Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

VERDEJO at the Prado






One of my must sees in Madrid was the Museo Nacional Del Prado

I forced the Prado to the top of our list. Fortunately, my traveling companion and grand friend, Ronnie Jean, loves art too.

If you are a rider of public transport, like me, city buses are a far more convenient way to get to the Prado than the metro. 

My friend and I chose instead to take a lovely walk through Retiro Park to get to the museum from our hotel. I will say it looked a lot closer on the map : ) We rode the bus back.

The Prado's collection of art is staggering. And beautiful. And marvelous.

Tickets are easy to buy online and could save you hours waiting in line. People were queued up the length of the building when we were there.

Once inside, you can find guidebooks in any language in any of the many gift shops. I highly recommend picking one up. They only cost a few Euros and will enrich your visit by at least three times that.


Okay. Okay. Enough about art and the museum. Let's talk wine.

It's Spain! Of course, they have wine in the café.

As you can see, I opted for the Cune Verdejo. A darling little 2015 vintage. We shared a cheese and bread tray. That's jamón serrano. It was our first time to try this Spanish staple and by the time we left a week later, both of us hoped to never eat another bite of it. That said, this particular tray was delicious!

Aclamaciones!















A few picture from the Retiro Park walk.

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

AZURE Death in the Texas Hill Country

Released this week as a paperback and for digital readers!

 AZURE Death in the Texas Hill Country

AZURE Death in the Texas Hill Country is a murder mystery that takes place just outside of Fredericksburg.

More importantly, there is wine drinking involved in solving this fast moving, unpredictable whodunit!


* I should probably mention that I am the author of this book and if you click on any of the links posted and buy a copy of the book or download the ebook, I will benefit from your purchase. I should also mention my backyard chicken, Pansy, appreciates your patronage.



Oh, the Texas Hill Country!



Limitless sky and spectacular Spring wildflowers make the Texas Hill Country ideal for a relaxing executive retreat ~ until someone on the team is murdered and Art Director Maeve Clarke is framed.
Road trip with Maeve as she sorts out this fast-paced whodunit, despite the clouds of an elaborate embezzlement scheme, an epic sibling rivalry and a blooming romance.
Come along and see for yourself,

Not all Artists are Suitable for Framing.



 Color Book Mysteries are highly recommended!

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Wine & Food Pairing Chart




I love the vintage illustrations in this Food & Wine Combinations chart.

It was found on the inside cover of a recent estate sale score! The 20-page pamphlet was published by the Wine Advisory Board in San Francisco, California, sometime in the 1960’s (there’s no printed date).

Keep in mind, vinotourists, “These are the most popular wine and food combinations. But there are no rules! The ‘correct’ wine is the one you like best.”



Wine Cookery...the Easy Way (Using California Wines and the Convenience Foods) is full of recipes that call for wine. 

As an ingredient. 

Perhaps in the near future, I’ll attempt the popular “Broccoli Luncheonette” or perhaps a lovely “Cranberry-Pickle Relish Salad Mold”.



Fear not, I’ll post pictures.



Cheers!

Monday, March 3, 2014

Tempranillo aboard Air Iberia


We flew Air Iberia from Chicago O’Hare to Aeropuerto Internacional Madrid-Barajas in Madrid, Spain (a fabulous airport, by the way ~ except for the man at customs who yelled at us ~ like that would help us understand him any better ~ Oh ~ and the cashier at the little gift shop who tried to charge us double for chocolate)

During the nine hour flight, the passengers in our cabin were served by a handsome seven man, one woman crew who were as formal and efficient as a team of matadors. Plates, flatware and glasses, all noiselessly appeared and disappeared from our fold down trays and questions were issued in hushed, serious tones. It was like nothing I had every experienced in air travel.

Here’s a snapshot of our dinner.


I tried everything but concentrated on the carbs. The bread was really delicious, fresh. And the dessert, a spice cake, must have been the inspiration for the wine. In my opinion, the two paired perfectly.

My Vivino app gave Val De Los Frailes Tempranillo 2011, 2.2 stars out of 5. Those stars are based on fifteen ratings. I gave the wine a slightly higher 3 stars. At the time I drank this wine, I was tired and excited. I had been up for 20 hours, traveling across the planet for a vacation of a lifetime. That said, the wine made for a nice pre-siesta beverage.

Feliz viaje!

Monday, February 24, 2014

Planning a Wine Tour

Wine tours can be a blast! Especially if you take a little time to plan.


Wine tour is a vague term. For this series, wine tour means visiting more than one wineries and/or vineyards within a short period of time, like a day or a weekend. 


The first decision to make is whether you want a self-guided tour or if you’d like to hire a wine tour company to take you around to wineries. Here are some considerations for each:


Wine Tour Company

Around the Texas Hill Country (where I live), you can hire a limo or shuttle bus to take you to three or four wineries for about $100 per person. Tours vary. Some include a meal or snack. Others do not. In choosing a wine tour company, gather referrals from friends then scout websites.

+ great for out-of-area get-togethers, like bachelorette parties and reunions, or when no one in your group wants to drive

+ pick up and drop off at your hotel or wherever you happen to be

+ details, such as notifying wineries when your party is larger than six and seeing your purchases safely into the limo and back to your hotel, are handled for you

+ professional driver who knows the area’s history, upcoming events and what-to-expect at the wineries; who knows where the wineries are located (usually ~ we had a driver once who was not local and had to ask directions); perhaps most importantly, who will not be drinking 


Self Guided Tour

A Self Guided wine tour allows you to set your own schedule, can save you money and requires more research on your part.

+ great for smaller groups, like couples, and those who seek adventure

+ start and end wherever you please

+ flexibility in scheduling; you can stay as long as like at a winery or bail before you step foot out of your car (note: most of Texas Hill Country wineries close by 6:00 p.m. so be sure to get an early enough start. More tips like this one coming in part 2.)

+ itineraries and routes are easily mapped online or with a smartphone


Tally up your pro’s and con’s. If you choose to hire a wire tour company, book as soon as you know your dates so you can have your choice of companies. If you are planning your own wine tour, we’ll soon have more tips for you.

Cheers!


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

National Drink Wine Day


A wonderfully unnecessary holiday that I’m celebrating  : )

Cheers!

Friday, February 7, 2014

Tracking Wine with the Vivino App

Search ‘wine’ on the iTunes App Store and you’ll get more than 3,000 hits. 

Three thousand hits for wine apps! 

That many options make my eyes cross. 


Unwilling to sort through screen after screen of descriptions to find what I wanted in an app (which was help keeping track of wines I try), I gave up. Call it fate or excellent target marketing, but soon a positive review on Forbes.com for Vivino Wine Scanner hit my e-mailbox. 

I downloaded the free version of Vivino Wine Scanner in November. And scanned my first label in December after my friend Lori regifted to us all the wine that had been left at her office over the holidays. (Yes, Lori is a fantastic friend! And no, you can’t have her!)

Forbes called Vivino a wine app for “normal people”. I’d agree with that completely. All you have to do is shoot a picture with your smartphone, of the label on a wine bottle. Within seconds you have a detailed screen that includes your pic, wine’s name, varietal and year, region, average Vivino rating, average price, your rating and tasting note (if you choose to do either), other people’s tasting notes, wine’s rank in four categories, where you can buy it, winery, grapes, food pairing, vintage comparison, ‘average’ rating breakdown, when to drink and personal note. Here are screen shots from a wine I enjoyed last night at book club:



So far, I like the app!

This is my home screen. It reveals two of the three unexpected features I’ve discovered on the app:







Followers ~ I have one! I opted for push notifications and was surprised when I was alerted to my follower’s presence. As we all know, drinking really should be social.

Badges ~ I have six. The badges I have are for trying the app, scanning my first five bottles and scanning wines from different countries. Not exactly Olympic medals, but, come on.

Twitter ~ I can post my Vivino comments directly to my Twitter feed. Warning to those longwinded like me: the Vivino link gulped 62 characters of my alloted 140. My punch-line sacrificed for a link! Had I known, I would have simply said, ‘this Chardonnay pairs well with #OrangeIsTheNewBlack’.


Cheers!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas!


The one million lights at the Pedernales Electric Cooperative in Johnson City, Texas, are a must see for so many in the Texas Hill Country. Me included. Walking the grounds on a chilly December evening, glowing with your loved ones, gives a peaceful feeling that is so hard to find in the chaos of the holiday season.

May your Christmas be merry and bright! And your New Year full of excellent wine and peace in which to enjoy it!

Saturday, December 21, 2013

When You Order a Wine You Don't Like



Travel + Leisure posted an interesting article that gives travel tips for sixteen different snags tourists can face. The scenarios range from air travel to hotels, taxis to restaurants.

I thought I’d share part of... 


What to Do When You Order Wine You Don’t Like by Amy Farley.

Do...

speak up. A lot of customers feel intimidated by big wine lists and sommeliers, but it’s okay to trust your palette. 

[ Stand up for yourself and your palette! So much of the big wine list/sommelier intimidation can be diffused by asking the simple question, “what do you suggest?” Engaging in a conversation before making a decision can guide you toward the right choice. ]

Do...

snap a photo of the label and add it to an album of wines you’ve loved or loathed; use it to guide you on future selections. 

[ I’ve downloaded the Vivino app. So far, I like it. I’d love to hear your comments or suggestions for it or other wine tracking apps. ]

Don’t...

judge too early. As the wine opens, up you may change your mind. 

[ True. ]

Don’t...

suffer through a poor choice. The sommelier’s goal is for you to be happy with your selection. 

[ Done this. Suffered though a poor choice. Wouldn’t recommend it. If you do send back a bottle, you may be asked why. Answer truthfully because your response will give the sommelier or server a better idea of a wine more to your liking. ]

Find the full article here.


Cheers!

Monday, December 9, 2013

Scratch & Sniff


Yesterday I stood in line at the grocery store for 30 minutes. 

Fortunately things like this don’t bother me. I see it as time I can spend catching up on magazines to which I do not presently subscribe (knowing full well that whatever chaos is going on around me, it’s not mine).

I found this little gem in Real Simple’s December 2013 issue.


We’re looking at number 5. The Essential Scratch & Sniff Guide to Becoming a Wine Expert by Richard Betts. I like the tag line: “Wine is a Grocery not a Luxury”. Words to live by, for sure.

All I’ve read of the book, obviously, is the cover and the blurb there in the right corner of the photo. But I’ll do what I always do when it comes to finding a book I want, I’ll shop local, won’t find it, then order from Amazon (like the blurp suggests). 

If you’ve already got the book, please comment! I’ll do the same once I read it.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Pin @vinotourist


I love Pinterest! 

Let’s skip the part where we compare how many hours of our lives have been lost to exploring this website and focus on a more positive truth. 

Pinterest, from its inception, has been one of the top Vinotourist sites in all the world. Think about it. Would there be SOOOO many memes about drinking wine and traipsing around Pinterest if this wasn’t so? NOOOO.


I have a board for sayings that make me smile called Wine Makes Everyone Funnier (well. almost everyone.) and I have boards for things like Wine Accessorized (cork screws, wineglasses and such) and Cocktails (because some days you need something else in your wine). My newest board, Travel Made Simple(r), is for links to ease travel pains. My first pin reveals brilliant ways to use social media to score better deals on hotels, attractions and to aid in planning.

Tag me on Pinterest @vinotourist or hashtag your pins #vinotourist so I can find them.

Cheers!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Winslow's Wine Cafe



Winslow’s Wine Cafe is located west of downtown Fort Worth, in the groovy Camp Bowie historical district. 

Winslow’s is a cafe favored by my friend Amber. She lives in Fort Worth and we had a birthday to celebrate!

Winslow’s Wine Cafe has a cozy, trendy indoor space. The lighting and the layout are both inviting and interesting. Or as the website says, “an intimately sized venue...ambiance conducive to good conversation and the feeling of familiarity”.

But it was November in Texas, so we sat outside. Outdoors, we found ourselves in an intimately sized courtyard with tables and a fire-pit. There were four of us and we were able to laugh and talk without a single “what?”.

We ordered a bottle of 2012 Mohua Sauvignon Blanc, based on our waiter’s suggestion when we asked him about a light white wine. Lovely! He was absolutely right about the hints of grapefruit.  Finishing the bottle proved not to be a problem.


I’d recommend Winslow’s Wine Cafe in Fort Worth as a place to enjoy friends or to take a date. The atmosphere is casual but not loud. The servers were nice and knowledgeable and the restaurant offers valet parking if you don’t feel like parking your own car (we used the valet parking : )


4101 Camp Bowie
Fort Worth TX 76107
817.546.6843

You’ll find Winslow’s Wine Cafe at the corner of Camp Bowie Boulevard and Clover. 

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Texas Wine Month



I spent a good twenty minutes searching Texas Wine Month on the web in the sincere hope of discovering an inspired or romantic tale of how a ragtag group of Texans came together on an autumn afternoon and decided Texas wines needed their own month. And that October would be it. 

Sadly, all I’ve found is a mention of the Department of Agriculture and something about harvest being over.

So. Never mind that. Let’s talk about ways to celebrate!

Throughout October Texas Hill Country Wineries (west of Austin and north of San Antonio) wine trail

October 4 & 5 Midland Wine & Music Festival (Midland, panhandle) wine and music festival

October 5-6 & 11-12 Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail (near Houston) wine and sausage trail

October 10-13 Gruene Music & Wine Festival (between San Antonio and Austin) wine, food and music festival

October 12 & 13 Autumn Art & Texas Wine Festival (Old Town Spring, greater Houston) art and wine festival

October 19 San Saba Pecan Jam (San Saba, Texas Hill Country) wine, music and food festival

October 19 & 20 Dallas Town & Country Fall Wine Trail (north of Dallas) wine trail

October 20 Grape Jam Wine & Music Festival (Marble Falls, Texas Hill Country) wine and food festival

October 24-26 Fredericksburg Food and Wine Fest (Texas Hill Country) food and wine festival

October 25 & 26 Wine in the Pines (Mount Vernon, east Texas) wine, food and art festival

Cheers!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Vinotourist Defined


vinotourist
VINO-tour-ist

noun

1.   a word made up to describe someone who enjoys drinking wine while dabbling in pleasurable pastimes such as travel, art and sport; “She’s a vinotourist; therefore she’s never home on the weekend.”

Origin
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