Visiting Tequila Mexico, Part 3

Part 3 - The Family Reserves (Reserva de la Familia) 

Generations of families and various government administrations have gone by, but Jose Cuervo and other tequila distiller families have remained the only constant through all these changes.  Since 1795, the Jose Cuervo family has descended into their cellar with close friends and family to taste it finest tequila from their private reserves.

To commemorate its bicentennial, the family decided to share this rare tequila with the rest of the world with the introduction of the Reserva de la Familia.  The Maestro Tequilero blends these anejo tequilas with other private reserves that have been aged up to 30 years resulting in a rich potpourri of flavors with a smooth edge. A member of the Jose Cuervo family personally tastes samples from each ultra-premium tequila barrel before it is bottled. Other producer’s of super premium tequila’s include: Sauza, Herradura, and Orendiain.

Continue reading "Visiting Tequila Mexico, Part 3"

By Albert Hayashi | September 12, 2006 in Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

Visiting Tequila Mexico, Part 2

Part 2 - The Journey Continues 

My journey continued onto the town of Tequila. Rising 1300 meters above sea level, the blue agave plants grow bountifully amongst the evergreens and juniper trees.   To be called tequila, the product must be made from the blue agave located in this specific region of Mexico. Many of the local folks are experts on the tradition and history of their town and famous beverage spirit.  They talk about tequila with fondness relating it to a flat stone called obsidian which is common below the Tequilan volcano.

Continue reading "Visiting Tequila Mexico, Part 2"

By Albert Hayashi | September 5, 2006 in Food & Wine Country Travel, Spirits | Permalink | Comments (0)

Visiting Tequila Mexico, Part 1

Travel writer, Albert Hayashi, recently toured Tequila, Mexico, where the blue agave plants grow to make the alcohol we all know as tequila.  We bring you his travel journal in three parts over the next three weeks.

Part 1 - A Journey into the Past 

Walking around the small town of Tequila, Mexico, one finds a strong sense of the past and history.  Founded in 1530 by the conquistador Cristobal de Onate, the small town (pueblo) of Tequila rests below the base of a volcano amongst the blue agave landscape.   From these beautiful large blue green colored plants exploding out of the rich volcanic soil, Tequila and its relative Mezcal are made.  This is a story of my journey into the past where I discovered certain things in life are never meant to change.

Continue reading "Visiting Tequila Mexico, Part 1"

By Albert Hayashi | August 29, 2006 in Food & Wine Country Travel, Spirits | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oenophiles... This one's for you

Unlike most traditional wine tours that come with the requisite showing of a temperature controlled barrel of a 95’ Cab—Cindy Newkirk of the Wine Yard takes it a step further, walking you through a step-by-step journey from an empty plot of land to a fruit-laden vineyard.

The vineyard has been in Cindy’s family for over a hundred years and she is steeped in wine culture. From the intricacies of pruning to pesticides Cindy is a wellspring of knowledge and explains things easily without relying on too much wine jargon. After the in-depth lesson on root stock, soil ripping and plotting Cindy takes you on a tractor-tour through the Steinbeck vineyard (no relation to the famous Steinbecks), and points out the differences in plots and plucks varietals for you to taste.

Located half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, the WineYard is in Paso Robles—known as “Paso” to the locals—and it is an ideal spot for those craving an intimate wine tasting experience.

Paso, and nearby San Luis Obispo are both burgeoning cities with plenty to do and see. In addition to wine tasting (pasowine.com) and vineyard touring you can visit Hearst Castle, take long walks on the beach and if the season is right (from October through February) you can see the migrating Monarch butterflies at Pismo Beach.

By Bryce Longton | July 6, 2006 in All Things Wine, Education, Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

Enjoy Food and Wine Abroad

Some say that you can't really learn the language unless you live in the country. Food lovers may argue the same can be said about cooking. Face it, it'd be much easier to cook an authentic Italian meal accompanied by the perfect local wine if you were actually IN Tuscany. There are many reputable wine and food travel tours out there, but we know a good place to start your research: Gourmet on Tour. It has excellent reviews and several tours to choose from. Check it out and hopefully your next marinara sauce will be simmering in an Italian kitchen.

