What makes for a perfect wine country destination? Breathtaking vineyard landscapes paired with delectable wines are a given. Certain regions like the Tri-Valley, California, are blessed with an ideal blend of qualities that set them apart from the ordinary. Location, location,…
Hilarie Larson CSW FWS
Hilarie Larson CSW FWS
Hilarie is a Certified Specialist of Wine and French Wine Scholar whose greatest joy is spreading the gospel of wine, food and travel. In addition to her own blogs at Northwinds Wine she contributes articles to Big Blend Magazine & Radio, Wine Folly, FWT Magazine, Wine Geographic among others.
If you’re a wine traveler, a small batch spirits devotee, or connoisseur of farm-to-table slow food, then Washington State’s Whidbey Island needs to be at the top of your ‘go-to destinations’ list. Largest of the many islands of Puget Sound, Whidbey…
Travel opens the door to a host of enriching experiences: the first glimpse of a famous city, that connection when a local recognizes your attempt at speaking their language or discovering a culture through its cuisine. The Basque Country of…
Are you a wine tourist? Do your travel plans always seem to include strolling through verdant vineyards, discovering new vintages and immersing yourself in the wine lifestyle? If so, you are not alone. Whether you call it Enotourism, Oenotrouism, or…
While it may be called “the most wonderful time of the year,” the busy holiday season is often overwhelming. In an effort to shorten your to-do list, here are a few suggestions and tips that will take the terror out…
Looking for a romantic SoCal escape? Look no further than Costa Mesa. Hilarie Larson tells us why this is the destination for everything from dining to shopping to the arts.
Wine writer Hilarie Larson demystifies wine and food pairing, recognising that a good match, like in marriage or friendship, is a glorious thing.
Every wine label shows where the grapes came from, a ‘place of origin.’ Known as an ‘American Viticultural Area’ (or AVA for short), this bit of information is a key to understanding more about the quality and character of different wines.
Tucked into the southwest corner of Arizona, Yuma has often been looked upon as a small, hot, dusty little burg that’s home to an onslaught of ‘snow birds’ each winter. While it’s true that many retirees flock there, they are only a small part of the increasingly diverse visitors that come in search of old west history, world-class recreation and delectable cuisine.