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Blog Post
It's A Wine Thing!
May 27, 2020
It's A Wine Thing
Did you know that Italy produces more wine than any other country and its wine history dates back about 4000 years? Holding the number one spot in wine production, Italy produced over 4,750,000 liters of wine in 2019. About 1/3 of the world’s wine is produced in Italy. Although the country consumes and enjoys some of the wine it produces, Italy exports most of its wine to different parts of the world. All 20 of Italy’s wine regions produces their share of wine and of the regions, Veneto is the leading producer.
The country’s climate makes it the perfect environment to grow grapes. Italy boasts over 2000 varieties of grapes. The most popular red grapes are Sangiovese, Primitivo, Montepulciano and Barbera and the most popular white grapes are Trebbiano and Catarratto. At one point and time, red wine was my favorite. However, over the last few years, white wine is now my wine of choice. Typically, I like any kind of Moscato. Whenever I do consume wine, it has to be sweet, thus the reason why I am drawn to Moscato wines.
Wine tours are a great way to immerse yourself in the Italian history, while quenching your taste buds through wine tastings. Wine tours allow you to learn the history behind every bottle of wine produced in a particular region. You can take either a self-guided or guided wine tour. If you are self-touring and driving the country sides, it is possible to stop at certain wineries for a tour. However, it is recommended that you make reservations prior to dropping in to any winery. Guided wine tours ensure that you enjoy a more personal experience. If you’re a wine-enthusiast, I’m sure you have some (if not all) of Italy’s regions on your bucket list.
Trailing Italy, the United States is in the top five for wine production, with 2,430,000 liters produced in 2019. California is, by far, the United States’ largest wine producing state and is considered the wine capital of the US. Like Italy, California has a climate and landscape that is conducive for growing wine grapes. Wine country (which is comprised of the counties of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake and Solano) is a region in California that is known for its premier growing of wine. Napa Valley is the region that is considered to have put the US on the map in regards to good wine.
California is home to almost 50% of wineries in the US. When you visit the state, you almost have to take a wine tour and/or do a wine tasting at one of the wineries. Some of California’s most popular wineries include:
Artesa Winery – Talking about wine tasting with a view, Artesa has the best of both worlds. The wine tasting room is located in a hill, which asserts amazing views as you sample various wines. The wines are flavorful and unique in their own way.
Kunde Family Winery – Also with an amazing view, this winery was the filming location for the Bottle Shocked film. The boxing ring still remains on the mountaintop. During your visit, you can do a cave tour and finish up with a wine tasting on the mountaintop. The view will leave you breathless.
Stags Leap Winery – If you’re looking for a winery with a romantic twist, this is it. In fact, it was voted one of the 5 most romantic wineries in the Sonoma Magazine. The winery staff guides you through the tasting and history of each wine. As with the other wineries mentioned above, the views at Stags Leap are unbelievable.
Texas is the United States’ fifth largest wine producing state. The Texas Hill Country, which spans throughout Austin, Fredericksburg, Lampasas and New Braunfels, comprises of approximately 50 stunning and unique wineries. Although each winery boasts its own personality, they share a commitment to hospitality and quality. When visiting the Texas Hill Country, you are sure to enjoy an award-winning experience.
Each winery produces their wine with passion. Hospitality is a natural gesture in the Hill Country. Being that Texas Hill Country Wineries host events year-round, there’s always a reason to visit. The hosted events include food and wine pairing dinners (because there’s nothing like having the perfect pair for your wine), live music, grape stomps, and applicable holiday events. Some popular Hill Country Wineries are:
Chisholm Trail Winery – Nestled in Fredericksburg, Chisolm Trail Winery began producing wine for the public in August 1999 and released its first wines at its Grand Opening Festivities on June 1, 2001. The winery participates in all Texas Hill Country Wine Trail events. You can enjoy wine tastings year-round.
Dry Comal Creek Winery & Vineyard – Located in New Braunfels, this vineyard produced its first wine in 1998 and to this day, it offers wines made with 100% Texas grown grapes. You are sure to have a fantastic experience there. From the hospitable staff, to the wine tastings, to the food and music, you will have a memorable experience that’ll make you want to come back year after year. Now that’s a taste and feel of Texas.
Texas Heritage Vineyard – Although this winery has only been open since 2018, their hospitality and experience expands far beyond that. Located in Fredericksburg, the vineyard produces 100% Texas wine grapes. All of their wine is made locally and with love. Stop by their tasting room, have a sip (or sips) and explore some good ole’ Texas wine.
Although there are a few wineries mentioned here, there are a plethora of great wineries (too many to name here) both in Italy and the United States. Be sure to add a wine tour/tasting to your activity bucket list. A wine tour is just one way to learn local history and immerse in the local culture. Although we can’t travel right now, it’s a great time to develop your game plan on which wine region to visit once it is safe to travel again.
So, grab your glass of wine and work on that bucket list!
