Traveling the World, According to Me...

My New Appreciation for Roped Lines

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:00:11 PST

By Elaine N. Schoch

I admit, I’ve always taken roped lines for granted. You know the ones I’m talking about, the lines artificially formed with metal posts connected by thin cloth/rope that direct the masses into an orderly line to say go through airport customs or to check-in at the airport. Yeah, those annoying places where you have to be too close to everyone around you, and wait it out together. However, I have a new found appreciation for these “now beautiful” roped lines during our travels through Russia.

It began when we entered the country through the DME airport and had to wait in our first line. Customs. I’m not sure I should even call it a line. Perhaps more appropriately, the crowd to get through customs. It was then I learned I loved these lines and truly appreciate the order they bring to people who are ALL in a rush to get to the next place.

Actually, the real lesson I learned as I waited and waited and got pushed and repeatedly stepped on is that Russians are THE most renowned experts at figuring out how to get through a line faster and more aggressively than anyone in the world.

On my last trip into Russia through DME they had added roped lines. I can't tell you how happy I was to wait in line and know I would actually get through it...

A Day in Moscow, Russia: A Visit to Red Square

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:10:49 PST

By Elaine N. Schoch

We’ve made three trips to Russia since November and really have only been able to experience a little taste of what Moscow has to offer. On the list of “musts” during our short trips into the city was Red Square, The Kremlin…and shopping.

On our first visit to Moscow we stayed at the Sheraton Place Hotel. (Great hotel! Most folks speak English, a 24-hour gym and a Starbucks right across the street. More on them and other hotels in Russia in a later post.) It is about a 30-minute walk (1.5 miles) to Red Square from the hotel. Although, we did walk rather quickly since it was BITTER COLD.

Back to Red Square... It was a Sunday when we first went and church services were taking place when we arrived at Red Square. The sun had just begun to rise (10am) as we entered through Resurrection Gate, a pair of archways torn down during Stalin’s time but rebuilt in 1996. It was gorgeous. Really. The bells at Kazan Cathedral ringing, the smell of incense wafting out of the cathedral windows and the sun coming over the horizon, right behind St. Basil’s Cathedral. (Did you notice how I mentioned the windows were open in WINTER? In Russia it might be bitter cold outside, but it’s a blazing 90 degrees EVERYWHERE you go inside. There are no temperature settings, it’s simply an on and off switch. You regulate the temperature with the windows.)

I would have loved to have gone into Kazan Cathedral to simply experience it and say a few prayers but alas, there are rules. Really more of a dress code and my jeans, Marmot down coat and Anne Taylor hat weren't going to cut it. If you plan to attend a Russian Orthodox service be mindful of the dress code:

No Shorts or Short Skirts
Shirts and Blouses with sleeves
A head scarf in the church at all times for all women.
If women wear pants to church, they should be dress pants (not jeans, leggings, etc.)
Mens shirts should have collars and be buttoned to the collar (the actual collar button may be left undone, but two or three buttons undone is inappropriate).
Other things to note: Men should stand on the right side facing the Alter. Women stand on the left side facing the Alter.

On this specific day, November 6, 2011, the city was preparing for a big celebration – The October Revolution also known as the Bolshevik Revolution – the following day. We weren’t going to be able to see the celebration since we were leaving for Siberia that night but we were able to see the area decked out in ceremonial flags and decorations. Given that it was still pretty early in the day there were very few people in/around the area, which made it extremely nice since we kinda had the Square to ourselves.

We made our way into The Kremlin, visited the Memorial of the Unknown Solider and headed up the steps to look into doing a guided tour and visit Lenin’s Mausoleum. I always find you can get so much more out of a place when you do a tour with people who really know the historical background and can share that knowledge with you. You can also have a guided tour of Red Square as there are several guides outside Resurrection Gate and many of them speak excellent English. Alas, Wells Fargo is to blame for us not being able to do a tour OR any shopping that day. (I'm still bitter!)

Apparently, Wells Fargo was having a system outage that day so our debit/credit cards wouldn’t work ANYWHERE! Given the outage and the fact we tried to use our cards in Russia, our accounts/cards were essentially frozen. I can’t even express my frustration, especially since we had notified Wells Fargo a few days prior to let them know we would be traveling in the country and it any activity wouldn’t be fraudulent. (Since it was Sunday, we couldn’t find a BancoMat to exchange the cash we had brought with us.)

Regardless, we didn't have rubles to purchase tickets or do any shopping at the underground mall outside the area – Okhotny Ryad. We were able to hit Okhotny Ryad on our second trip and there are some great shops here. The Husband and I found the second floor is essentially the shoe floor. If you need boots, they've got you covered.

You can also find most of your "tourist" items in Okhotny Ryad to purchase here such as stacking dolls, Faberge eggs, etc. However, I highly suggest visiting the Izmailovo flea market right outside Red Square, before Resurrection Gate. Note, this area will be less expensive but communication may be a bit harder. Make sure to have your translations guide or apps handy.

I had wanted to visit the State Department Store, GUM (pronounced goom), located directly opposite Lennin's Mausoleum, on the eastern side of the square. This is Russia's most famous shopping mall. In the Soviet Union, the top floor was home to Section 100, a secret clothing store only open to the highest echelons of the party. The Husband wanted nothing to do with it and it was totally taken off the list since the folks we were with informed us it was one, if not the most expensive places to shop in Moscow. Drat! I even tried to use the whole history buff thing to get to go. Alas, I'll have to wait...

If you make it to GUM, let me know what you think.

Happy Travels!

Starbucks, a Russian Coffee House?

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:00:03 PST

By Elaine N. Schoch

I've often mentioned my obsession with finding the best lattes when I travel but on our recent trip(s) to Moscow, Russia I had no such interest. Normally, I would seek out a local coffee shop to try to experience more of the local scene but after traveling more than 20 hours seeing a familiar place to get my “fix” was a God-send. At least that’s how I felt driving up to the Sheraton Place in Moscow, seeing the lovely green mermaid who has become a fixture in my adult life, smiling back at me from across the street.

It was still dark at 7am when we left the hotel to visit our first Russian Starbucks. Before venturing across the street though I had to ask the front desk at the hotel how to order our drinks. I knew chi for tea (the husband’s caffeinated drink of choice) and but wasn’t sure how to order a venti, non-fat, extra hot mocha. I could only imagine myself breaking down in tears saying, “I just want a venti non-fat mocha!” The hotel’s front desk offered little help and simply told me to enjoy my coffee. Luckily the girls working at Starbucks spoke enough English to make sure we were caffeinated. It was heaven.

While Starbucks has a shop on nearly every corner in the USA, that's not the case in Russia. The company didn't enter the market until 2007 and today has 10 locations in Moscow (I think). I must admit, it was really rather interesting to see Starbucks in Russia. While it looked and felt the same inside the drinks did taste differently and the food selections were extremely different. Both in a good way. I felt like I was walking into the Bouchon Bakery instead of a Starbucks. Forget scones and pumpkin bread, the refrigerated displays were stocked with cheese Danishes, almond croissants, fruit tarts and every kind of cheesecake known to man. You name it they had it. Amazing! (The sandwiches and all the baked goods are adapted for local tastes. For instance one of the sandwiches was a mushroom-and-cheese sandwich. I kinda wish they had that one here...)

