Tag: Wine Travel

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Spirit Airlines to Start Selling Cans of Wine (Yes, You Read That Right)

June 5, 2013 at 3:36 PM | by | Comments (0)

Once upon a time we wrote that Spirit Airlines seemed set on becoming "the Ryanair of the United States." Then a month later—in the context of raising fees and amid moves to create non-reclining seats—they declared that they were really proud of being the Ryanair of the United States. True story.

Fast forward to last weekend, when the Daily Mail published a synopsis of fees charged by the airline. They found 70 of them, which the airline imposed in 2011 to the sum of $76 million in profits. Spirit charges for carry-ons. It charges for printing boarding passes at the terminal.

It even charges a $2 fee each way because the Department of Transportation passed some rules that the airline didn't like. Really. The fee is called the "Unintended Consequences of DOT Regulations Fee." It exists. Douchebags.

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8 Travel Safety Tips to Avoid Getting Mugged

May 20, 2013 at 2:22 PM | by | Comments (0)

We were robbed. It may have happened just over a year ago, but we still live with the effects (like a fear that comes while biking and we hear a moped motor approaching). Read the full story, but also take away whatever knowledge you can from our horrible experience in order to prevent it happening to you while away from home.

Only a few days ago, Lifehacker posted a brilliant list of tips for travelers toting nice cameras, including how to deter would-be thieves. In this vein, we're revisiting our own 8 safety tips to avoid being mugged abroad:

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Upcoming Food and Wine Fests Hit Austin, Pebble Beach, and Miami

April 4, 2013 at 12:20 PM | by | Comments (0)

When it comes to food and travel they pretty much go hand in hand. That’s why we took a look at some citywide food festivals taking place this month, as checking out a new place with a side of delicious is always a good option. As the weather gets warmer it’s finally time to come out of hibernation, and here are three picks to do just that this April.

Pebble Beach Food and Wine

Just like the name indicates this food and wine event takes place over in Pebble Beach, California, as the chefs, cooks, and sommeliers are set to do their thing between April 4 and April 7. In total they’re offering up like 22 different wine tasting options, 8 different specialty dinners and lunches, and appearances from over 30 different chefs from around the globe.

As far as the events are concerned there are some pricier packages that include all kinds of different things, but if you are just looking to piece together your own options that’s fine too.

We found available wine and beer tasting events for as little as $100 per person, but if you’re looking for an interactive lunch or dinner—expect to shell out at least $200 per person. It might be a little bit of a splurge, but we say it’s worth it—maybe except for Guy Fieri Cooking Demonstration, as we’re pretty sure that’s available for free anytime you want over on Food Network.

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Two Non-Wine Stops to Make on Upstate New York’s Wine Trail

April 2, 2013 at 11:17 AM | by | Comments (0)

Upstate New York is becoming known as a wine aficionado’s dream and we've even reviewed some of the wineries ourselves. However, if you’re not a huge wine fan or simply want to bypass some of the bachelorette party groups in Hummer limos, there are two great spots worth checking out in the region:

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Where To Go With Your Tax Refund: Napa Valley, California

March 19, 2013 at 10:55 AM | by | Comments (0)

Tax day is coming, and you're probably excited...but not because you look forward to sifting through receipts and credit card statements. You're excited because you're getting a fat refund. Probably. The economy may be on its way back up, but you should try to stretch that tax refund as far as you can...like with a little "you did a great job last year" trip—a Tax Refund Vacation.

So you scored a decent tax refund this year, so congratulations from us to you on that accomplishment. Let’s celebrate with a drink—or a whole bottle—and we suggest doing so in Napa Valley. It sounds like an expensive proposition, but heading off to California’s wine country can be decently affordable if you’re looking to stretch that return cash from Uncle Sam. On the other side of things there’s plenty of places where you can blow it all on one meal.

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The Adventures of Travel Cat: O'Brien Estate in Napa Valley

March 6, 2013 at 12:45 PM | by | Comments (0)

Kitty cats. They rule the internet and, whether we realize it or not, pretty much the world too. Ever noticed how cats sometimes stake out the coolest spots in a city? This new feature—Travel Cat—focuses on exactly that. Submit a photo to be featured by tweeting or Instagramming it to us (details below).

Travel Cat spotted at: O'Brien Estate winery in Napa Valley, California

This week's Travel Cat is from Jaunted reader and Instagrammer @theangryskittle, who captured this idyllic scene.

Of the moment, he notes it was the "last tasting of the day," and apparently he's made a friend with whom to pass a gray day in the winter vineyard.

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Royal Caribbean Changes Booze on Cruise Policy to Allow BYO Wine Bottles

January 15, 2013 at 10:44 AM | by | Comments (2)

Friends, we have good news: Your days of sneaking booze past cruise ship security are over.

Sort of.

