Daily Pampering: Destination Cellars takes wine lovers behind the scenes in Napa Valley

by Melanie Nayer on

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at the finest Napa Valley wineries? Destination Cellars, the wine club for luxury palettes, is offering its club members a “backstage pass” to meet the rock stars of the wine world.

The event is being held Sept. 23-26 and is limited to only 10 couples, so you’ll have to act fast if you’re interested. You’ll get:

  • Room at The Carneros Inn – rated the “Top Romantic Getaway” by Travel & Leisure Magazine
  • A meet and greet with Destination Cellars Estate Sommelier Sean Meyer, who will serve as your guide throughout the tour.
  • Welcome Reception at Signorello Estate, complete with Neapolitan style pizzas from the wood-fired oven.
  • Lunch and a behind the scenes tour of Vineyard 29 with Chef Sarah Heller, formerly of Bouchon and The French Laundry
  • Dinner at Ma(i)sonry, a 1904 stone manor home covered in priceless art and surrounded by the exceptional wines of Blackbird, one of the most coveted wineries in the region.
  • And so much more.

The backstage pass main event is sponsored by Hourglass Wine Company. In its sixth annual event, the company aims to raise $500,000 for the St. Helena Unified School District.

Total cost of this pampering: $6,000 per couple. A chance to taste some of the rarest wines in the region: Priceless (and delicious!)

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Grape stomping good times at New York’s Naples Grape Festival

by Melanie Nayer on

I can’t pass up a good “I Love Lucy” moment, which is why this event in New York‘s Finger Lake’s region is perfect for Lucy fans who’ve dreamed of re-enacting the famous grape-stomping scene from the famous television show.

The Naples Grape Festival in the Naples Valley of Ontario County, NY is held on the last full weekend of September to celebrate the area’s grape harvest, talented artisans, winemakers and local and regional music and food. Taking place Sept. 25 and 26, the festival features everything from wine making to cooking demonstrations.

Admission for the wine tasting tent is $10 per person and allows you to sample wines from numerous wineries in the Finger Lakes Region including White springs Farm and Estate Winery, 1000 Island Wineries, Arbor Hill, Cascata Winery at the Professor’s Place, Knapp, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, Eagle Crest Vineyards, Glenora Winery, Atwater, Imagine Moore Winery, Miles Wine Cellars, Wagners Winery, and Hunt Country Vineyards.

You don’t have to have a palette for wine to appreciate this festival, though. The weekend also includes fine art displays and hand made works from local artisans. Of course, what’s a good festival without good food. The Naples Grape Festival will offer everything from crepes to sausage to steak on a stick and for dessert, don’t miss the grape pies.

While the music and bands play the weekend away, festival goers can watch (or participate) in the World’s Greatest Grape Pie Contest. Of course, if nothing else, there will be plenty of grape stomping for those who just want to get their feet a little dirty and have some fun.

Wine vending machines debut in Pennsylvania

by Melanie Nayer on

Yes, Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus… and he seems to favor Pennsylvania.

The state known for its tough liquor laws is testing out a rather casual convenience: wine vending machines. The Associated Press reports that these wine kiosks are located in two of Pennsylvania’s grocery stores and if they do well, more of these gems will be placed throughout the state.

All you need is a valid driver’s license and a credit card, and you can buy your wine. Stop off at the vending machine, take a quick breathalyzer test and smile for the camera, then pick your vintage.

While some people will certainly question the concept, I’m sure others see the brilliance in this plan. Until now, Pennsylvania law requires that alcohol only be purchased for home consumption only in state-owned stores. Now, one-stop shopping makes it easier to buy a bottle for a last minute dinner party, or let’s face it, after a long day at work.

The state hopes these new kiosks help boost the archaic laws into modern times, and allow more buyers of legal age to purchase wine at convenient locations.

We don’t know what brands are being stocked in the vending machines, or even if they are stored at the appropriate temperatures, but we do know this: Pennsylvania just got a whole lot cooler in our book.

