Hi Reader, After planning a lot of wine trips, a pattern started to jump out at me. The trips that felt relaxed and fun weren’t always the fanciest. They were the ones where the place we stayed actually fit the way we wanted to travel. There isn’t one best place to stay in wine country. It really comes down to how you want the trip to feel. A romantic weekend, a family trip, and a friends getaway all call for very different places to stay, even in the same region. Here’s a breakdown of the...
19 days ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Spring might be my favorite season for wine travel. The vineyards are waking up, flowers are in bloom, and many wine regions feel calmer before summer crowds roll in. It’s also one of the best times to visit places that get hot later in the year. 🥵 If you’re planning an April or May trip, these five wine destinations are especially good picks right now. 🌼 Fredericksburg, TexasSpring in Fredericksburg means bluebonnets everywhere, comfortable temps, and wine tasting before the Texas...
26 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, I often get asked, “How do you manage to travel so much?” Yes, being a wine and travel writer helps. But let’s be honest, those flights, hotels, and wine tasting fees add up fast. My not-so-secret secret? Credit card points and miles. 🤫💳 I’m not talking about saving $50 here and there. I’m talking about cutting thousands off my travel costs. And making the whole experience a lot more enjoyable. Like… ✈️ Upgraded flights. 🌟 Lounge access. 🥂 Champagne at 30,000 feet. Which is why I...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I didn’t expect Dubrovnik to live rent-free in my head after I left… but here we are. 😅 It ended up being one of my favorite stops in Croatia. For my Game of Thrones fans, you know this walled city as King’s Landing. 🐉 Walking the city walls, eating my way through all the seafood, and wandering the lamplit streets at night felt pretty magical. ✨ I kept expecting Tyrion to appear with a goblet of wine and a sarcastic comment. 🍷 Even better, Dubrovnik is only a little over an hour...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Can I tell you one thing I’ve learned from planning a lot of wine trips? It’s not about booking early. It’s about booking the right thing early. Because in wine country, it’s not always flights that disappear first. Sometimes it’s the luxury winery retreat. Sometimes it’s the appointment-only tasting. Sometimes it’s the dinner reservation everyone else is trying to snag. 😬 So before you click “purchase,” here’s how I figure out what to book first. ✈️ Let’s Talk Flights Flights are...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Confession: I forgot our first Valentine’s Day after my husband and I got married. 😅 To be fair, we both have birthdays around this time of year, and it was a milestone one for him. So, I went big on the B-day…and not so much on the V-day. 😬 Lesson learned: romance deserves its own moment on the calendar. And for me, that often looks like a wine getaway. Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day (or Galentine’s Day!), an anniversary, a honeymoon, or just looking for an excuse to...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, If you’re stuck in colder climes like me, winter can start to feel endless. I get tempted to hunker down and wait for spring, especially when a warm-weather trip isn’t in the budget. But when I make myself get out and explore, I’m reminded that winter trips have their own appeal. Like quiet main streets dusted with snow, warming up over a great meal, and drinks that somehow taste better in front of a crackling fire. 🍷🔥 That’s exactly what I found on a recent trip to New York's...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Did you know Europe’s sunniest island is also a wine destination? It’s called Hvar, and it sits off the coast of Croatia in the Adriatic Sea. It’s super easy to reach from the city of Split. Just a quick ferry ride and you can be soaking in this view. 🤩 If you’ve heard of Hvar, you might know it best for beaches, boating, and blooming lavender…but I’m here to report that the wineries are worth the trip too. The island is best known for indigenous grapes like Plavac Mali. A...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Quick story: I once planned a wine trip for late October thinking, “Perfect timing. Fall vibes…harvest energy…a little wine-fueled exploring!” 🍁🍷 Except…I got there and it was basically a ghost town. Tours weren’t running. Finding an open restaurant was a whole adventure. And all but ONE winery was closed. A few even told me they had run out of wine for the year. I’m sorry… what?? 🤯 That’s why timing matters almost as much as where you go. So, I’m breaking down what each season...
3 months ago • 2 min read