By Michelle Alderson | March 6, 2006 in All Things Wine, Cooking Schools, Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (3)

The Napa Valley Mustard Festival

Can't make it to Mardi Gras this year? Don't fret; another festival is happening right now in California wine country. The Napa Valley Mustard Festival is in its 13th season and runs through April 1. The non-profit event celebrates the wine and more importantly - the mustard - that blooms on Napa Valley's vineyards and hillsides this time of year. It really is quite a beautiful time to visit the region.

For more information, visit the Napa Valley Mustard Festival website.

By Michelle Alderson | February 28, 2006 in Food & Wine Country Travel, Gourmet Food Events | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Santa Barbara Culinary Tours

The movie Sideways just scratched the surface of what you can find in the area near Santa Barbara, or "the American Riviera." From the coast to the hills of Santa Ynez, you'll find culinary and quaffing treats, including some of California's best wines, Santa Maria-style barbecue, locally caught spiny lobster or fresh uni, locally grown strawberries and pastries from the Danish town of Solvang.

There's so much, you could build an entire trip around eating and drinking! Check out www.santabarbarafresh.com for culinary attractions and tours at places like the oldest organic farm in Southern California, working olive oil estates, and ostrich and nut farms.  The site offers the 30-page "Get Fresh on the American Riviera" planner, plus lodging discounts and themed packages. Miles and Jack would be so proud.

Visit www.santabarbarafresh.com for more info.

By Lesley Balla | February 21, 2006 in Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ultimate Food and Wine Getaway

Food and wine lovers can head to the Montana wilderness for the ultimate getaway at the Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, MT, which will host First Annual Food, Wine & Wilderness Festival, March 19-26. The "7 Chefs in 7 Days" event brings some of the country' top culinarians to one stunning locale for luncheons; dinners; wine, port, cheese and cognac tastings; cooking classes and more. Each night, diners can indulge in a themed meal prepared by world-class chefs like the aphrodisiac meal prepared by Martha Hopkins, author of "Intercourses," to the exotic game feast prepared by Paws Up executive chef Jacob Wetherington. Other people of note include Susan Flynn and Cindy Race; Pete Slosberg, owner of Pete's Wicked Ale; celebrity chef/TV personality Joanne Weir; and Jean Francois Meteigner from Los Angeles' La Cachette restaurant. And if all that eating seems too much, the resort sits on 37,000 gorgeous acres for horseback riding, fly-fishing and hiking so you can easily burn up the extra calories.

Two-night packages start at $2950 for double occupancy, and you get to stay in an impeccably appointed private home that includes hot tub, flat-screen TV and Internet access. Get another couple to go with you, and they can get almost 50 percent off.

Find more info about the 7 Chefs in 7 Days event at Resort at Paws Up website.

By Lesley Balla | February 10, 2006 in Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

Food & Wine Classic in Aspen

After ski season is over and the snow melts, foodies and wine lovers from all over will be heading to Aspen for the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Sponsored by Food & Wine magazine, the three-day event will feature tastings and cooking demonstrations, and will include chefs Mario Batali, Emeril, Bobby Flay, Wolfgang, and more.

The event will be held June 16-18, 2006. Go to www.foodandwine.com for more information.

By Michelle Alderson | February 9, 2006 in All Things Wine, Chef News, Cooking Schools, Education, Food, Food & Wine Country Travel, Gourmet Food Events | Permalink | Comments (0)

San Francisco Hosts Zinfandel Wine Event

Starting tomorrow in San Francisco, Zinfandel lovers will be able to taste wines from over 300 participating wineries at the 15th Anniversary Zinfandel Festival. For wine and food lovers, you can also attend the Good Eats & Zinfandel. Forty-nine zinfandel wine-makers team up with restaurants so you can sample the wine with your favorite eats. The festival lasts four days, January 25-28, and is located in the beautiful Marina District. For more information, go to www.zinfandel.org.

