Tag: Country

Texas Hill Country and Wine

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When one thinks of wine, maybe their first thoughts are of Northern California,  the Napa Valley region, or parts of Italy and France – but few realize how many wineries are in Texas.

 

In Central Texas, there are close to 3,200 acres of vineyards. Grapes produced here are numerous and include: Blanc du Bois, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Grenache, Lenoir, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Muscadine, Muscat Canelli, Mustang, Noble, Norton, Orange Muscat, Palomino, Petit Verdot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Primitivo, Riesling, Roussanne, Ruby Cabernet, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Musque, Scuppernong, Semillon, Syrah, Touriga Nacional, Viognier, Zinfandel.

 

The highest numbers of plantings in the state are for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes followed by Chenin blanc and Sauvignon blanc.

 

Believe it or not, Texas has a long history of wine production. Portions of the state have the perfect climate – that of being sunny and dry, which many compare to regions in Portugal.

 

The first wines in Texas were thought to be produced by Spanish missionaries in the 1650s. These Franciscan priests initially planted vines in West Texas near El Paso. The wine was used for sacramental purposes.

 

With Prohibition, much of the Texas wine industry was ruined. Families and companies stopped growing grapes and making commercial wine. Even today, 254 Texas counties have dry laws.

 

Despite setbacks, Texas became fruitful again. Today, the state is divided into three main wine growing regions due to the areas vast diversity in microclimates. There is the North-Central Region, the Eastern Region, and the South-Eastern Region. The North-Central region includes the northern third of the state from New Mexico across the Texas Panhandle toward Dallas. The South-Eastern Region includes the area around Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Last is the Trans-Pecos Region.

 

Grape harvesting in Texas usually occurs toward the end of July, which is two months earlier than in California and about three months earlier than France.

 

With all of these grapes there are of course the wineries. In Texas there are a reported 160 wineries. The largest winery is operated by the University of Texas with 1,000 acres, which was established in 1987. The second largest winery is the Llano Estacado Winery.

 

There are many ways to tour Texas Wine Country. There are tour companies which include luxury mini-buses to limo service. You can also take your own car and enjoy the beautiful drive.

 

If you want to sample the wine without visiting the winery, there are numerous restaurants in Texas who pride themselves on selling wine produced in Texas.

 

As for those in the Texas Hill country, there are many wineries to be visited along with beautiful tasting rooms. Some of the more popular include Becker Vineyards, located between Fredericksburg and Stonewall and Grape Creek Vineyard. Additional vineyards include:  Alamosa Wine Cellars, Bending Branch, Chisholm Trail, Comfort Cellars Winery, Driftwood Estate, Dry Comal Creek Vineyards, Duchman Family Winery, Fall Creek Vineyards, Flat Creek Estate, Fredericksburg Winery  McReynolds Winery, Pedernales Cellars, Perissos Vineyards, Pillar Bluff Vineyards, Rancho Ponte Vineyard, Singing Water Vineyards, Sister Creek Vineyards, Solaro Estate, Spicewood, Stone House Vineyard, Texas Hills Vineyard, Texas Legato Winery, Torre di Pietra, William Chris Vineyards, Woodrose

 

As you can see there are a number of wineries and vineyards to visit just in the Central Texas region.  When visiting, take your time, enjoy the drive and the grounds and most importantly, enjoy the wide variety of tastes you will experience.

Sonoma County Wine Country

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France has historically been the top of the heap when it comes to wine production. Northern California has certainly given France a run for its money in the last 40 plus years. The Sonoma County wine region is one area that doesn’t get as much attention as it should, but it has a ton to offer.

Sonoma County is located above San Francisco and sits close to Napa Valley. Although located above San Francisco, the best way to access the area is through the Oakland airport. Regardless, an hour or two later in a rental car will deliver you to an absolutely beautiful set of valleys that are lined with wineries. This means vineyard after vineyard, a site to behold for both the eyes and palette.

