Wine Road Podcast Episode 05 - Planning a Girlfriend Wine Getaway in Northern Sonoma

Wine Road Episode 05 - Help Planning Your Trip or Girlfriend Getaway - In this episode we give tips and advice on types of lodging available along the Wine Road, Spas, Wine Road Concierge service, Wine of the Day: Moshin Rose, Item of the day: Drip Teez.

Listen to Episode 5 here:



Wine Road Podcast - The Wine, When and Where of Northern Sonoma County with news on events, wineries, wines, dining options, activities, and places to stay.

Show Notes:
• Places to stay along the Wine Road - 0:36
• Girlfriend Getaway ideas/Spas -1:55
• Email from Listeners -3:30
• Wine Road Concierge Service -3:50
• Wine of the PodCast - Moshin 2015 Rose of Pinot Noir - 5:08
• Item of the Week: Drip Teez - 7:11
• Wine Road.com searchable lodging tool- 8:37

Links:
• Wine Road Website - https://www.wineroad.com
• Drip Teez - http://www.dripteez.com
• Moshin Vineyards - http://www.moshinvineyards.com

Lodging Links:
• KOA Campground Cloverdale- http://koa.com/campgrounds/cloverdale/
• Farm House Inn - http://www.farmhouseinn.com
• Madrona Manor - http://www.madronamanor.com
• Hilton Sonoma Wine Country - http://www.hiltonsonomahotel.com
• Best Western Dry Creek Inn Healdsburg - http://www.drycreekinn.com

B & B’s
• Camellia Inn - http://www.camelliainn.com
• Raford Inn - http://www.rafordinn.com

Spas
• Hotel Healdsburg - http://www.h2hotel.com/home/
• Honor Mansion - https://www.honormansion.com
• Boon (Guerneville) - http://boonhotels.com

Wine Road Podcast Episode 04 - Planning Your Visit to Wine Country

Wine Road Podcast Episode 04 - Planning Your Visit to Wine Country
In this episode we give tips and advice on planing your visit, share some wineries with special food pairings, mention some wineries with great views, and and give the wine tasting tip of the day.

Listen to episode 4 here:



Wine Road provides the Wine, When and Where of Northern Sonoma County with news on events, wineries, wines, dining options, activities, and places to stay.

Show Notes:
• What’s happening in the vineyards in July - 0:28
• Planning your trip - 1:31
• Hiring a driver - 1:40
• Appointment only wineries - 2:45
• Booking a food pairing experience - 3:11
• Pick a Valley - 4:55
• Wineries with great views - 6:07
• What to wear. What does wine country casual mean? - 7:49
• Wine Guard - 8:55
• Wine of Day // Wine of the Cast - Acorn Sangiovese - 9:40
• The wine tasting tip of the podcast/day—Step aside make room for everyone at the tasting bar. - 10:23
• Event: 40 Years of Cheers - 11:30

Links:
• Wine Road Website - https://www.wineroad.com
• Wine Guard - http://wineguard.com
• Becoming Independent - http://becomingindependent.org
• 40 Years of Cheers July - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/40-years-of-cheers-registration-26161945082

Wineries Mentioned:
• Amista - http://www.amistavineyards.com
• Viszlay - http://www.viszlayvineyards.com
• Sbragia Family Vineyards - http://www.sbragia.com
• Paradise Ridge Winery - http://prwinery.com
• Trattore Farms - http://trattorefarms.com
• Fog Crest Vineyard - http://www.fogcrestvineyard.com
• Rodney Strong Vineyards - http://www.rodneystrong.com
• Kendall-Jackson - http://www.kj.com

Možeš Možeš -- The Epic Blue Danube Wine Roadtrip in Croatia!

Back in April I embarked on an epic two-week road trip through Dalmatia in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina with Frank Dietrich, Catherine Granger and Gisele Carig of the Blue Danube Wine team. This post kicks off my blog series that will recount all the extraordinary locations, people, vineyards, wine, food and vistas and adventures from the journey.

Gisele Carig, Frank Dietrich and Catherine Granger of Blue Danube Wine

I would argue that a road trip is the best way to really experience a place. Sure you can travel by train or bus or boat, but to really get off the proverbial beaten track to truly go deep into a place and get into all sorts of adventures and tight spots (literally!) --you need to have a car. All of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had (both good and hair-raising) were with a foreign car in a foreign land.

