Sonoma County is a massive geographical area with many different terrains, views, and personalities. Yes, it is the wine country and known for its lush climate where everything grows but there is much more. It is green and manicured yet rough and wild. Exploring the...
Bill and Susan Arbios have a remote Pine Mountain vineyard for Arbios Cellars they share only with wildlife and source the best fruit for their Praxis (to practice) label. Introducing Bill and Susan Arbios of Arbios Cellars Susan Arbios, a former archaeologist...
Tom and Katie Parmeson were living in Houston where much of their family is from when they began enjoying wine. Actually, Katie did while Tom stuck to beer until one day they decided to taste some very good wines. And, then they invited friends over to bring more wine...
The Balletto Family story is a true wine country farming story. Even as they segued from vegetables to grapes with Balletto Vineyards, the Balletto's continued to be farmers and were named 2010 Sonoma County Farmers of the Year. And, as you visit their stunning...
Aix-en-Provence is a lovely city disguised as a small village. It is a city of gorgeous architecture, lots of fountains, incredible history dating back to Roman times and sophisticated shops and restaurants to satisfy anyone's tastes. I spent two months exploring...
I returned to Aix-en-Provence after many years of being away and rarely thinking of the days when I was young, married and stuck in this idyllic paradise of history, culture, cuisine and water. I could not wait to get out. Home to American air-conditioning, diet soda...
It is February, the month of love. I thought about couples in the wine business. Wine is not an easy business, with long hours and pressures to make an elegant product from sometimes finicky fruit caused by unpredictable weather and sometimes unavoidable pitfalls....
In the wine business, as in many businesses, we find couples who work together, sometimes harmoniously and sometimes less so. The couples we regard with awe are those who manage to collaborate professionally, support each other’s efforts and interests, raise a family...
The charming hamlet of Carmel-by-the-Sea has everything a couple could need or want…along with a place for their pups. Carmel is a romantic dog-friendly escape on the Monterey Peninsula about 120 miles south of San Francisco on the Pacific Coast of California. It is a...
Visit the gorgeous Hahn Family Wines in the Santa Lucia Highlands near Carmel-by-the-Sea and you may get lucky enough to take an ATV up to one of the highest points overlooking the estate. Trying the spectacular single-vineyard Lucienne wines while perched above the...