No trip to Napa County is complete without good wine and food. The area has an overwhelming selection of both, so how can one choose? I offer one suggestion for a great dinner of California-influenced global cuisine in a literal garden spot in the city of Napa: Celadon. My experience with Celadon came to be…
Category: Adult Beverages
Willi’s Wine Bar: Sonoma’s little secret
Considering a visit to Sonoma’s Russian River Valley wineries? Make sure to stop into Willi’s Wine Bar for pretentious food -without the pretentious ambiance or price. Willi’s Wine Bar of Santa Rosa, California, embodies every quality that makes Sonoma County an attractive wine destination. It appears more laid back and relaxed, less pretentious and showy…
Sommelier 101: Real wine lessons for real wine drinkers
Let’s face it. Wine can be intimidating. While decent wine has become more accessible of late – particularly for those of us in the New World (my European friends, consider yourselves fortunate), the world of wine is vast. That fact became even more obvious as I began studying for my Introductory Sommelier Course and Exam…
‘Somm,’ Demystified: The Court of Master Sommeliers’ Introductory Sommelier Course
Step inside the first milestone on the elite and demanding road to Master Sommelier with The CD. My heart pounded as I took the microphone. I was about to do something absolutely terrifying: I had to identify a wine from a blind tasting in front of four Master Sommeliers and over 90 fellow students. If…
Aspiring “Somm:” Studying for the Introductory Sommelier Course
A few months ago, I did something that was either a little brave or a little daft: I registered for an introductory sommelier course and exam. