Delivering an exciting and fresh batch of new releases, Sicilia en Primeur cemented Sicily’s “darling” status in the wine world. Sicily is a vast island (the largest in the Mediterranean) of close to 10,000 square miles. With grapes having been growing there for over 3,000 years, viticulture and winemaking is not a new thing. Though one might be fooled by the popularity of Mount Etna wines in trendy wine markets such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. There are 23 DOCs and 1 DOCG in Sicily, and over 65 native grape varieties grown. Once a year, journalists from around the world descend on ..read more

Why Should Us Humans be the Only Ones to Enjoy a Bit of Luxury? For National Dog Day and we’ve rounded up some of the best dog-friendly hotels in celebration of the holiday and beyond. The difference between what most people perceive as a pet-friendly hotel does not usually scream luxury or connotate elegance. These three properties, all of which I have been too sans dog, are the kind of hotels that make the Top Ten for luxury, spa programs, service and dining. Now add “pet-friendly” to the list and there is even more reason to check out the exclusive enclaves below. Roughly 23 million America ..read more

Drink up, witches! 5 wines that will go down with a scream on Halloween Halloween is as famous for its scares, and also for a certain amount of indulgence. Never-ending funsize candy bar bowls, and for us at Drink Me!, wines that put the BOO in Boozy on Halloween and remain delicous while they last. Whether you’re looking for the perfect pairing with candy and pumpkin dishes, an adult-only trick or treat surprise (with emphasis on treat), or the show-stopper bottle for your party this Halloween, we’ve got you covered with these scarily delightful options. The Vice Wines Orange of Gewurztram ..read more

ONX & Coravin = Paso Robles Sustainable Wines, Private Tasting Zooms, Reasonable Prices Many of us are applauding the continued option of wine tastings at home. Especially as we plan entertainment for the upcoming, colder months of the year. My preference is for winery visits, but I have to be realistic. Especially when average tastings in Napa range from $80-$130 per person. Of course it’s somewhat lower in other California wine regions, but I’d still have to travel to the West Coast. So when ONX (pronounced “onyx”) winery from Paso Robles told me about their At Home program, they caught ..read more

You Won’t Believe the Breakfast at Elk Cove Inn and Spa on the Mendo Coast ….delivered to your oceani view suite! Sunsets are a nightly wonder at Elk Cove Inn. In the tiny town of Elk, about 40 minutes west of Boonville on Route 128 and 30 minutes south of Mendocino on Route 1, is a strip of a few stores, including the charming Elk General Store. Past the town the road dips and, to the right, overlooking the Pacific Ocean is Elk Cove Inn.  Between the greenhouse and gardens Elk Cove Inn and SIBO Restaurant sources mush of their food from the Inn’s grounds. The Inn consists of a mansion (w ..read more

Montoliva Vineyard Winery: Italian Varietals in California; From Southern Italian Dreams to a Chicago Park Reality Mark Henry’s wine journey started in 1992 at a fancy steakhouse in Seattle with a bottle of Rosemont Estate Balmoral, an Australian Shiraz. He was a beer guy, but “this wine was my epiphany wine. I was hooked from that day forward” says Henry. It was in the same year that he birthed the idea to one day own his own vineyard and make wine. After a couple trips to Italy, the dream began to manifest. Henry grew up on a small-scale subsistence farm and knew farming was hard work. As h ..read more

Portland Wine and Spirits Aboundby Deborah Grossman Portland presents an exceptional array of beverage tasting opportunities along with farm-fresh Pacific Northwest food. The city’s proximity to Willamette Valley translates to the abundance of wine tasting rooms. Distilleries have also spring up in the urban environment. There are exceptional breweries to explore which we reserved for another visit. Our stay at the downtown Sentinel Hotel afforded proximity to attractions, restaurants and wine tasting rooms, distilleries and bars. We looked forward to the city views and Pan-Asian food at Depar ..read more

Hotel Yountville If you are looking for a place to stay, thrive and be amazed in this quintessential wine country town, you can not go wrong with Hotel Yountville. Talk about attention to detail and designer touches! Big four poster beds with luxurious linen and my second floor suite had vaulted ceilings, a fireplace, petite balcony, a glamorous soaking tub and little extras like bags of homemade granola and a bottle of local wine.  Pristine and quiet, Hotel Yountville is laid out in a series of two story buildings over several acres. There is plenty of parking and places to walk and, bes ..read more

Bardessono’s Gardens, Dining and Luxury Shine Smack in the middle of Yountville with both world-class restaurants and wineries a stone’s throw away, lies the escape known as Bardessono. This is a place where they want to know when you arrive so your welcome, complete with valet (you may not need your car again during your stay), is completely personalized. Bardessono lists their amenities – and there are many – as including gardens, and then more gardens. Walking around Bardessono is experiencing gardens of native plants and flowers as well as a huge array of vegetables and herbs. Award-winni ..read more

Champagne Billecart-Salmon is always one of our favorite makers of astounding bubbly. Year after year their creations wet our lips and their newest release, Billecart-Salmon 2008 Louis Salmon Brut Blanc de Blancs is no exception. Named after the House’s very first chief winemaker, this 100% Chardonnay Grands Crus champagne takes you on a journey to the heart of the exceptional terroir of Côte des Blancs and invites you to discover the House’s ancestral savoir-faire. Partially matured in oak casks, Louis Salmon 2008 expresses great complexity and reflects a specific expertise in wine-making thr ..read more