Apparently in Russia though, they don’t make venti (large) sized drinks. (At least not at the three Starbucks we visited in Moscow.) That was fine, I just had two grandes instead. Yes, two. Remember, I was dealing with jet lag AND the sun didn’t begin to rise until 10am so we had a few hours to kill there before heading out to Red Square. It was actually the perfect amount of time to practice a few vocabulary words before setting out for the day.

Side Note: During our stay in Moscow, all three trips, I came to realize Starbucks is a also a huge gathering spot for people on weekend evenings. On a Saturday night, at 9pm, the Starbucks is one of the most hopping places around. Made me think back to my high school days but back then it was TCBY or Taco Bell, not Starbucks…

All the last photo is actually from our second trip to Moscow when we visited yet another location located in the theater district off of Tverskaya Street.

Happy travels!

National Parks Free Over MLK Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 06:05:38 PST

By Elaine N. Schoch

Are you off work Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Day? Frankly, I don’t think most folks are unless they’re parents and have to take the day off since their kids are out of school. Regardless, if you have a long weekend - even if you don’t - and want to get out to enjoy the great outdoors, do it! Admission to all 397 entities in the national park system is free this weekend. Other free days this year to National Parks:

National Park Week (April 21-29)
Get Outdoors Day (June 9)
National Public Lands Day (Sept. 29)
Veterans Day weekend (Nov. 10-12)

New York City: A Trip to Italian Wine Merchants

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quintanilla) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:53:06 PST

By Valerie Quintanilla

Next stop on the Playing Italy Train: NYC.

I read Sergio Esposito’s Passion on the Vine over the New Year's holiday in 2010/11, finishing the book in two days. I was enamored with the lifestyle, the food and of course the wine. With every page, I could almost smell and taste the goblets of Quintarelli, Gaja, Sassicaia…sigh.

In true Val fashion I proceed to stalk the author (you should have seen me after reading Into Thin Air – peeps got some pageviews!). I scoured – scoured! the wine shop’s website, Italian Wine Merchants. I was (and still am) determined to join one of the numerous Italian Wine Merchants wine clubs, attend a wine tasting event (or cinque!) and ultimately just set foot in the Italian wine museum Mr. Esposito created.

I had the opportunity to do just that in November. I made the two-mile (okay, three miles – stupid GPS) trek from my hotel in Murray Hill to the little wine shop near Union Square. I entered gingerly, terrified I was out of my element; immediately I was greeted by a young woman (hat tip for attentiveness). She asked if I’d been there before and when I said no (and like a star struck little kid copped to being a fan of the owner’s NYTimes best seller - stupid stupid stupid!) she gave me a quick tour of the space, explaining the price points, regions, etc. And, she poured me a small glass of an open bottle in the main room. They feature a different wine each day that patrons can sip as they browse.

She told me every Saturday the store has a wine tasting. I guess I wasn't clear when I said about seven times “I want to attend, can I sign up with you?”. She seemed reluctant to explain how it works. Stupidly (and because I got no direction from the store worker), I assumed it was like the wine tastings I frequent back home – my fave is in the Denver Highlands neighborhood at Mondo Vino. My cousin and I show up, the lively pourer drops an ounce or two into our glasses and we snack on goods from the cheese shop next door. It makes for a fun Saturday afternoon outing.

The woman told me sometimes people need reservations, so (as previously noted) I insisted I wanted to sign my coworker and I up. I didn’t want to miss a chance to wine taste at this place I kinda idolize (this time I kept the star crazed comments to myself). Seriously, she would not just sign me up. I dunno, maybe she thought my puffy Patagonia jacket was too frumpy for her fine establishment. Perhaps Burberry would have been appropriate? If only I had my Marc Jacobs purse to show her I could hang (fine, I got it at Off Saks, but it's still real!). But, I digress.

So, I walked around a bit, sipped the wine and left.

I was told the wine tasting was between 1 and 3 p.m. Please, for a moment go back to where my head was - an open wine tasting between 1 to 3 p.m. Imagine my surprise (and disappointment) when I returned the next day at 2 p.m. to be greeted by the same brunette who tells me I am an hour late to the party. First, I reminded her that I’d been there the day before and had said I wanted to do the wine tasting. She told me I could, but it’s $65/ea and it’s halfway done. So, ‘twas my call. Sad day. Naturally, my colleague and I declined due to the cost and only having an hour to play.

I’m still bummed about it. When is the next time I’ll be back in NYC? I wish she would’ve just explained to me how the Saturday wine events work. PS - I probably woulda walked out with a case if I’d have attended the wine tasting.

Luckily, a nice gentleman (I am pretty sure he worked there, or he was just super friendly, I don’t judge) approached us and walked us through the store, spending copious time on the regions, the producers, the price points, etc. He even hooked us up with a second pour of the day’s tasting. I was quite relieved because I hated to walk away unhappy with a place I’d so looked forward to visiting. He told us a few interesting tidbits:

Italian Wine Merchants has 160,000 wines cellared - oh, to get trapped in there!
The 2009 Rosso di Montalcinos are drinking quite well now

We pandered around and I talked myself out of the Barolo I wanted to buy. What can I say? When I feel jilted the Amex doesn't see as much action. I am still not on good terms with Plumpjack after being treated poorly in the tasting room about four years ago. Unlike my situation at Italian Wine Merchants, the Plumpjack experience had NO redeeming qualities. I plan to write a post soon on tasting room fees and will certainly devote some prose to that misadventure.

Let this be the takeaway: Italian Wine Merchants does a weekly Saturday wine tasting event. Of course, I have now found a great page on their website that explains the whole thing. So, shame on me for missing that. I am usually so prepared! I believe prices can vary, but frequently they are around $65/ea. You can reserve your spot in advance, drinking and gnoshing on meats and cheeses from 1 to 3 p.m. There is a vintage Barolo Tasting on January 14th. Darn - I'll be running a half marathon in Charleston and can't make the trip.

Now that I know, I’ll make sure to do it right the next time. Sign up in advance! And, disappointment aside, I still long to sign up for The Big Wines Club – en route to Sergio’s Cellar Club.

What are your favorite wine shops -- and why? Let me know so I can check them out on my travels! Leave a comment or talk to me on Twitter @valeriekq!

Alec Baldwin and American Airlines, the saga continues

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 08:47:46 PST

By Elaine N. Schoch

So just how serious do you take the warnings about turning off your cell phone and other electrical devices are when you're flying? Apparently, Alec Baldwin doesn’t think they're serious... Last week he was kicked off an American Airlines flight for not turning off his cell phone. This isn’t the first time his anger/outbursts have made headlines or skits on Saturday Night Live, but this weekend’s "Weekend Update" skit with host Seth Meyers is so worth sharing. Makes for a good laugh to start the work week. Happy Travels!

AMERICAN AIRLINES REPONDS: Full text of AA's Facebook response

Gifts for the Traveler

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quintanilla) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:56:26 PST

By Valerie Quintanilla

Confession: I haven’t done a lick of Christmas shopping yet (yes, I know it’s t-minus 14 days til jolly Ole’ Saint Nick arrives).

As I continue to procrastinate on my gift giving duties I created a list of ideal gifts for travelers.