Royal Caribbean announced a new policy that allows for two 750-milliliter bottles of wine per cabin to be brought on board free of charge so long as it is consumed in the uber-cozy confines of your guest cabin. If you choose to consume it in a public space—aka a restaurant, lounge, or poolside—they’ll ding you $25 for the corking fee. Note once again that it is two bottles per cabin, not per person.

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'Wine Enthusiast' Ranks Brazil and New York in Top 10 Wine Destinations for 2013

January 9, 2013 at 11:54 AM | by | Comments (0)

2012 was really the year more elite flyers learned to pass up the popping of a champagne cork for that of an in-flight wine. As airlines improved their wine lists to suit evolving tastes, we also heard of more and more travelers (rare-to-casual wine drinkers at home) dedicating entire trips to tasting wines. It's something we're guilty of ourselves and now that we've tasted what a week of vineyards and sun and fresh produce and rich pours can be, it's time to look for the next fix.

This is where Wine Enthusiast steps in, as they've today released their list of the 10 Best Wine Travel Destinations of 2013. According to the magazine, this list of theirs is "from classic regions to lesser-known corners...[ranking] the best in overall cultural experience, timeliness, travel infrastructure and, of course, wine quality."

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The Wine-Friendly 'Starbucks Evenings' Concept Opens at the Airport

December 26, 2012 at 11:04 AM | by | Comments (0)

Not too long ago we heard about one of those special new Starbucks heading over to LAX—the kind of Sbux with the wine. While it will be a little bit more time before that sucker opens to the traveling public, in the interim we can take a flight over to Washington-Dulles International Airport because they just cut the ribbon on the very first airport location of Starbucks Evenings.

HMSHost—they’re the ones behind many of your favorite and not-so-favorite airport restaurants—partnered up with Starbucks for this spot at the airport. It’s kind of just like any other airport Starbucks in that they’ll still serve up lattes and frappuccinos, but there's a twist.

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Napa Valley Normal: Sipping Chardonnay with Delta's Sommelier

December 20, 2012 at 6:04 PM | by | Comments (0)


These "The One" glasses were designed by Andrea

Napa Valley is a weird place. It's kind of demure, with rolling hills blanketed in low rows of lush vineyards, but also kind of action central, as the chances are high that the person cooking your food or pouring your wine is at the top of the industry. Recently we ventured into kitchens, cellars and wineries (all accessible to you, too) in search of the extraordinarly yummy, which really is the norm in Napa.

In-flight wines get such a bad rap. Unlike airplane coffee, which is still all too frequently little better than "brown water," the reds and whites of the trolley have improved enough to warrant an airline bringing in someone like Andrea Robinson to expertly curate wine lists every season.

Andrea, a certified Master Sommelier/best-selling author/wine glass designer, has been the official Delta sommelier since February 2008 and it's her you have to thank for that smooth, in-flight buzz after your second glass because, to her, it's not just about getting blitzed onboard. In fact, Delta's transcontinental BusinessElite wine program turned completely to California wines from this September. The majority are from the Napa Valley, but there's always a focus on the richer, fuller bodied vintages to combat the effects of altitude on our tastebuds.

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Domaine Chandon: A Champagne Surprise in Southern Australia

December 12, 2012 at 5:05 PM | by | Comments (0)

If you're not one to pass up a flute of bubbly then you probably know the name Moët & Chandon, the 250+ year old French house that churns out some of the best Champagne on the planet. Well, the sparkles are not limited to the French region with the expansion of the house into other grape-growing regions across the globe. Aside from the vineyards in Napa Valley, Argentina and Brazil, we bring you the grapes of Australia.

Back in the 1960s, M&C began to explore areas for taking their operations abroad. In 1986, they settled on a little plot of land just about 90 minutes north of Melbourne in the Yarra Valley. The site was a former dairy and housed some of the best soil for ideal viticulture. It's now home to Domaine Chandon. Along with an expansive variety of non-bubbly wines, the winery is a certified producer of the méthode traditionelle sparkling wines with a regional flare.

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Yes, Virginia, There is a Sutter Home Winery

December 12, 2012 at 4:42 PM | by | Comments (0)

Napa Valley is a weird place. It's kind of demure, with rolling hills blanketed in low rows of lush vineyards, but also kind of action central, as the chances are high that the person cooking your food or pouring your wine is at the top of the industry. Recently we ventured into kitchens, cellars and wineries (all accessible to you, too) in search of the extraordinarly yummy, which really is the norm in Napa. Here, we share some of our winery picks.

A visit to: Sutter Home Winery in Saint Helena, California

The label Sutter Home doesn't exactly call to mind a stately mansion presiding over pristine rows of vineyards on prime California grape-growing property, does it? Heck, we only think of grocery store shelves and deciding which cheap, girly wine to buy for inevitable Lifetime movie marathons. Still, we now should say that's what we thought of it before setting foot at the Sutter Home winery itself in Napa, where there is indeed a Sutter Home and a property so lovely on land so expensive we wonder how $6 bottles of wine keep it all together.

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