By Michelle Alderson | January 24, 2006 in All Things Wine, Food & Wine Country Travel, Gourmet Food Events | Permalink | Comments (0)

Valentine's Day Wine Trips

Currently I am in San Francisco, tagging along on my husband's business trip. It's a nice perk. Tomorrow we head to Sonoma for wine tasting. That said, I have to say, that since Sonoma and Napa were my first real wine-tasting experiences, these regions have become my favorite. Especially for cabs and chardonnays. I really like what they produce up there. And I am very lucky to be able to live close enough to enjoy a visit often.

For those who can't make it to California this Valentine's Day, don't worry, I found a few other outings out there. Well, I found many, many wine country adventures available for the romantic holiday, but could only list a few that caught my eye:

Austin
Who knew Texas had a nice wine country? If you can't make it to Texas, maybe you can check out this article in The Austin Chronicle. It's helpful and fun.

Long Island
LongIslandWineCountry.com offers a "Sideways" tour this February. It'd be great to compare a Pinot from the East Coast to one highlighted in the movie.

Washington
Chocolate and red wine? Who could resist. Find out more at North Sound Wineries.

By Michelle Alderson | January 12, 2006 in All Things Wine, Food & Wine Country Travel, Gourmet Food Events, Valentine's Day | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Holidays in Temecula Wine Country

By Lesley Balla | November 29, 2005 in Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Visit "Sideways" Wine Country without the Crowds

The movie "Sideways" brought mixed blessings not only to the folks and wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley, where the movie was set, but also to the people who visited.  Where there once was a peaceful getaway location to a lesser known California wine country, now there's lots of traffic and lots more people.

Los Angeles Times food writer Ann Herold writes about her experiences in Santa Ynez to find the road less traveled, and some smaller wineries that maybe are better than the Sanford's and Fess Parker's.  All in all, she uncovers a more peaceful way to enjoy your weekend trip and Pinot Noirs in "Sideways" wine country.

Read "Unsideways: The Tour | Secrets of the Santa Ynez Valley" via LA Times

By Robert | September 21, 2005 in All Things Wine, Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

Autumn California Wine Country Bike Tours

Fall weather is the perfect time to enjoy a bike tour of California's wine country.  Offered by Backroads, a 25 year old active travel company, enjoy a six day wine country tour that runs through Napa and Sonoma Valleys, through Healdsburg and Bodega Bay.

Wine Country Bike Tour  |  via Backroads.com

By Robert | September 16, 2005 in All Things Wine, Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Winemaking and Golf Vacation Package - Perfection!

Combe two loves, golf and wine, into one weekend.  Golf professional and winemaker Kris Moe has managed to bring together a travel package that involves golfers and wine lovers in the process of both improving their golf and making wine.

The Golf and Winemaking A-Z school is a program designed for people willing to roll up their sleeves to improve their golf then get in the vineyard and do some picking and stomping of the grapes.

"It may seem like a silly analogy", says Moe, " but improving your golf game is a process much like winemaking, you work with what you got and with some blending here and there you should develop a game that is satisfying to you. As golf coaches we assist golfers on the blending of ideas or motion."

Visit Golf and Winemaking A to Z for details.

By Robert | September 12, 2005 in Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

Prepare for Your Northern California Wine Country Trip

Looking to travel to Northern California wine country?  Spending a weekend in Healdsburg, Napa Valley, & Sonoma?  Two new books help you plan your wine country trip this coming fall.  Published by Chronicle Books, check out "The Wine Lover's Guide to the Wine Country: The Best of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino" and "Sonoma: The Ultimate Winery Guide" to prepare for your trip.

via LA Daily News

By Robert | August 9, 2005 in All Things Wine, Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)
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Alain Ducasse Visits the Culinary Institute of America

For the first time in the US, Alain Ducasse offers exclusive programs at The Culinary Institute of America's Greystone campus!

"When my training center looked for an educational opportunity in the United States, it naturally appeared that the CIA was the only place sharing the same culinary quest of excellence." --Alain Ducasse

The renowned Alain Ducasse Training Center (ADF) has coupled with the CIA to host the "Alain Ducasse Contemporary Cuisine and Modern Presentation" workshop at the Culinary Institute of America's Greystone campus in St. Helena, CA.