Sonoma County is roughly a square in size with 50 miles per side. There are 260 wineries in the County. Over the roughly one million acres in the county, sixty thousand of them are planted with vines. There are 13 different American Viticulture Areas [AVA] in the county. Of these, Chardonnay is the dominant choice with over 15,000 acres planted. Cabernet Sauvignon comes in a somewhat distant second with over 10,000 acres planted. Overall, Sonoma Country produces between five and seven percent of the total wine tonnage in California every year.

On a personal front, I can tell you Sonoma County has much to offer in both the quality of wine produced and the general culture of the area. Napa Valley is the undisputed media darling of Northern California, but this also makes it a hectic place when it comes to tastings and such. Sonoma County is the opposite. Unlike Napa, you can head over to a quality winery like Stag’s Leap and talk personally with the vintner [makes the wine] and viticulturist [grows the grapes]. It is a quaint and friendly experience that reminds you of years past when California was a hidden secret when it came to wine production. For better or worse, those days are long gone.

Sonoma County is often overshadowed by Napa. If you are considering a trip to the area, try Sonoma County for a relaxed, education experience in fine wines at fine wineries.

New York Wine Country

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The Yankees (not my personal team to root for) are in the 2010 baseball post season again. They are representing a city of nearly 8.5 million people, about 27,900 humans per square mile.  Contrast New York City’s population with that of Los Angles (nearing 4.0 million) or Chicago (nearing 3.0 million).  Ironically, New York State’s population is ranked only third most among U.S. states.  Still the state would seem to be nothing but a “sea of people”.  New York State actually consists of a lot of rolling countryside dissected by many river valleys with elevations ranging from sea-level to Mt. Marcy at 5,344 feet. This countryside, I came to find out, has several areas where vineyards and wineries flourish.

New York State has six areas that currently define its wine country.  The areas are 1) Lake Erie-Chautauqua, 2) Niagara Escarpment, 3) Finger Lakes, 4) Hudson River Valley-Catskills, 5) New York City and 6) Long Island-North Folk-Hamptons. Another area that previously has not been considered a part of the state’s wine country is Central New York-Lake Ontario, an area experiencing recent wine industry growth. The three most important areas Lake Erie-Chautauqua, Finger Lakes and Long Island-North Fork-Hamptons have over 95 percent of the vineyard acres, over 75 percent of the bonded wineries and over 95 percent of the tons of grapes produced in the entire state.  In an article by Debra J. Goon, she discusses New York’s grape and wine industry as contributing $ 3.76 billion to the state’s economy.  New York ranks third behind California and Washington in grape production by volume.

The grape growing seasons in the state range from about 180 days in the northern areas (Finger Lakes and Upper Hudson River Valley) to 230 days near the Long Island area.  Annual precipitation across the state averages 30 to 50 inches per year.  Wines produced include Sparkling Wines, Seyval, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Ice Wines, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewurztraminer, and Merlot. Many American hybrid grapes such as Catawba, Delaware, Elvira, Ives and Isabella are also grown.  Important French hybrid grapes grown, noted to make great wines, are Cayuga, Vidal and Vignoles.  Concord grapes are grown primarily for use in juices.

The state has several notable wine trails that would make excellent tour destinations. Trails can be found near the cities of Fredonia, Niagara, Penn Yan, Fayette, Watkins Glen, Marlboro, Clinton Corners, Williamson, Alexandria Bay and Riverhead. Visiting a winery could easily be coupled with visiting other state attractions like Niagara Falls, Sterling Renaissance Festival, Erie Canal, Everson Museum, Allegany State Park, Catskill Park or even the Long Island Beaches. Often a side-trip taking you away from your primary destination focus is a welcome relief; at least it has been that way for me.  I bet you might even find a wine that you can add to your list of favorites.

Take the time to check out New York’s wine industry.  As I always say, buy the wine you like, store wine properly in a wine refrigerator, serve it at the proper temperature and enjoy it immensely.