Should I or should I not purchase travel insurance? That is the popular question these days. Whenever you purchase plane tickets, cruise tickets, or book a hotel, you are usually asked if you want to purchase travel insurance. Due to the purchase of travel insurance being an additional cost, many travelers usually opt out of it. It is often thought of as an unnecessary add-on like extended warranties and generally considered not worth it.
When planning a client's trip, we always consider all the information given to us for a full personalized experience. This includes a client's budget. Every attempt is made to operate within the limits of the budget and still provide an amazing and unforgettable experience. But, it's a proven fact that a super tight budget forces you to miss some great vacation experiences. The next time you are creating your vacation budget, consider some of these small and affordable upgrades that are sure to improve your all-around vacation experience.
Preparing for the unexpected is an important part of taking trips, and as a Travel Advisor, working hard to stay on top of situations that might affect your health and safety is an essential aspect of my job. Here are 3 travel preparation recommendations.
According to the State Department, the passport application process is taking more than four months (18 weeks), and “expedited” service may only shorten the wait to three months. This means that passport processing times are three times as long as the average wait time prior to the pandemic. The State Department website indicates the dramatic delays are the result of COVID-related issues…not to mention the drastic uptick in travel which is causing a high demand for passports. If you need to renew your passports immediately, unfortunately you are no longer able to book last-minute appointments online. The State Department announced this change on July 22nd, 2021. For emergency appointments, you can refer to the table on the “ Get It Fast ” passport section of the State Department’s website.
Demand for future travel is increasing and will likely outpace supply, even as more options reopen. One of the most important preparations for future travel is ensuring you have the appropriate travel ID. You don’t want to arrive at the airport for your long-awaited vacation, only to be denied boarding because of an identification issue! Now is the time to make sure your identification documents are ready. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing delays in passport processing. Standard processing for new and renewal applications is currently 10-12 weeks, or 4-6 weeks if paying an additional $60 expedite fee.* Even flying to U.S. destinations, you need to be ready for the new REAL ID requirements going into effect on October 1, 2021. What should you know about getting your IDs ready to travel? I’ve highlighted a few key points.
Road trips are back at the top of travel lists, as more people opt to explore the United States. For couples, taking a road trip together offers a chance to reconnect and make new memories together. If you’re a honeymooner, celebrating your anniversary, or first-time travel partners who are considering a road trip, here are some ideas to help you find romance on the road. As a romance specialist and one who loves and values romance in my personal life, I have tested all of these. Navigating Together On a road trip, navigating is part of the fun. Tracing the route, taking an impromptu detour to see a roadside attraction, and refueling at a locally-owned diner, are reminders that the journey is as important as the destination. My husband and I took a road trip to visit family and on the return trip, we mapped out a route to make a stop in Mississippi to celebrate our anniversary. We ate at local restaurants and checked out a few attractions. Oh, you didn’t think I was going to skip out on the beach did you? Yes, we spent a little time on the beach, enjoying the amazing views and sunsets.
It’s no secret that we are dreaming about our next vacation. For many of us, 2020 meant delays and/or cancellations of our long-awaited vacations. After the stressful and challenging year, we’ve all been through…we need a change of scenery. With a percentage of next year’s vacations already in the books, the year’s travel trends and must-visit destinations are starting to emerge. Whether they are barbecue enthusiasts or book lovers, the below lists of locations, near and far from home, are a perfect starting place for 2021 vacation inspiration!
Turmoil, challenges and stress…nothing could more accurately sum up 2020 than this. Canceled events, working from home while homeschooling, higher health risks for going out in public, job loss, etc. are all reasons why 2020 has been extremely stressful. All the stress has taken a toll on our mental health. With all the turbulence this year has brought, travelers are focusing on ways to enhance their wellbeing. This includes physical, mental and spiritual wellness.
Though travel to Europe is on hold for the moment, we know that many travelers are eager to visit its cities again. Thinking about the experiences of European travel will help you look ahead and inspire your future vacation. Those of us with a passion for travel often daydream about the cities and places we want to visit someday. And in these daydreams, we think about the person we love most and traveling the world with them. For couples who dream of checking off destinations around the world together, there’s a way to see and do more with your vacation time: take a river cruise! River cruising is one of the best ways to visit multiple cities without the stress of travel days, unpacking and repacking, or getting lost trying to find your hotel. From panoramic suites, themed excursions, and incredible itineraries, river cruising is the ideal vacation for couples looking for a romantic trip through Europe and beyond.
Travel is one of the fastest growing industries. Stay organized and prepared with the following travel apps. Mobile Passport - Allows you to upload your passport and fill out customs forms on your phone to speed you through U.S. Customs and Border Protection at 30+ airports and cruise ports. PackPoint – alleviates the stress associated with packing. Advises you of what to wear based on where you’re going, length of your stay, projected weather and activities you’re planning. Waze - Live maps include voice-guided navigation to easily guide you. You get community-based data on traffic jams and other information so that you can find points of interest like the cheapest gas stations and the fastest routes to your destination. Trail Wallet – A tool that allows you to organize and track your travel expenses.
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