For the Frequent Flyer:

Ticket and Receipt Holder: I mentioned to a biz travel pal that I was working on this post and she raved about the (hot pink) receipt/ticket holder her husband gave her for Christmas last year. "I haven't lost a receipt this year!" she said. I need one of those. I'm still rueing the $30 I had to eat in NYC last month because the receipt went rogue. Price (at Target): $15

Power Mat Battery Charger: This bad boy is wireless and works with hundreds of devices. Charge up to three at a time. Sign me up! Price: $69.99

Dual-Voltage Power Strip: There's not much worse than scavenging airport gates for an open outlet (what sends me into a real tizzy is when I find one and it doesn't work. Grrr.) or checking into a hotel room that doesn't realize that today's world requires travel with 752 rechargeable devices. It features three outlets and even a USB plug-in (Garmin 405 users, rejoice!). Price: $29.50

Wet bags: Oh man, when my cousin's wife whipped one out at the pool this summer

I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. They were invented for diapers, but the possibilities are endless. Bags come in numerous sizes, shapes and colors/patterns. They are cloth on the outside and waterproof material on the inside. Even betta? They don't get smelly! I bought a large and small one for my trip to Italy this year. Both have since been to Dallas, San Francisco, New York City and they are Chicago-bound this weekend. I also use them for my stinky workout clothes after my lunchtime runs. Other manufacturers make 'em, Planet Wise just has my fave patterns. Price: varies depending on size, $12.99 to 21.99

Noise Canceling Headsets: When the little kid in 25C starts screeching everyone grits their teeth. For the frequent flyer, it’s just another day in the life. There are a myriad of options and price points out there for noise canceling headsets. Of course, Bose is known for being the best of the best, but Skullcandy also makes some noise canceling ear buds. Price: varies $69.99 to $299.95

Digital Scale: Keep tabs on how much weight your luggage is gaining -- not you! Unless you’re a frequent flyer, you most likely have weight restrictions for baggage. I know from experience that some of the low cost European airlines are extremely rigid about weight limits. My five euro bottles of wine from Bordeaux ended up costing about $20 after I paid overage fees on an EasyJet flight back to London. (Definitely worth it.) Price: varies starting at $18

Hotel Sheets: Anyone who knows me or reads my blog posts is probably aware of my loyalty to Hilton. But, in November I stayed at Kimpton's 70 Park Ave Hotel in New York C ity. All I can say is the Kimpton sheets are heavenly. Make the splurge for that favorite traveler in your life. They will appreciate the 300-thread count 100% Egyptian cotton that lulls them to sleep. Sigh. Price: varies by size

For the Wine Traveler:

BUILT Wine Tote: Whether it’s transatlantic

or domestic travel, I swear by the two-bottle wine tote that was gifted to me years ago. Two bottles fit securely in the colorful neoprene holder. It also insulates, so it’s great for keeping whites chilled for short distances, but it also doubles as padding for the long flight home (in checked bags, natch; TSA isn’t scared to chuck that $60 of Silver Oak). Price: $17.99

Label Remover: I feel like I'm having a Jack Handy moment when I am trying to find that faboosh bottle of wine I had on vacation. Well, it was a cab, from Napa, really oaky -- you know what I'm talking about, right? Labeloff makes it easy to remember that bottle by bringing the label home with you -- also creating a pretty cool souvenir. A small sheet of paper magically peels off the label, making it easy for you to order your new favorite vintage in no time! Price: 10 pack, $8.95 (they even have a wine label album to keep a collection!)

Passion on the Vine: Easily the most amazing travel and wine book I’ve ever read. It’s like you’re really zipping through Italy with Sergio and his family. It makes you want to jaunt through Italy, eating and drinking all the way. Also available on eReaders.

Price: $14.95

Aluminum Travel Safe: Bring home your wine finds in style with this 12-bottle holder. It’s

FAA approved AND temperature controlled. One day, I’ll make the splurge...Price: $499

For the Traveler Who Has It All:

It's devastating to watch news footage of your favorite travel destination ravaged by natural disasters. I remember my first experience with this after my 1999 study abroad program. We

spent nearly two weeks traveling through Turkey. About a week after returning State-side the horrific 1999 Turkey earthquake hit. I was haunted by the lack of concern by those close to me. But, of course they had no idea what I'd seen there, the beautiful land, the friendly, giving people who were affected and could not afford medical supplies that we so often take for granted.

Save Vernazza: I was again jolted from my comfortable life in October

when I learned of the floods that ravaged the magical Cinque Terre. Donate or make a purchase that goes toward restoration. Gift giving options include photos, CDs, books and more. Many of my friends and family are getting pictures of Cinque Terre from a vendor who is giving 100% of the proceeds go to the Save Vernazza fund.

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Relief Efforts: Help the ravaged area of Japan recover. Huffington Post provides an extensive list of Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Relief funds.

Tell us about your favorite travel toys! Leave a comment or talk to me on Twitter @valeriekq!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all some good wine!

United / Continental Merger’s New Frequent Flyer Policy

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quintanilla) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 10:58:03 PST

By Valerie Quintanilla

I changed jobs in April of this year. On the tail of Q1 I was already half way to maintaining my Premier status with United.

What does this mean (listed in my order of importance):

Economy Plus Seating: Believe you me, that extra two fists of space makes Econ Plus coveted seating. Have you tried opening your laptop in the back of the plane? Puh-lease.
Priority Boarding: My carry-on (to-date) always resides in a nearby overhead bin. That’s about 10 to 30 minutes of my life I get to keep – NOT waiting (im)patiently at the baggage carousel. Seriously, what do they do at DIA from the time the plane hitches to the gate to the 30+ minutes it takes before my luggage dumps onto the belt? Sheesh.
Airport Security Priority Lanes: I (usually) cruise through airport security in the lane labeled, “Premium Passengers”. Way to make a gal feel special! PSST, PSA to you other frequent fliers: You don't have wait for the one TSA agent in front of that line. The line won't get so long if you'd go to the guy next door.
Checked Bags: I get two comp’d checked bags – generally only important to me when I am traveling for more than a week, and said travel includes wine adventures (don’t kid yourself, I find wine worthy purchases most everywhere; it’s not a drinking problem, it’s a spending one). I also get a tag that says, “Priority” on my rarely checked bags; I have no delusions here – I know this is just for looks, but everyone needs a placebo once in a while.

Had I stayed with the former employer, I believe I would have finally checked Premier Exec off my bucket list. All you 1kers can have the red carpet. No thanks. Flying 30 to 40k annually floats my boat a' plenty. The beauty of Premium Exec means more upgrades (at least that's what I fancy the most about it), better promos and more bonus miles. Not gonna lie, I rarely want to deplane when I ride shot gun. But, alas, the new gig landed me fewer security screenings. Come September I whipped out my eight-key to size up the 2012 status sitch. For the love – 200 miles short! No way was I going to lose Economy Plus seating or priority boarding over 200 flimsy miles. So, I did what any sane rewards addict would do – I booked a trip to San Francisco.

I am a big believer in the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. United has not always held up their end of the bargain with too numerous to count flight delays (grumble, grumble, O’Hare), but I cherish my extra leg room. So, I decided not to bail on the Star Alliance. Shortly after I booked the SFO jaunt the updated 2012 Frequent Flyer policy came out, announcing the changes as a result of the UA/Continental Merger.

So, here’s the deal, kiddos: Mileage Plus now has four tiers – a jump from its former three-tiered model. I get it. You have to account for the variances between the Continental and United programs. I can hang with that. But, why oh why do I lose my beloved access to Economy Plus seating at purchase? And, that doesn't account for the fact that you’re now letting credit card holders board in advance of 1ks. Is the sky falling? Oh no, that’s just the value of MileagePlus status. Hmph.

Click here for a complete breakdown of the ratified 2012 Mileage Plus Policy. And, take a quick peek at the 2011 Mileage Plus Policy if you're curious about the other changes I have omitted.

Here's a breakdown of how the tiers play out:

Premier 1K: 100,000 Premier qualifying miles (PQM) or 120 Premier qualifying segments (PQS)
Premier Platinum: 75,000 PQM or 90 PQS
Premier Gold: 50,000 PQM or 60 PQS
Premier Silver: 25,000 PQM or 30 PQS

Sampling of policy changes:

Changes in bonus award miles
Changes in seating allowance: now us lowly 25k to 49,999k travelers can’t access Economy Plus till the day of the flight.
Changes in luggage allowance: riddle me this: why do the other three tiers get three bags free, up to 70lbs, while the newly minted “Premier Silver” only gets one comp’d bag, up to 50lbs? Can you dock Premier Gold a bag to hook up the little people at Silver? C’mon, how many biz travelers really check one bag, let alone three?

Well, that’s my review of the new 2012 Mileage Plus Policy. I know, it heavily focuses on the Premier-turned-Premier-Silver tier, but it’s what I know. And, I didn’t have time to educate myself on the loses for the other tiers. I do have a colleague who carries equal frustration about his loss of bonus points, while a 1k friend burns up when he sees card holders board before him.

So, inspect the 2011 policy and compare it to the 2012. Please share your likes/dislikes about the updates. Leave a comment or talk to me on Twitter @valeriekq!

Go Colorado! We're Officially Number One.

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:41:50 PST

By Elaine N. Schoch

As a wanna-be Colorado native I already knew Colorado was home to the world’s best places to ski and stay but readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine have made it official. Colorado has been named home to 2011’s top ski resort and ski hotel in North America.

Beaver Creek resort earned top honors on a list of the top 20 ski resorts, and The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain ranked number one on the list of top 50 ski hotels. The entire list, which includes other Colorado resorts and ski hotels, is printed in the December issue of Conde Nast Traveler magazine. Below is a quick run down though.

Skiing, Aspen, Colo.

How many of the Top 20 Ski Resorts have you skied? Me, I've done half. I better get a move on it if I want to try to hit all on this list before the end of the season...

Top 20 Ski Resorts

Beaver Creek, Colo. 91.6
Whistler Blackcomb, B.C. 91.5
Tulluride, Colo. 91.3
Deer Valley, Utah 90.3
Jackson Hole, Wyo. 89.9
Vail, Colo. 89.9
Sun Valley, Idaho 89.3
Aspen, Colo. 88.5
Crested Butte 87.3
Stowe, Vt. 86.7
Steamboat, Colo. 85.8
Park City, Utah 84.8
Mont Tremblant, Quebec 83.8
Snowmass, Colo. 83.4
Squaw Valley, Calif. 83.0
Aspen Highlands, Colo. 81.3
Whiteface Mountain, N.Y. 80.1
Sun Peaks, B.C. 79.6
Breckenridge, Colo. 78.8
Marmot Basin, Alberta 78.8

Top 10 Ski Hotels (see the magazine for the full list of the top 50 ski hotels)

Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon, Colo.96.1
Hotel Terra, Jackson Hole, Wyo. 95.2
Amangani, Jackson Hole, Wyo. 93.5
Stowe Mountain Lodge, Stowe, Vt. 93.0
New Sheridan Hotel, Telluride, Colo. 92.9
Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Calif. 92.9
Whiteface Lodge, Lake Placid, N.Y. 92.9
Arrabelle at Vail Square, Vail, Colo. 92.4
Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre, Whistler, B.C. 91.6
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise, Alberta 91.1

Risotto Cooking Class: Playing Italy in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quintanilla) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:00:19 PST

By Valerie Quintanilla

My recent Italian travel companion, Lisa from Canada, introduced me to a whole new Italy -- one that starts and ends with cooking. Don’t misunderstand, I heart Italian food, but I always thought it was too difficult for little old me to make it with any semblance of decency. Then, I sat down in Sorrento in front of a plate of pasta mixed with mussels – made by Lisa and I under the direction of Valerio and Andrea at the Villa Adriano Guest House – and I was hooked.

Italian cooking – in Italy – is something else.

Upon return from September's jaunt I promised myself I'd continue my Italian wine and food adventures. It meant getting creative with limited vacation time (stupid Americanos!) and funds; I knew I’d have to play Italy domestically. Luckily I knew exactly where to start!

In January 2011 I happened upon a gem of a restaurant in Denver’s Uptown neighborhood, Il Posto. It has since become one of my favorite eateries. I’ve enjoyed many an evening or afternoon trying the three-course tasting menu, enjoying regional-focused wine pairing dinners as well as happy hours and dinners. Sigh. What can I say? I’m obsessed with Italy!

Chef (and owner) Andrea Frizzi is a native of Milano, so he has created an Italian haven in little Denver. His menu changes nightly to reflect the freshest food he’s able to procure. Seems like even the wine list changes nearly weekly and it's all italian wines, natch (a place after my own heart)! Think about it: it’s some hard work to not only cook each night, but to place that many varied food orders and create endless menus. I, for one, am committed to patronizing his establishment to show my gratitude!

Chef Frizzi hosts a Denver cooking class the second Saturday of each month featuring a different main dish. You can also get a private cooking class. As an avid risotto lover I was pleased to have opted-in for that class. He maxes the classes out at 10 people. That morning nine showed up. Bundled in our North Face and Patagonia best, huddle around a table we were served espresso or tea. It was a cold, soggy day in Denver, Colo. I know, because I squish-squashed through 10 miles in advance of the class.

We were explained how the class would work: we would get cooking demos and tastings of six different types of risotto, then we’d pile into the tiny kitchen, four at a time, to make our own risotto. Oh, and there was to be a contest. The reward was not money or fabulous prizes, but bragging rights for the class's best risotto. Being a hair competitive my excitement started to build. Time to focus.

The first risotto on the menu was traditional Risotto Milanese. It’s a simple, luscious dish of saffron and parmigiano.

The basics: olive oil, rice, minced shallots, a teeny tiny splash of dry white wine, veggie stock, parmigiano, salt, more olive oil, whip with two heaping spoonfuls of parmigiano, three grinds of white pepper, a pinch of saffron and count one one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand as you pour and stir in the olive oil.

Important Notes:

Risotto cooks on the stove for 18 minutes.
Most recipes call for minced onions, but Chef Frizzi will not hear of that. All shallots, all the time.
Most recipes call for chicken stock, but he says for the right flavor profile you need veggie stock, keep it warm on the stove, and he recommends making it yourself (ha, yeah, I can really see myself making veggie stock when I can buy it just as easily; maybe one day!).
When the rice has been cooked for its 18 minutes, remove from the stove to finish.
Never use black pepper with saffron as the they fight with each other

Yum.

Next we (when I say "we", I mean Chef Frizzi cooked and we ate) did a simple fruit risotto with pears and walnuts; the only difference was black pepper in lieu of white (since it didn’t include the saffron) and it was topped with pecorino cheese. Another amazing one was the risotto with squid ink and prawns. Because it’s a seafood dish it does not get cheese.

We continued with Chef Frizzi demoing and the class sampling – it was a mutually beneficial relationship, in my humble opinion. We did this six times. I love his teaching style. Going through so many different versions gave us the opportunity to see what could be done with risotto, but most importantly gave us a firm grasp of the fundamentals of cooking risotto before we took to the stove.

Being in the kitchen was stressful. Watch the food, stir, move for people walking by, add more veggie stock when you can start to see the rice again – so much going on! As I was finishing my risotto I tossed in a pinch extra salt and was generous on my olive oil pours. I learned a few things in my cooking classes in the land of dolce vita: put in more salt than you think is necessary and it’s hard to overuse olive oil. It amazes me how terrified western women seem of olive oil. I noticed it both in Italy and during the Il Posto class. Ladies, it's okay! It's good for you!

When the time came for some taste testing I tried to pretend I didn’t care. You know, I had to be graceful loser if I didn’t win (I've long said I'm a much worse winner than I am loser). But, I was pretty amped when Chef Frizzi pointed to my dish as #1! One of my cooking mates asked what made mine different. “She has enough salt,” he said. Nice! Thank you, Katia from Il Vicario in San Gimignano for the amazing Tuscany cooking lesson that taught me this!

Upcoming Il Posto Cooking Classes

December 2011: Risotto
January 2012: Gnocchi

Click here to sign up.

I’ve since made risotto at home, the pear and walnut. I’m pleased to say it was a success!

Risotto Basic

Rice: aged 1 year – available at Marczyck’s Fine Foods; we were recommended the brand Carnaroli.
Pans: use aluminum, stainless steel, copper - not ceramic! And, make sure it's deep!
Use a wooden spoon.
Do not mix black pepper and saffron unless you want a war.
Do not use cheese with seafood risotto (I swear, it's still good!).
Ignore the recipe when it says onions, use shallots.
Use veggie stock because chicken stock overpowers the dish -- out of respect for Chef Frizzi, I will tell you to also make your own veggie stock. But, full disclaimer: it will likely happen very rarely for me.
Never finish risotto on the stove. Always remove to stir in the finishing touches (cheese, olive oil and salt).
Make the risotto flat on the plate by hitting ("spanking" as Chef Frizzi calls it!) it from the bottom.
Eat risotto from the outside in (I can't remember why!).

Buon Appetito!

Got good cooking class suggestions for me? Leave a comment or talk to me on Twitter @valeriekq!

The EU bans X-RAY body scanners citing health concerns

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 07:58:34 PST

By Elaine N. Schoch

Earlier this week the European Union banned X-RAY body scanners due to its doubts about the safety of these machines. The press release stated:

“In order not to risk jeopardising citizens' health and safety, only security scanners which do not use X-ray technology are added to the list of authorised methods for passenger screening at EU airports. All other technologies, such as that used for mobiles phones and others, can be used provided that they comply with EU security standards.”

According to a ProPublica/PBS NewsHour investigation detailed earlier this month, "X-ray body scanners use ionizing radiation, a form of energy that has been shown to damage DNA and cause cancer." Although the amount of radiation is low, a ProPublica post noted that several research studies have found a small number of cancer cases would result from scanning hundreds of millions of passengers a year.

So why then has the Transportation Security Administration decided that the X-RAY scanners are suitable for American travelers to use? And why will more be added? TSA currently uses about 250 X-RAY scanners (and a similar number of millimeter-wave scanners that have not been linked to cancer) in airports around the country. Within the next three years, TSA plans to increase the number of both machines to about 1,800, according to ProPublica reporter Michael Grabell. Exactly how many of those will be X-RAYscanners has not been released.

TSA has not commented on the EU's decision, but in a statement, TSA spokesman Mike McCarthy said,

“As one of our many layers of security, TSA deploys the most advanced technology available to provide the best opportunity to detect dangerous items, such as explosives. We rigorously test our technology to ensure it meets our high detection and safety standards before it is placed in airports. Since January 2010, advanced imaging technology has detected more than 300 dangerous or illegal items on passengers in U.S. airports nationwide.”

What do you think? Should X-RAY body scanners be banned here in the States too? Have you had to use one yet? Are you concerned about the health implications?

Cinque Terre Relief Efforts

noreply@blogger.com (Valerie Quintanilla) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:42:43 PST

By Valerie Quintanilla

On Tuesday, October 25 the enchanting towns of Monterosso al Mare and Vernazza in Itay’s Cinque Terre were devastated by floods. News reports say unusually heavy flooding ravaged the region of Liguria causing flooding and landslides.

Reports indicate nine people have lost their lives and still others remain missing. Please note: the other Cinque Terre villages, Corniglia, Manarolo, and Riomaggiore, remain largely unaffected.

If you’ve ever been to the Cinque Terre, as I had the incredible opportunity to do in September 2010, you know place is pure magic. If you have not yet been, but hoped to experience it, don’t give up hope. They will rebuild. The towns will be unburied and restored. The hiking trail will re-open. But, we must help make this happen.

I have found two primary relief efforts that are underway. If you know of other funds, please post a comment so we can update the relief efforts resource:

Save Vernazza: a non-profit organization run by a group of ex-pat Americans in Italy, www.SaveVernazza.com. The site offers updates on how to help. You can also FRIEND of SUBSCRIBE to Save Vernazza on Facebook for regular updates. I found most of this information on Rick Steve's Cinque Terre Relief news coverage.

Italian Red Cross: Italy's Red Cross Cinque Terre Relief efforts support the entire region of the Liguria.

Some videos of the devastation:

Upper Vernazza parking lot, where cars are washed away (59 secs)

Vernazza Harbor flooding (44 seconds)

Monterosso flooding (17 seconds)

Slide show of when the rain began, till evacuation the next morning (8 minutes)

Villages all but wiped out as storms batter Italy's 'Cinque Terre'

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 15:43:39 PST

By Elaine N. Schoch

NEWS UPDATE!!

According to The Telegraph, the walking trails and picturesque fishing villages, Vernazza and Monterosso in Cinque Terre were severely affected as rivers of mud poured down from the hills behind them. In fact, the mayor of Monterosso said the fishing village had all but been wiped out. "Monterosso no longer exists," Angelo Betta told an Italian news agency.

Tis a very sad day...

Travel Photo of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:00:20 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

Sunset dinner at Auberg du Soleil. Happy Friday!

Napa Valley: Charles Krug Winery - 150 years in the making

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:42:31 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

The last of my Mondavi visits this trip to the Napa Valley was to Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena. There are still more Mondavi family wineries to visit next time though…

I had not realized how excited I was to visit Charles Krug Winery until we were driving down the long, olive tree lined driveway to the tasting room. This winery is the first and oldest winery in the Napa Valley, the Mondavi family purchased it in 1943. In fact, this past September marks the 150th anniversary for the winery. It's history is colorful and really helped shape the Napa Valley, hence my excitement.

With 850 acres under the family ownership in the Napa Valley, the Peter Mondavi family is one of the largest and oldest family owned vineyard landholders in the area. The winery produces Charles Krug - Peter Mondavi Family label and the more mass produced CK Mondavi.

When we first entered the tasting room / gift shop we were greeted by an older gentleman who gave us a bit of background about the winery, all of which we already knew. Although, the one key point he mentioned that excited me was that were were standing in the exact spot Peter Mondavi Sr. (the owner of Charles Krug) and his brother Robert Mondavi had the fight that changed the course for the Mondavi family. Robert left and began the Robert Mondavi Winery while Peter took over the family winery, Charles Krug Winery. It was exciting for me…

For the tasting you can choose from two flights - the Normal (some whites and reds) and their Reserve (all reds). We chose to stick with the reserves and were pleased with the choice. Their reserve wines are produced in smaller quantities so you can't purchase them everywhere, thus they were new to me. My favorite, the 2006 Charles Krug - Peter Mondavi Family Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. It has won several awards as of late. No wonder, it's amazing! There were only 16,000 cases made... The 2006 Limited Release Red Wine - Voltz Vineyard came in a near second. This vintage draws on the third year of harvest since the family began replanting efforts 1999. (The winery has invested millions of dollars into their vineyards recently, including replanting.)

Peter Mondavi Sr. who is 96 years old still lives in the family house on the property. He still works at the winery (daily) but his two sons, Marc and Peter, Jr., are guiding the family business these days.

I had really wanted to see the family house before we left, mainly because of all the stories I had read, which took place at the house. It's not open to the public but our driver tried to sneak around the property to give us our own little private tour. But alas, we were unable to make our way by car. I was disappointed but can you imagine getting caught by a member of the family. Not cool...

If you're visiting the Napa Vally in August or September, check out Krug's 'Tastings on the Lawn', two popular social gatherings of wine lovers held annually since 1951.

Napa Valley: Newton Winery

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 15:46:07 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

Our second day in the Napa Valley began with a tour at Newton Winery. I had not realized just how far up Spring Mountain Newton was when I booked the 11am tour, thus we were late. However, of the six couples who were also in the group, we were the second to arrive, thus we were early. Apparently everyone made the same mistake. Frankly, it’s not that the road was so long, it’s that the road is COVERED in potholes so we had to drive very slowly as to avoid bottoming out. We knew we were close when we passed an old, large Red English looking telephone booth.

Tours are held Tuesday’s through Sunday’s at 11am, only. Book early. You cannot just do a tasting. Parking is very tight.

The late Peter Newton who was originally from England, which explains the telephone booth, developed Newton. We learned he also loved to design elegant, formal English gardens. The main garden actually sits on top of the barrel room. I had to admire the trees that lined the path to the garden as we walked up the hill to go into the caves as they were originally centerpieces at Mr. Newton’s daughter wedding. I had to laugh since my mother still has the centerpieces that were used at my wedding AND my sisters sitting in boxes in the attic. I was pleased to see someone putting a thing like centerpieces to good use.

Newton sits atop Spring Mountain. To be exact it's 500 to 1,600 feet above sea level. That doesn't mean a lot to a Colorado girl since we're a Mile High but, for the vine it means they have to struggle to survive. The result, grapes that are rich and abundant in flavor, but smaller yields. This explains why Newton only produces smaller quantities.

We were able to spend some time in the formal garden, which was nice since you have some great views of the valley. We then headed into the caves to learn more about Newton’s unfiltered wine process. Newton is a bit different that other wineries since it practices an unfiltered wine making technique, which includes natural fermentation and bottling without filtration. One of the main take aways for me personally was really being able to learn/experience the difference between French and American Oak. Newton uses both and we were able to see both right next to each other. Touch them, compare and smell the difference. French oak is much softer, both touch and smell.

After we left the caves we went back into the tasting room where the group was seated at a large table, facing one another.This was nice as you could then get to chat with the other people on the tour. Our guide nicely paired the wine with small tappas that helped enhance the flavor of the wines. While we tasted a variety of wines my favorites where the cab's, of course. Although I was really impressed with all of them and really enjoyed The Puzzle.

2007 Unfiltered Chardonnay (decant for an hour to bring out the toffee in the wine, it tasted a bit like peanut brittle, without the brittle.)
Unfiltered Merlot 2006
Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon (can age for 10 years or 20 years in a magnum. Right now the wine is very flora but will smooth out over time. It's honestly amazing.)
The Puzzle 2007 (50% Cab, 8% petit Bordeaux, 3% cab franc, 33% merlot;decant for two hours)

One thing I haven't mentioned in this series of Napa Valley posts is that The Husband and I were on a quest to purchase wine that could age for 20 years; one that we could give to our daughter to celebrate her 21st birthday. Ok, one that we could open to celebrate her 21st birthday with her. (It would need to be a magnum since they tend to age longer than single bottles.) We found the perfect wine at Newton - its 2008 Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon. Instead of trying to pack a magnum in the suit case, we chose to ship it. Mistake.

Newton sent it to us in the heat of the summer and the bottle got heat exposure and the wine leaked out of the cork and wrapped foil. It wouldn't be a big deal if it hadn't happened THREE TIMES. They replaced the bottle the first time and second time. I asked them to not ship the replacement until the weather was cooler since we have no desire to ruin wine. That's simply a crime. Fingers crossed it arrives safe and sound in the next few weeks.

Travel Photo of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 06:00:10 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

Earlier this week I blogged about some of the art at the Robert Mondavi Winery. These were two of my favorite pieces I saw when we were there earlier this summer. They are of Robert Mondavi and his wife Margrit Biever Mondavi - done before the crush several years ago.

Napa Valley: Regusci

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 06:09:00 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

On our first day in Napa we spent a few hours relaxing poolside at Hotel Yountville. We met another couple in for the weekend that suggested we checkout the Regusci Winery. The following day when we asked our driver for recommendations on where to grab a good bottle and picnic for lunch she also suggested Regusci. I don’t believe in coincidence. Everything happens for a reason. We were headed to Regusci.

I have to be honest, I had not planned to participate in the tastings. Frankly, The Husband was just supposed purchase a bottle or two for the group. The next thing I know, he’s at the tasting bar with five bottles in front of him and two employees discussing the wine. Really? I had to join.

In a nutshell, Regusci was our find for the trip. Its estate wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot won my heart. One thing I found interesting is they strictly use American Oak, however, it does not overpower the wine. Very smooth, well-balanced wine with concentrated flavors. Regusci’s total production is about 5000 cases.

The Regusci winery has a fun tale. It’s been a family owned winery since 1932 and until 1998 only sold its grapes to other area wineries. But in 1998 the family crushed their first vintage of Stags Leap District wines. Regusci Winery opened its doors in June of 1998 showcasing its estate wines - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay. Regusci Winery is open, by appointment only, for tours and tastings.

Note we did not have an appointment since he had simply planned to purchase a bottle and sit outside to picnic. We lucked out since it was a Friday they were pretty slow. We did stay to picnic at Regusci and by this time we all needed food. There is only a hand full of picnic tables here so make sure you a blanket in the car to sit on in case they’re taken. The winery sits at the edge of the Palisade hills just above the valley floor. The views are amazing as you lookout over groves of olives trees.

Cheers!

Napa Valley: Robert Mondavi Winery

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:39:45 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

To feed my obsession with the Mondavi family, we headed across the street (from Opus One) to the Robert Mondavi Winery. I promised the group it was the last Mondavi stop for the day, although I quietly informed my husband it wasn’t “our” last stop during the trip to the Napa Valley. There is still Robert Mondavi's two son's wineries as well as his brother, Peter Mondavi who owns Charles Krug.

There are several different types of wine tours you can take at the Robert Mondavi Winery and there is no appointment necessary for a general wine tasting. Meaning, you can get in and out of there with a quick tasting if you just want to check things out. The gardens around the winery are amazing so if you're limited on time do a quick tasting then do your own little tour around the grounds.

