Tag Archives: Travel

Visit Napa In Style – Jet To Wine Country

Written by Allison Levine on
Travel Lifestyle Wine

This story originally appeared in California Winery Advisor.

Head to Wine Country in Style with JetSuiteX

Who hasn’t dreamed of living a life of luxury? Have you ever pictured yourself hopping on your private plane when you want to go wine tasting for the day or weekend? Well, it may not be a private plane but check out JetSuiteX, “everyone’s private jet”.

JetSuiteX is a public charter airline but in many ways, you will feel like you are flying private. JetSuiteX is a fleet of 30-seat regional jets that offer all of the comforts of private air travel but at commercial fares. Getting to Napa or Sonoma has never been easier or more enjoyable. Doesn’t that sound good?

Let’s start with the airport. No longer do you need to get to the airport one or two hours in advance and then wait in line for security. JetSuiteX flies out of private jet terminals at small airports, such as Burbank, Concord, and Las Vegas. Seasonally, they also fly in and out of Mammoth and Bozeman in Montana. You can arrive 30 minutes before your flight and do not have to wait in long security lines, take off your shoes or unpack your bags. JetSuiteX is about convenience and comfort. Read More +

A Windmill and Wine at Chateau Moulin-à-Vent

Written by Allison Levine on
Wine

This story originally appeared in the Napa Valley Register.

The sun was setting as we drove to our dinner at Chateau Moulin-à-Vent. It was my first time to Beaujolais, and as we turned up the road to our destination, we saw, sitting on the top of the hill in front of us, the iconic Moulin-à-Vent, or windmill.

The 500-year-old structure was breathtaking as the sky turned from a light yellow to a warm orange. After a few photos, we drove 650 feet farther and arrived at Chateau Moulin-à-Vent.

Moulin-à-Vent, located in the southernmost tip of Burgundy, is one of the 10 Crus of Beaujolais. Moulin-à-Vent borders the vineyards of Chenas to the north and Fleurie to the south.

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Visiting The Best Wineries In Baja California

Written by Allison Levine on
Travel Lifestyle Food Wine

This story originally appeared in California Winery Advisor.

After having explored the wine regions of “alta” California, including Napa, Sonoma, Monterey, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Malibu and Temecula, it is time to find the best Baja California wineries for wine tasting!

Located across the U.S./Mexico border, approximately one hour south of Tijuana, the Valle de Guadalupe is the wine capital of Mexico. While 90 percent of the wine in Mexico is produced here, there are only 6,000 acres of vines and a total of 1.5 million cases of wine produced per year. Vines were first planted by monks in 1579 but by 1699, the king of Spain prohibited making wine except for the church. Winemaking started growing again in 1821 after Mexico gained its independence from Spain. Bodegas de Santo Tomás, the first of the Baja California wineries, was established in 1888 and in 1906 the Valle de Guadalupe was established by Russian immigrants who had fled the Russian Revolution. L.A. Cetto, the largest of the Baja California  wineries in the valle, was founded in 1928. But social, economic and cultural problems hindered the development of the wine culture until approximately 30 years ago. Today there are estimated 120 wineries in Baja.

Valle de Guadalupe is 12 miles north of the beach town of Ensenada. The climate is similar to that of the Central Coast. Days are warm with summer temperatures reaching 100 degrees and nights are cool. Valle de Guadalupe is influenced by the ocean and is protected by two mountain ranges, one to the north and one to the south.
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Please the Palate is a boutique firm specializing in marketing, event planning and writing for the wine and spirits industry.