A Moldova Phoenix Story – Castel Mimi

In 1893, Constantin Mimi founded his Castel Mimi winery and vineyards near the village of Bulboaca in what is today Moldova. He completed his viticulture and oenology studies in Montpellier, France. By the early 1900’s his wines were recognized internationally and especially loved in the Russian Empire. Turbulent 20th century in Moldova As a small … Continue reading

Moldova Wine & Food – Here’s Your Invitation! #WinePW

Moldova Food & Wine Pairings – Traditional and Creative August 2019 I had the pleasure of being included on the first press trip sponsored by the Wine of Moldova. After the trip I approached my contacts in the organization to gauge their interest in collaborating with our Wine Pairing Weekend group of bloggers, and here … Continue reading

Blogging through the Corona Virus Pandemic

Covid-19, Stay at Home, and Extra Free Time The situation with the Covid-19 outbreak is a serious one, indeed. Like many around the world, we are staying home and doing our best to be safe and keep others safe as well. One unexpected outcome is that people seem to have a renewed interest in cooking. … Continue reading

A Stroll Around Saint Emilion with a Visit to Les Cordeliers #Winophiles

French Winophiles Highlight Crémant de Bordeaux and Other Crémant Wines Crémant refers to any French Sparkling wine made in the Methode Traditionelle, outside the Champagne region. There are Crémant wines made all over France, such as Crémant de Bourgogne, Crémant d’Alsace, or Crémant de Loire. Our goal this month was to track down a Crémant … Continue reading

Road Trip:Portugal! With Ryan Opaz and Catavino Wine Tours

Tackling Northern Portugal With a Little Help When you travel to a new wine region, do you like to go on your own or do you use a guide? In Europe, we often choose a guide for our first trip as a minimum. Language barriers, crazy drivers, and local knowledge all add up to a … Continue reading

Low and Slow Grilling with Texas Wines #WinePW

Wine Pairing Weekend Group Discovers Texas! Wait, they make wine in Texas? Yes! Thanks to one of our Wine Pairing Weekend members, our group was provided with samples from a variety of Texas wineries, and this month we’ll be blogging about our experiences with the wines and pairing them with a variety of foods. You’ll … Continue reading

The “New” Huîtrerie Régis

Paris for a Day On some trips, we end up with a free day in Paris prior to returning to the states, and we never complain! It’s a chance to see what’s new and to visit some favorite spots. (click on any photo for a full size slideshow) Huîtrerie Régis – One of Our Favorites … Continue reading

Could Moldova Be Your Next Wine Destination?

Moldova – Ready for Exploration Are you an adventurous wine traveler, looking to be one of the first visitors into a region? Then you should add Moldova to your list of destinations! Interesting history, culture and of course, wine; much to discover and explore. Disclosure: I participated in a sponsored press trip to Moldova in … Continue reading

Wine Touring on a Non-Wine Vacation

Family Vacations and Wine Discovery While I might selfishly wish every vacation could be a wine vacation, that’s not always possible. Can you sneak in a little wine discovery on an otherwise non-wine situation?  Give this a try: Do a little advance research. Find a list of wine bars in the cities you’ll visit. I … Continue reading

Do as the French: Serve the Cheese After the Meal #Winophiles

French Wine & Cheese with the #Winophiles This month, our French #Winophiles group is returning to one of our favorite topics: French wine and cheese. Join us as we explore a bunch of ways to enjoy two of our favorite French products Wine & Cheese, Yes. But When? Wine and Cheese is a well known … Continue reading