Billy Strayhorn wrote the lyrics to Lush Life when he was 17 years old. It’s one of many songs inspired by Paris. It’s one of the most inspirational places I have ever visited. My wife Laura requested a visit to Paris for her 60th birthday so that’s what we did. We arrived at Charles de Gaulle airport on a Thursday mid morning. We gathered our luggage and weary travelers we, traveled by taxi to the Melia Royal Alma Boutique Hotel in the 8th Arrondissement. We dropped our bags at the hotel and Read more »

La Tour Eiffel We just got home from a fabulous week in Paris. Laura and I will both be sharing stories and pictures from this grand experience and our stop in Reims to visit Mumm and Veuve Cliquot. I also have other stories in the pipeline, including a three day wine cruise aboard the Schooner Stephen Taber out of Rockland, Maine. In the meantime, click the link for a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower at night.

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I spent nearly four full days in Rockland with a group of writers from the IFWTWA: the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association. I think I easily could have stayed four months. This town of 8,000 residents has so much to offer. Its rugged, natural beauty, its bounty of delicious cuisine and its warmhearted residents. On day three, after another exquisite breakfast prepared by Frank at the Limerock Inn, we climbed the All Aboard Trolley and headed for the Owls Head Transportation Museum. The museum has more than 100 vintage planes and automobiles on permanent display. The most amazing part is that virtually all the planes Read more »

After a jam-packed 1st day with the 11 other winners of the WBC or Bust contest, we left Seattle’s Renaissance Hotel and headed west towards Walla Walla. 8:00 came early, but being the troopers we were we sucked it up, hopped on the bus and prepared ourselves for the day’s first stop: Cave B Estate Winery. Cave B is located in Quincy, WA and overlooks the Columbia Gorge. About a dozen wineries were pouring for us including Cave B and Cedargreen Cellars. Owner/winemaker Kevin Cedargreen joined us on the bus ride from Seattle and told us about the vertical Chenin Blanc tasting he had planned for us. Other wineries on hand were St. Laurent, Syncline, Hard Row To How, Fielding Hills, Camaraderie, Arbor Crest, Col Solare and a few others. I was intrigued by Read more »

It was cold and rainy when we took off from Portland., which isn’t that unusual for June in New England. Our group boarded a stretch Cadillac Escalade limo for the just under two hour drive to Rockland. Jim Gamage is the owner and founder of All Aboard Trolley & Limousine and he did a great job keeping us informed and entertained along the way. We were hosted by the Historic Inns of Rockland and were dropped off at four different inns: the Berry Manor Inn, the Captain Lindsey House, Granite Inn and the Limerock Inn. I checked into the Limerock, visited with my hosts and now friends, PJ and Frank, grabbed my umbrella Read more »

Heading to Washington State for the Wine Bloggers Conference, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Certainly I had tasted wines from Washington before. Many years ago I had even paid a visit to the famed Chateau Ste. Michelle. I live, however, in California, and the majority of the wines I have been drinking come from the many regions in this state or from France, Italy, Spain or Australia. Washington wines were a mystery to me that I was Read more »

I’ve just returned from an amazing five day visit to Washington State, where not only did I attend the Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla, but I was also one of 12 lucky winners of the WBC Or Bust contest with a plethora of pre and post conference activities. If you’re familiar with this site, you know I like to use photographs. Lots of them. At this moment I’m in the photo editing process and will probably be at it until at least tomorrow. I wanted to say the event was above and beyond all expectations. I hope the five days I spent there will help make this a more enjoyable and relevant place for you to visit. While I work on the photos, here are a few stories I thought you might enjoy from some of those who were a part of this great experience.

Lettie Teague from the Wall Street Journal gave one of the keynote speeches and brings a breath of fresh air to the party. Here’s her take on finding the right words to describe wine.

Joe Herrig publishes Suburban Wino and was part of a panel on Top Gun Blogging. He hails from Atlanta and we had a chance to visit on the bus ride back to Seattle from Walla Walla. He shares a few of his thoughts on the experience here.

Joe and Amy Power are from Houston and were two of the contest winners. Joe publishes Another Wine Blog and hopes Read more »