Tight squeeze in Vrboska on Hvar

Možeš, možeš  -- You Can Do It!
But things can go wrong in a jiffy on a road trip—getting lost is a mainstay of road trips, and getting in and out of tight spaces where cars don’t belong comes with the territory. Our very first day we were blocked in parking lot by other cars until a few helpful locals simply picked up the other car allowing us room to pass.

We learned our first and most important Croatian phrase: Možeš možeš. Možeš ti to (You can do it!) Along with a few Polako, polako’s (slowly, slowly) we were on our way to the first appointment.

Making new friends in the Konzum parking lot in Trogir

Yes, having a car is more trouble. Yes, you will get lost. Yes, finding parking may be impossible. Yes, you may find yourself where no car had gone before—but the rewards are greater too.

For efficiency sake during the trip we all took on specific roles. Frank—leader and key negotiator. Catherine—navigator and relief driver. Gisele—client liaison and schedule keeper. Me? I was more than ballast, I have skills too ya know. I’m designated as the Rakija Queen and gladly step forward to take one for the team whenever the potent schnapps is presented. Trust me in Croatia it’s a very important role.

Rakija Queen at sampling the local offerings.

So fasten your seat belts, and follow along as I file reports for the Blue Danube Wine blog about the trip from Split/Torgir to Dubrovnik, Korcula, Ston, Kastela, Hvar, Skradin, plus Bosnia and Herzegovina and the places in between.

Wine Road Podcast Episode 03 - Hiking Trails and Picnic Spots in Northern Sonoma

Wine Road Podcast Episode 03-Hiking and Picnics
We discuss our favorite hiking trails and winery picnic spots, where to buy picnic supplies, a packable picnic blanket and give the wine tasting tip of the day.

Wine Road provides the Wine, When and Where of Northern Sonoma County with news on events, wineries, wines, dining options, activities, and places to stay.

Listen to Episode 3 here:



Wine Road- http://www.wineroad.com

Show Notes:
• What’s happening in the vineyards in June - 0:25
• Great hiking trails in Northern Sonoma - :21
• Parks of Sonoma County map - 5:25
• Favorite winery picnic spots - 6:20
• Places to get picnic supplies - 8:07
• Matador Pocket Blanket - 9:20
• The wine tasting tip of the day—No cologne or Perfume! 10:34
• Wine of the cast – Balletto Rose

Links Mentioned:
• Pinnacle Gulch
• Armstrong Redwoods
• Foothill Regional Park
• Taylor Mountain
• Sonoma County Park Map

Winery Picnic Spots
• Armida Winery- http://www.armida.com
• Balletto- http://ballettovineyards.com
• Cast Winery - http://www.castwines.com
• Christopher Creek - http://christophercreek.com

Picnic Supplies
• Big Johns - http://bigjohnsmarket.com
• Jimtown Store - https://www.jimtown.com
• Oakville Grocery - http://www.oakvillegrocery.com

Matador Pocket Blanket - http://matadorup.com/products/matador-pocket-blanket

Tasting Room Experience - Robert Young Estate Winery

Check out my latest story about Robert Young Estate Winery in Sonoma Discoveries July/August issue.  Click here or on image above or below for the online edition.

Wine Road Podcast - Hilarity Ensues

There comes a time in everyones life when you must accept a challenge and step up to the plate or shy away from doing something out of your “wheelhouse” of experience and go drink wine in a corner.

Well, I’m merging the two! I’m doing something way outside my proverbial (technical) wheelhouse producing and co-hosting a podcast for the Wine Road. The best part? I still get to drink wine in a corner while I figure it all out.

Wooo Hooo, for steep learning curves!

Take a listen if you dare or sign up for the RRS and don’t miss second of the ad hoc hilarity that ensues.

Visit http://wineroadpodcast.libsyn.com for all the episodes and show notes.

The Tasting Room Experience -Two Shepherds and Wind Gap Wines

Check out my cover story in the May/June issue of Sonoma Discoveries. I talk about the Seven Percent Solution tasting event that is coming up May 13th and 14th and also cover the Tasting Room Experience at Two Shepherds and Wind Gap Wines.

You can read it online here.