Tag Archives: travel

Niepoort – A Photo Essay About Making Still and Port Wines at Quinta de Nápoles, Douro Valley

One of the quintas I chose to visit in the Douro Valley was Niepoort’s Quinta de Nápoles. It has been a mainstay in the Douro since 1842 with the sixth generation of the family (originally from Holland) still firmly ensconced … Continue reading →

Posted in Alicante Bouschet, FORTIFIED WINE, OTHER, Port, Portugal, RED, Red, red wine, Touriga Nacional | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Quinta do Javali – Three Generations of Douro Valley Winemaking

The description of Quinta do Javali (Wild Boar Winery) was straightforward, “You will escape the tour buses completely here.” It’s difficult to convey how accurate that was. As we drove closer and closer to Quinta do Javali, the road narrowed … Continue reading →

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The Truth About Mocktails; My Foray into a Non-Alcoholic Summer

Last month, I decided to go alcohol free for 5 weeks.  What? Why!? You are not the only one to have expressed surprise.   Drinking good quality wine and other alcoholic beverages has been a personal goal for a while and … Continue reading →

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Some Top BC Wineries to Visit: Tasting in the Similkameen and Okanagan Valleys

We have some lovely friends who have moved recently to the West Coast.  They’re trying to get to know British Columbia – so we decided to take them to some of the best spots. That’s how we spent a week … Continue reading →

Posted in BC, British Columbia, Cabernet Franc, cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, Chardonnay, Gamay, Marechal Foch, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED, red wine, ROSE, Rousanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Washington State, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bratislava’s National Wine Salon Experience

In April 2026, we visited Bratislava, Slovakia – smack dab in the centre of Europe, a brief riverboat trip down the Danube from Vienna, and located directly on what used to be a heavily militarized segment of the Iron Curtain … Continue reading →

Posted in cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, Dunaj, OTHER, RED, red wine, Rudava, Slovakia, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why Tracking Your Wine Journey Matters – Viura, Viña Gravonia, White Crianza, López de Heredia, Rioja DOC, Spain, 2004, 12.5% abv.

This is EXACTLY why I keep track of the wines I enjoy. I opened a bottle of this wine 11 years ago in 2015 – and then again in February 2026.  Now I can compare the two – and congratulate … Continue reading →

Posted in Spain, Viura / White Rioja, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pinot Noir, Clone Collection Dijon 777, CODE Wines, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley VQA, British Columbia, Canada, 13% abv., 2022

I had wanted to visit CODE Wines for some time. They’re relatively new to the Okanagan, BC wine scene, but they landed in it with accolades and awards, and I’d heard nothing but wonderful reports of them and the quality … Continue reading →

Posted in British Columbia, Chardonnay, OTHER, Pinot Noir, RED, red wine, Shiraz / Syrah, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Discover Farm-to-Table Dining in Bratislava’s Old Town at Pod Kamennym Stromom

In Bratislava’s old town, a farm-to-table restaurant offers authentic Slovakian cuisine in a 13th-century cellar. Marek, the welcoming host, serves daily-changing dishes like zander and exceptional pirogis, complemented by excellent local wines. Guests enjoy genuine hospitality and culinary tales amidst an ambiance free of tourist traps, promising an unforgettable experience. Continue reading →

Posted in Devin, Dunaj, RED, Slovakia, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Some Spanish Wines to Start the Year

Everyone has one of those moments – either they enjoy a special bottle, travel to a specific wine region, or they have a wine experience that helps them decide that this wine thing is their new passion.  Mine was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Carignan, FORTIFIED WINE, Grenache / Garnacha, OTHER, Palomino, Pedro Ximenez / Pedro Gimenez, RED, red wine, Sherry, Spain, Viura / White Rioja, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Discover New Grapes: A Global Wine Adventure

Recently I had the opportunity to introduce 20 lovely people to 9 different grapes from 5 different countries, in 3 different sparkling wines, and 2 still ones. I am not a fan of boring wines, nor of showing people what … Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, British Columbia, Cava, Chardonnay, Cinsault, Lambrusco, Lebanon, Macabeu, Macabeu/Viura, OTHER, Parellada, RED, Shiraz / Syrah, Spain, Sparkling Wine, WHITE, Xarel-lo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment