Travel

This story originally appeared in the Napa Valley Register. A recent trip took me to the Languedoc in the south of France for the Jazz Festival...

This story originally appeared in the Napa Valley Register.

In the Northern Hemisphere, harvest is well underway. In many places, the grapes have already been picked and pressed, and the juice is fermenting. As the wine is being made, what happens to the skins?

In most cases, it is used as compost and in some cases it is turned into grappa. But there are so many other uses for grapes and skins as I recently experienced during my stay at the Kinsterna Hotel and Spa in Greece.

Kinsterna Hotel & Spa

Kinsterna Hotel and Spa is located in Monemvasia in the region of Laconia in the south of the Peloponnese. The hotel, a fortified manor that dates to the 12th century, sits on a hillside covered with olive trees and vineyards.

view of the vineyards and olive trees

This story originally appeared in the Napa Valley Register. I am writing my column this week from Montepulciano, where I just finished being a judge at...

When visiting Sonoma, where does one get started wine tasting? As a region, Sonoma County encompasses more than fifty miles from Carneros in the south...

Heading up to Sonoma to go wine tasting? Well, then you need some recommendations as to where to eat. The Sonoma Square, the largest plaza in California, is home to a number of winery tasting rooms but also restaurants. When you are finished tasting wine, check out these three restaurants. Not only are these restaurants showcasing the freshest local, seasonal produce but they each also offers charming outdoor patios where you can enjoy your meal. the girl and the fig 110 West Spain Street, Sonoma, CA 95476 The girl and the fig is a quintessential wine country restaurant. This iconic restaurant, owned by Sondra Bernstein, recently celebrated its 19 year anniversary. This restaurant, with strong French influences, features creative and delicious dishes. If you are a fan of figs, try the Fig and Arugula Salad and for dessert the Chocolate Dipped Figs. And for the wine lovers, the list shows its love for Rhone wines with wines from both France and California. The Fig and Arugula Salad with toasted pecans, mano formate pancetta, laura chenel chevre, fig and port vinaigrette is a classic wine country salad and a good start to any meal. 

This post originally appeared in Wine Tourist Magazine <img src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/557b2f2ee4b080726f94407e/579c13ce29687f4dd9d12de0/579c13ce579fb37b1a26a796/1469846480794/A+View+of+the+Fumanelli+vineyard.jpg" alt="A View of the Fumanelli vineyard.jpg" /> <img src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/557b2f2ee4b080726f94407e/579c13ce29687f4dd9d12de0/579c13df579fb37b1a26a801/1469846496110/Fumanelli+Cherry+Party%286%29.jpg" alt="Fumanelli Cherry Party(6).jpg"...

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