If you’re new to wine, I highly suggest checking out the Mondavi wine education classes. Even if you’re not new to wine, these are good classes since they offer a 45-minute basic course/tasting, a two-hour beyond basics program and a two-hour way beyond basics course to choose from. All are by appointment only and they are limited in size so book early. (Don't call the week of thinking you'll be able to book something that weekend. You need to shoot for a few weeks out and you'll have better luck booking things on a weekday when the winery isn't as busy.)

Having already done a general tour/tasting on my last trip to the Robert Mondavi Winery I had arranged for our group of four to do the Exclusive Cellar Tasting (this tour is limited to 10 people). I simply couldn’t resist the opportunity to taste a variety of limited production, reserve and older vintage wines in a private, setting where I could ask so much more about the wine and the winery.

As the marketing machine Mondavi is known for, we were escorted to a small garden area outside the gift shop to wait for our guide. Brilliant. I was soon outfitted with a new fleece and everyone in the group had made a purchase as well.

We were soon greeted by our Wine Educator, Janie, who started us off with a brief tour of the inner workings of the winery. We visited the massive fermentation room filled with huge French wood tanks lined up on both sides of the room. (Mondavi had been influential pushing the use of French oak in the Napa Valley.) A production video was shown at this point. It was pretty short and sweet but it prepared us for the next step in the tour. We walked down into the massive barrel aging room; totally a sight worth seeing. It’s truly a work of art with the barrels, the statues and the overall ambiance. In all honesty, the Robert Mondavi Winery is somewhat of an art gallery. Everywhere you turn there are massive statues and brilliant paintings. In addition to its permanent art collection throughout the winery, they also rotate artwork from different local and emerging artists every two months.

Back to the tour... Off to the side of the barrel aging room there is a private tasting room where we spent the next two hours. (The tour is only supposed to last an hour. I think the four of us chatted Janie’s ear off.)

Janie had laid out a fabulous spread of artisanal cheese and charcuterie to pair with the wines when we began the tasting. During this time we experienced so many different wines. I think I was in love with each and every one of them and I’m not typically a big fan of whites or pinot noir. My pallet was forever changed as I found new respect for Sauvignon Blanc. To name a few of the reserve wines we had:

Fume Blanc 2009 (only 1,000 cases were made; most wine-os already know this but Robert Mondavi created the term Fume Blanc in 1966 to distinguish his dry Sauvignon Blanc from the sweeter-styled Sauvignon Blanc wines made at the time.)
Chardonnay 2007 (It was like drinking crème brulee…)
Pinot 2009
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1998
Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006
Muscat 2001

I’ll spare you my rendition of the Robert Mondavi Winery history as this short clip provides a good overview.

One thing I wish we had planned around for this trip was the events the Robert Mondavi Winery has, specifically its summer concerts. If you’re planning a trip to the Napa Valley definitely check out their event schedule as they always have something going on. Things sell out quickly since the space is limited.

Next stop, Regusci. Cheers!

Napa Valley: Opus One

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:06:44 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

I'm mildly obsessed with Robert Mondavi and his family’s story in the Napa Valley. The Mondavi family really helped shape what the Napa Valley wine industry is today by introducing higher quality wine making equipment and techniques to the area. They also put the Napa Valley on the wine map for the rest of the wine world through strategic marketing programs. (If you haven’t read House of Mondavi and Robert Mondavi’s autobiography I highly suggest it. Both books do an excellent job in laying out how the Mondavi family helped shape what Napa Valley is today.)

With that said, the vineyards I really wanted to visit this trip were all tied to the Mondavi family. However, given that the first day we were tasting with some of The Husbands colleagues I couldn’t force my obsession on them, at least not all day.

First stop – Opus One
Robert Mondavi started this vineyard with Baron Philippe de Rothschild of France (who at the time was owner of Château Mouton Rothschild winery). The two wanted to combine wine making traditions from their families.

Their first vintage was released in 1979.

Opus One truly sells "ultra premium" wines (and they act like it). Unlike many wineries in the Napa Valley, Opus One only focuses on a single wine each year. Although, they also produce Overture, which as our guide told us is made up of the grapes that “didn’t make the cut” for Opus One.

Opus One is located directly across the street from the Robert Mondavi Winery, it’s “sister winery”. You must make a reservation at Opus One, even for a tasting, which is all we did. You will not be able to do a tasting without a reservation.

In the tasting you get two wines; we tried vintage 2006 and vintage 2007. Tasting fees - $35 per vintage- are higher than most and this is mainly due to them only producing one vintage a year. While the fees are higher, you are poured more than the traditional one-ounce tasting pour. Both the 2006 and 2007 vintages were made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Vendot and a touch of Malbec grapes. I preferred the 2007 vintage, which was a great year for wines throughout the Napa Valley. We were not able to taste the Overture (no one can, for sale only) but did purchase a few bottles and it’s amazing. You can only purchase Overture at the winery; you cannot but it online.

When Robert Mondavi sold his winery in Dec. 2004 to Constellation Brands, Inc., he also sold his shares of Opus One. The winery is still run by Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s family; Constellation Brands acts more of a silent partner. Something to note, the people who work at Opus One all seem to be French and very proud of their wine and pass this “pride” off as snootiness. Ok, just plane rudeness. It was hard to really appreciate the beauty of the wine with the woman working the tasting being so “nice”. So we took glasses of wine upstairs to the deck to enjoy the views and try to regain appreciation for the wine without our “lovely” French guide.

Opus One is open every day between 10 am and 4 pm with the exception of New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

A Morning in Yountville

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 14:31:16 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

Our first full day in Napa Valley began with fabulous run through downtown Yountville. It was early so no one was out. The only two places that seemed open were the Yountville Coffee Caboose and Bouchon Bakery, which filled the air with sweet smells of pastries and bacon. Turns out Bouchon Bakery makes a heavenly bacon scone. Although, waiting in line for their treats may not be worth it. We were the second people in line when the doors opened and it took nearly 30 minutes to get out of there. Their efficiency is severally lacking. (Yountville Coffee Cabouse makes great lattes! I actually enjoyed my latte from them better than Bouchon Bakery, not sure if it really tasted better or if the three-minute wait vs. 30 minute wait made it taste better.)

The best part of the morning though was walking through the French Laundry’s gardens. I’m not sure if we were supposed to do this but they were gorgeous. The herb gardens were something of a dream to me given that I can’t grow basil to save my life... We weren’t able to visit the French Laundry this trip given that it was a last minute to-do. You MUST book reservations months in advance.

The Husband thought I was ridiculous for stopping at the Visitor Center to admire the "rock garden". But seriously, how fun is this! They have carved out a part of the garden and placed little statues of rock mushrooms. (They're on my list of must haves for the garden at home next Spring.)

We had planned to meet up with some friends for breakfast at The Hopper Creek restaurant - Hotel Yountville’s restaurant – prior to heading out for tastings. Wine Spectator had recently written it up noting how wonderful its upscale take on the farmstead breakfast, such as eggs Benedict with crisp Kurobuta pork belly was. They were right. Awesome! Its no wonder though. The Hopper Creek restaurant specializes in breakfast, in fact that’s all they offer (open 7:30am-noon). Its chef, Adam Clark, who previously worked at Barndiva, Aqua and Calistoga Ranch, and did an externship at The French Laundry has really created a menu that makes breakfast the most important meal of the day. At least it was for us.

