
Exploring Western Australia’s Swan Valley Wine Region
by Pam Baker
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Swan Valley, Australia’s second oldest wine region, is just 25 minutes from Perth, Western Australia’s capital city. Like so many wine regions throughout the world, Swan Valley’s scenery is idyllic. Vineyard-covered hills, small rustic towns, and welcoming wineries, their picnic grounds surrounded by green grapevines and bubbling brooks, invite visitors to slow down and stay

What’s in Your Wine Cellar?
by Pam Baker
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Many people bring home mementos from their travels – artwork, t-shirts, refrigerator magnets, specialty foods, even music. I bring home bottles of vino for my wine cellar. Twenty-nineteen was, for my husband and I, a year of travel. And because we love wine, from Portugal to France, New Zealand to Australia, Oregon, Washington, and California,

Discover Keuka Lake Wine Country in New York’s Southern Finger Lakes
Move over, California! For the second year running, New York’s Finger Lakes were named Best Wine Region in USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice awards. And that’s not all the accolades for this burgeoning wine country. VinePair, a digital review site for beer, wine and spirits, ranked the Finger Lakes #2 on its 2019 list

How to Enjoy Wine Tasting during COVID-19
by Pam Baker
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It’s hard to think about the pleasure of wine tasting and wine travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wine tasting rooms in California, Oregon, and Washington are currently closed by mandate. I would imagine that’s true in any other state that’s currently under shelter-in-place orders. But being stuck at home doesn’t mean we have to stop

100 Years of La Scolca: Looking Forward In Times of Uncertainty
by Lisa Morales
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Often when a company reaches its centennial, it places the focus on reminiscing over years gone by. Chiara Soldati does just the opposite. True to her brand’s name La Scolca, which means looking forward, she is doing just that. Since we first met in February, life has drastically changed. Because COVID-19 has brought Italy to

Tri-Cities: The Heart of Washington Wine Country
by Pam Baker
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With an abundance of wine tasting rooms spread across Washington, it’s easy to explore the delicious varietals grown in this exciting wine region. Seattle, Woodinville, Walla Walla, Leavenworth, and Vancouver all boast a high concentration of wine tasting rooms in easy walking distance of each other. But if you really want to immerse yourself in

Italian Wines for Summer Sipping
by Lisa Morales
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No Need to Complicate Matters. Just Keep It, “Simply Italian.” If you’re a seasonal Italian wine lover, it’ll soon be time to switch bold wines like Barolo for lighter ones like Spumante. The time for summertime sips is near and the Simply Italian Wines Tour 2020 offered members of the trade and some lucky consumers

New Zealand’s Delightful Wine Village
by Pam Baker
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Located in the southeastern region of New Zealand’s North Island lies the Wairarapa, an area of big skies, wide valleys and small towns full of character. And in the Wairarapa, at the heart of the classic New Zealand Wine Trail, is Martinborough, a delightful wine village with a population of 1,680. It’s here that some

The Sonoma County Wine is Back After Devastating Wildfires
by Pam Baker
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Lush green rolling hills filled with vineyards, historic small towns, and 50 miles of stunning Pacific Coast—this is Sonoma County. Chardonnay and pinot noir reign supreme here in a climate blessed with ample days of sunshine and cooling sea breezes. Less touristy and less congested than its famous neighbor, Napa County, Sonoma has long been