See Wine and Beverage Storage Solutions:  http://idealwinecoolers.com/

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Napa Valley Wine Country And Wine Growing Region

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Napa Valley is truly an unbelievable Mediterranean oasis in the middle of Northern California’s gorgeous rolling hills. Nestled inside of what many refer to as the “wine country,” Napa is world-renowned for the incredible grapes and wine it produces. Visitors to the town will be astounded by both the incredible beauty of the area as well as the amazing amount that wine has infiltrated the culture here. It seems that everywhere you turn there is either an entrance to a majestic vineyard, rolling hills of vines, a quaint wine shop, or a sophisticated restaurant offering an extensive menu of fine wines for you to enjoy. A getaway to Napa will truly let you escape from your hectic everyday life, letting you live, if only for a moment, the Edenic, blissful life of Napa Valley.
Located in the heart of the region known as “Wine Country,” Napa contains more than 350 wineries for your enjoyment, most of which ship wine internationally and have gained international fame for their taste and overall quality. More than 3 million visitors per year visit this astounding region, wishing to catch a glimpse of the natural abundance for which the Napa Valley is famed. The reason Napa is so adept at growing grapes is the dry, warm Mediterranean climate afforded to it by its location in a protected valley of Northern California. The soil is very rich and arid, and this fertility combined with the magnificently temperate weather and moderate yet consistent waterfall means an almost ideal location – similar to that of the famed grape-growing regions of France and the rest of southern Europe – for vineyard cultivation. The Napa Valley is already well on its way to becoming an international wine powerhouse, but the discovery of its fertile soil is by no means a new development.
In the middle of the 19th century, pioneer George Yount moved to the Napa Valley and planted the very first crop of wine grapes ever in the region. During his lifetime, the wine industry did not take off, but after he gave his business to his son-in-law, Yount’s original intention finally came to fruition. Grape-growing soon flourished in the fertile Napa Valley, attracting many more affluent growers from around the country and world who were seeking out the Next Big Thing in American agriculture. Charles Krug began Napa Valley’s first actual winery, distilling and creating the first signature wines of the Napa Valley and in the process transforming the valley from what was just an agricultural area into the prosperous distilling and bottling region we know and love today. Interestingly, you can still visit the historic Krug family winery today, bottling many kinds of fine wines such as Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinor Noir, and Merlot. At the turn of the 20th century, Napa had begun its rise to becoming the formidable and prosperous viticulture region to which visitors now flock from all over the world.
One of the best ways to take advantage of this wine-growing region is to take tours of the seemingly endless number of wineries located in Napa Valley. Surrounded by the majestic, rolling hills that will likely resemble the gorgeous slopes of Tuscany to any who have visited there, these tours will be a great way to get a taste (literally!) of the natural wonders of the Napa Valley as well as get a hands-on look at how some of your favorite wines are created. Usually, these tours take you on a guided tour around their various crops of grapes, then give you a behind-the-scenes look at how their winery operates, from the crushing of the grapes to a glimpse at the carefully-maintained barrels that infuse the grapes with the winery’s signature flavor. These tours can be a great way to get a behind-the-scenes look at how your favorite wines are crafted – and many times they offer free wine tasting as part of the package!
Napa Valley is truly one of the most exquisite regions of California. Covered in glorious vine-lined hills and dotted with quaint little towns that truly make you feel like king or queen for the weekend, taking a trip to this luxurious northern California valley will surely be a highlight of your year.
About Golden Horizon Travel: Golden Horizon Travel offers a different brand of service. A variety of qualities that make our touring experience unique and memorable. Our services are professional, designed to make each tour a personal experience. Top of the line vehicles, for groups of various sizes, ensure that the tour is comfortable.

Great Tips Culinary Landscape Wine Country Throughout the year Exploring the City from Glaciers to

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Buenos Aires Cheap Flights and the Wine Roads of Argentina

Its natural beauty, history and culture make Argentina a country worth exploring, more than these, it is especially worth visiting because of its wines. The fifth leading producer of wine in the world, Argentina has eight grape-growing regions producing some of the most prestigious Malbec and Torrontes. Most of the wine production is found in the far western area of Argentina to the Andes foothills. Some of the best wine tours take you through the finest wine cellars in the province of Mendoza. Make time for Mendoza’s casinos, discos, theaters, museums, cinemas, wine bars, pubs, festivals, international cuisine and regional specialties. Two-thirds of the country’s yearly production comes from Mendoza, while the rest are produced in San Juan and La Rioja regions to the north. Catamarca, Jujuy and Salta are home to some of the world’s highest planted vineyards. Pinot noir and Chardonnay are produced in Patagonia’s southern region, covering the Río Negro and Neuquén provinces. Look for “Wine Roads” tours that include these provinces in the itinerary or time your Buenos Aires cheap flights with the National Vintage Festival, held every year on the first Saturday of March to experience the unique flavors or Argentinean wines.

Getting Around the City and Buenos Aires Cheap Flights

Buenos Aires is Argentina’s largest city. Often called “The Pearl” of South America, it showcases the intense cultural life of Argentina, dominated by tango, long coffee klatches and football. You’ll be pleased to know that there are many modes of transport available. These taxis serve the city streets 24 hours a day and you can either flag them on the streets or call for a pick up. You can either flag them on the streets or call for a pick up, the base rate is set at $ 4. 60. Flag-down rates are set at $ 4. 60, every 200 meters, 0. 46 cents is added to the base fare. These buses or colectivos have a minimum fare of $ 0. 80. Buenos Aires also has Remises or private car services with flat rates and per trip, safe and cheaper alternatives to taxis as they will always take the fastest route. Buenos Aires’ subway system is highly reliable and takes you through the city center to its outskirts. Four train terminals (Retiro, Constitución, Once and Federico Lacroze) connect the Capital Federal with the suburbs and the rest of the country. If you want to stop by Uruguay, there’s a ferry system connecting the port of Buenos Aires with the main cities of this nearby country. The city can also be discovered at your own pace aboard a bicycle, with bicycle rental operators offering tours to the Southern and Northern Circuits, as well as tours for literature, history, culture, history and ecology.

Buenos Aires Neighborhoods and Buenos Aires Cheap Flights

There are 48 barrios or neighborhoods in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Several of these have gained fame by being the home of important cultural and heritage sites, being finance centers, serving as the hot spot for the arts, or by just having wealthy residents. Make time for these neighborhoods as they are homes to important cultural and heritage sites, finance centers, and arts hot spots. Palermo, a trendy residential neighborhood with restaurants, bars and boutiques; Microcentro, home to main historical spots; San Telmo, with its colonial-style houses, cobblestone lanes, and underground nightlife; Boedo, a main Tango and historical spot that offers a variety of cafes, Tango houses, libraries, and theaters; Retiro, home of Buenos Aires’s main train station and some of the most luxurious restaurants and shopping centers. If you’re looking for a quiet stroll, head out to Belgrano. This is a peaceful neighborhood that features small shops, restaurants, architectural relics and open spaces perfect for just taking in the sights and sounds of the city.

Buenos Aires Pub Crawls and Buenos Aires Cheap Flights

Pub crawls are a great way to tour a city that you’re visiting. These involve a group of people travelling around a particular city district by foot, they visit most famous or notable pubs, bars, and watering holes while sampling the best each establishment has to offer. Fast becoming popular around the world, pub crawls present travelers an opportunity to learn about a place through local drinks and spirits. So, if you’re ever headed to Argentina, this is a good way to learn more about the country and its people, while having fun while doing it. Go on pub crawls with Buenos Aires cheap flights and get to know more about the “Paris of South America” as you meet city locals while you experience its world-famous nightlife. For approximately 20 USD, you’ll get to join fellow travelers from around the world and sample the best of Buenos Aires by night. Some pub crawl packages include free pizza, complimentary shooters at each bar you visit, drink discounts, an open bar (during registration), and free admission to a club. Take a pub crawl on your birthday and you get the tour for free.

cheap flights are widely available from April to August. Get your cheap tickets and have your fill of some of the best golfing destinations in South America. Catch some