[via @SlashFood]

World Cup: other things to do in South Africa

by Kraig Becker on

While the World Cup is currently taking center stage in South Africa, the country has plenty of other things to offer travelers who venture away from the stadiums to take in some of the amazing culture and adventure there. Here are five other suggestions for things to do while your favorite team isn’t taking the pitch.

Go on Safari
If you’re going to visit Africa, you simply have to go on safari of course, and South Africa has some of the best game preserves on the continent. Chief among them is Kruger National Park, which is home to lions, elephants, zebras, and the famous cape buffalo. If you’re lucky, you’ll also catch a glimpse of the rare black rhino and the elusive cheetah. The park has a variety of lodging options as well, including everything from staying in a tent to a fancy, upscale lodge.

Go Surfing
South Africa sits on the far southern tip of the African continent, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans come together at Cape Agulhas and the Cape of Good Hope. This unique confluence of two oceans generates gigantic waves, and world class surfers from around the globe converge on Cape Town, and other South African cities, to ride the supertubes the region is famous for. Whether you’re an expert or beginner surfer, you’ll find plenty of great surf along South Africa’s spectacular beaches.

Go Scuba Diving
Scuba divers will find plenty to love in South Africa as well. The country’s ample coastlines offer some very diverse dive options for those who prefer to play beneath the ocean. For example, in Sodwana Bay you’ll find a beautiful array of coral reefs and bright tropical fish, but if you head further south to Protea Banks, you’ll get a dive of a completely different kind, complete with sharks and ship wrecks that are sure to get the adrenaline going.Go for a Hike
South Africa has amazingly diverse wilderness areas to explore some of which are best seen on foot. If you get the urge to take a walk, the Drakensberg Mountains offer up spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and trails even pass by primitive cave art that has been around for thousands of years. For an equally challenging hike closer to civilization, stay in Cape Town and make the trek to the top of Table Mountain, the 3550 foot tall, flat-topped mountain offers some great views of the city below and the ocean beyond

Go to the Winelands
When you’re done exploring the adventure travel aspects of South Africa, it’s time to relax and savor some of the other things that country is famous for. SA has become famous for its fine wines, which are exported around the globe, as much as its fantastic natural resources. There are multiple routes through the South African wine country, which is located east of Cape Town, and the region is famous for its breathtaking views and fine dining, as well as the amazing wine that is produced there. Whether you go for a day or for a week, you’ll be enchanted with region, that is a bit of a hidden gem in a country that is known for adventure.

Of course, at the moment South Africa is engulfed in a football frenzy, with travelers arriving from around the globe to watch the World Cup matches. But when those visitors are looking for a little escape from the craziness, they’ll certainly have plenty of options to choose from.

Daily Pampering: Shack up at a Swiss winery

by Annie Scott on


If you love wine and scenery — and who doesn’t, right? — Chexbres, Switzerland (above) may well be your personal heaven.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting UNESCO World Heritage Site Domaine Bovy, a Chexbres vineyard and winery located on the beautiful Lake Geneva land above. We tasted wines (at about 10 AM) from the enormous, hand-painted oak barrels and sat down to try bottles, as well. Anyone can do this, just call ahead (Domaine Bovy website) and bring your own cheese and bread or other snacks. I cannot recommend snacks enough, as these typical-of-the-area light bodied wines taste harmless as pie but pack a punch of 12 percent or more in some cases.

Though I didn’t get a chance to try one, the rose in this region (Lavaux) is well-known for its delicate, earthy flavor. Personally, I particularly liked the sparkling wine. It was crisp and dry with an aroma of flowers and herbs.

Best of all, as I mentioned in the title, you can stay at Domaine Bovy. There is an upstairs apartment you can rent for just 800 – 1200 CH (about $781 – $1,081) per week. A wine tasting is included. You’ll need to rent a car — and you’ll want one to explore the astounding scenery all around.

Fun fact: Charlie Chaplin lived in Chexbres for 25 years. And he knew what was up.

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My trip to Switzerland was sponsored by Switzerland Tourism, but the ideas and opinions expressed in this article are 100 percent my own.