Register for classes here:  November 9 Demonstration or the November 10 & 11 Hands On Courses

By Robert | July 20, 2005 in Cooking Schools, Education, Food & Wine Country Travel, Gourmet Food Events | Permalink | Comments (1)

Planning a Culinary Vacation?

Gourmet on Tour is a unique travel company offering culinary travel vacations, cooking courses, and wine tours all over the world.  If you're planning a food and wine vacation, definitely give them a look.

By Robert | April 6, 2005 in Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (1)

Around the World with Cooking Schools

Billed as "The Ultimate Guide to Cooking Schools", join Travel and Leisure Magazine as they give you an international tour of cooking schools.  Plus see their list of top wine courses, professional culinary schools, hotel cooking programs, and more.

By Robert | November 29, 2004 in Cooking, Education, Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (1)

Visit Saigon with "thefoodsection.com"

Our fellow food blogger, The Food Section, is visiting Saigon this week and logging in with their experiences in Vietnam in their special Movable Feast column. Filled with great pictures of their street food experiences, read all about their first hand culinary experiences in Southeast Asia.

By Robert | October 26, 2004 in Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

Heirloom Tomato Tasting at Windrose Farms, September 19

Daily Olive is planning to travel to Windrose Farm's Heirloom Tasting Fair in Paso Robles, California on September 19th. Windrose features over 60 heirloom tomato varieties, and we're looking forward to tasting more than our share. It'll also be great be a great opportunity to see their farm. Recently, we had a great heirloom tomato salad at Campanile who happens to purchase their tomatoes from Windrose.

Windrose Farms was also featured in the August issue of Food & Wine Magazine.

By Robert | September 5, 2004 in Food & Wine Country Travel, Gourmet Food Events | Permalink | Comments (2)

Maine Lobster Festival Coming Soon

The Maine Lobster Festival is fast approaching starting on August 4th through the 8th in Rockland, Maine. For more information on this classic festival in its 57th year, visit their website. Learn how the festival has now grown to cooking almost 10 tons of lobster during the festival.

By Robert | July 27, 2004 in Food, Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (3)

Gourmet Travel Vacations

A great way to travel and enjoy the culture is taking trips to a certain region and experiencing the food and wine from the area. Check out these great culinary travel packages from Luxury Link.

By Robert | July 17, 2004 in Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (1)

Walking and Eating Tours in France and Italy

Love to eat? Love to travel? Walking adventure touring company, Classic Journeys, offers great getaways with three cooking and walking tours in Italy and France. You can take in the Tuscan countryside, go wine and olive oil tasting, and learn a few cooking techniques while on the Taste of Tuscany tour. Or treat yourself getting to know the Amalfi Coast in Amalfi, Al Buon Gusto! tour visiting Positano, the Isle of Capri and Pompeii. Or, if your tastes lean more toward France, the south of France to be more exact, then Cooking in Provence is perfect for you! Spend a week in an 18th century chateau while you take walking tours, visit the weekly markets and enjoy wine tasting tours...does it get any better than this?

By Robert | November 8, 2003 in Food & Wine Country Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

14th Annual Bon Appetit Wine and Spirits Event - Los Angeles & Dallas

Bon Appetit hosts their 14th Annual Wine and Spirits Focus events in Los Angeles, on October 26, and Dallas, on November 30th. Experience the signature dishes from the top restaurants in each city, and taste over 125 wines, champagne, spirits and microbrews. Billed as "A Lifestyle Experience", these events will benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Visit the Official Focus Website for further details and ticket information.

By Robert | October 9, 2003 in Food & Wine Country Travel, Gourmet Food Events | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Biggest and Best Party in Texas

Save the Date!

March 31 to April 4

Saveur Magazine's 19th Annual Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival in Austin Texas.

This annual event takes over Austin and nearby Hill Country featuring a wine auction, wine tastings, seminars, cooking demonstrations, grilling competitions, and Sunday Food Fair. Visit with special guests from noted restaurants and wineries, including principals, chefs, winemakers and others. Headquarted at the Four Seasons Hotel on Town Lake, start making your plans now.

For more information, visit the Official Festival Website.

By Robert | October 1, 2003 in Food & Wine Country Travel, Gourmet Food Events | Permalink | Comments (0)