As we were wrapping up our breakfast I received a frantic voice message from our driver. Note, this is the same driving service I used the last trip – Private Limousine Service. Apparently, the car we were scheduled to have had a problem so they needed to change the type of car we were to have for the day. (I thought they were going to bail on me. I quickly felt my heart pound, palms sweat, essentially I began to freak out since we were with people The Husband worked with and I was "in charge" of the day.) I was told that instead of getting a SUV we were going to have stretch limo. They thought I might be upset. Really?!?! Deep breath. I played it cool. There was no need to let them know I jumping up and down in my head. I felt like a rock star.

A a good run, a top-notch breakfast, good company and now an awesome ride. We’re off to drink wine in style!

Back to Napa!

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:57:12 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

I stepped off the airplane in late July (I know, it’s taken a while to post these) and was greeted with the cool San Francisco temperatures. Ok, it was down right cold! It didn’t warm up very much when we arrived in Yountville an hour later.

I had been hesitant to plan much for our first day in Napa since The Husband had alluded to the fact he may have to stay in the city for another meeting. I was prepared, however, with a few spas to call for last minute massages. The Husband was able to duck our early so our schedule was open, completely free from any plans until 9am the following morning. Oh, what to do!

We arrived in Yountville, starving. A friend had suggested trying Redd and since I was unable to secure dinner reservations there we set out to try it for lunch. When traveling I like to sit at the bar a lot to talk to the bartender and get their ideas for places to go/see/do. There is nothing like a locals recommendation. And that’s just what we did. His recommendations were exquisite, especially around the food and wine pairings at Redd. Take the steamed pork buns that melt in your mouth, pared with a 2009 Lewis Chardonnay, followed by a prosciutto pizza, with fontina, arugula and shaved parmesan. Amazing!

The bartender confirmed our idea for how best to spend the remainder of the day. Try one winery then hit the pool as the weather had begun to warm up. So many vineyards to choose from and so little time. The dilemma. We ventured out to try something new; a recommendation from one of The Husband’s colleagues in San Francisco. Trefethen.

Wow is all I can really say about Trefethen. Ok, that’s not true but that’s the first thing that comes to mind. We pulled into an amazing, pristine garden, filled with wild flowers and fountains. Entering Trefethen we were greeted by an older man, who reminded me of cowboy; one straight out of a John Wayne movie. We paid our tasting fees - $10 for The Estate Tasting and $25 for The Winemakers Reserve Tasting. We shared one of each to maximize the number of wines we could taste. (We skipped the tour and went straight to the tasting room.)

Phillipe, a happy Frenchman who somehow wound up working in the Napa Valley wine region was our guide to the Trefethen wines. And what a good, insightful and rather hilarious guide he was.

The Estate Tasting at Trefethen allows you to try four wines. Note, if the “guide” likes you and you engage with them about the wines you may be able to taste more of the wines you’re allotted with your tasting fee. It also helps if you make a purchase.

2010 Dry Riesling: This is an easy afternoon or breakfast wine. It’s very fresh and light wine but a bit to acidic for me. After a few sips I had what most Rieslings do to me – a little bite in the back of my jaw.
2010 S.I.N. – Summer in Napa Rose: Ah, my new summer love. Seriously. I’m not typically a fan of Rose but this wine was amazing. Made from 100 percent pinot grapes this wine is fruity, crisp and earthy. A must for red wine drinkers on a hot summer day, or a great wine for someone trying to get into red wines. (For me, this is the new Thanksgiving holiday wine...)
My favorites in the Estate Tasting (besides S.I.N) were the 2007 Merlot and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon mainly because I love wines I can taste the vanilla in. These two are winners with the vanilla aromas and well-balanced finish. The Cab is a bit oaky and still pretty young. It should be aged for three to five years and then it will be very soft and smooth. Although, it is ready to drink now just make sure to decant it for an hour.
The Winemakers Reserve Tasting was awesome. The wines were big, smooth and just plain delicious. I think the 2008 Dragon’s Tooth and 2007 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon were my favorites. Luxury in a glass… Decant the Cab for at least 30 minutes. This wine (the Cab) can also be aged for 10-15 years.

One thing I wish we had been able to do at Trefethen was Twilight at Trefethen. It’s a “twilight tour” that begins after the winery closes to the public. The evening begins with a reception including cheese and charcuterie. Then, a tour of the historic 19th-century winery, where you partake in barrel tastings in the cellar then enjoy a tasting of some small lot trials and wines from past vintages. It’s only on Friday’s at 6pm, we had already made other plans. Maybe next time.

Now off to the pool at Hotel Yountville. Ah…

Random Travel Moments

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 06:06:00 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

Window seat, check. Magazine, check. Headphones and a good playlist, check, check and check. I was prepared. I was ready to soak in the quite – aka traveling alone, without child – on my flight to San Francisco, en-route to Napa Valley. I thought I even lucked out since the seat next to me was still empty and we were nearly finished boarding. And then he sat down…

I’ve always heard of people meeting on the plane, chatting and really hitting it off. But that’s never happened to me. Perhaps its because I typically travel with a child and other adults run when they see us coming. Or perhaps when it’s just me I have a plan for the plane and it doesn’t include talking to anyone but the flight attendant. Even that conversation is short, “Yes, water please. Thanks.” Which is why I look back on this flight with awe. It was one of those nice, random travel moments that I hope becomes a pattern.

The gentleman who sat down next to me nearly missed the flight, which allowed for a nice little conversation starter. That led to another interesting topic and so on. Turns out he was headed to San Francisco for work then to head up a philanthropic event benefiting the MS Foundation. As he was telling me about it, I couldn’t stop myself from “pitching” a previous client to him that could really help his fundraising efforts. Turns out he was already connected to them! (The client is Giveo, it’s a the first hosted platform for branded cause-marketing campaigns.) I love those small world moments…

The next thing we knew the pilot was telling us we were preparing for our decent into San Francisco.

This trip started with a good reminder to stop and take in the people around you when you travel, even when you’re en-route. Learn about them because you never know how those conversations might be able to help you and vice versa. Everything happens for a reason. With that said, if you can, please make a contribution to the MS Foundation. It’s a good cause.

What is your best, or most memorable random travel moment?

Happy Travels!

The Most Ridiculous SkyMall Products Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 12:00:31 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

I admit it, I enjoy flipping through the SkyMall magazine when I fly. I have yet to make a purchase though but I do find it entertaining to see all the products. When I came across The Most Ridiculous SkyMall Products Ever it was a must share. Huffington Post compiled this hilarious list; it must have been hard to narrow it down to just 20! Welcome back to the work week and I hope this makes you smile. Get the list at the Huffington Post.

Have you ever purchased from SkyMall? Good buy or buyers remorse?

Happy Travels!

Perks of Traveling with Status

noreply@blogger.com (Elaine Schoch) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:20:12 PDT

By Elaine N. Schoch

There are a lot of perks when it comes to traveling with status; bypassing long security lines, boarding early, upgrades, the list continues... I'm almost to priority status with United so I don't always get to enjoy these luxuries, but when I travel with my husband I do. It's been awhile though since I've checked bags so I was surprised to learn my bags also get priority status (at least on United). Love it!

Question for you guys, do you or have you paid to upgrade your airline tickets to priority status level? Why? As a person who already has status, do you care? Why?