8-day wine trip to Western Washington – specifically gorgeous Seattle with all its water views, and…

I love Sauvignon Blanc in all its forms, but I especially enjoy the New Zealand style. So when marketing rep Catherine Seda recently sent me a sample of the…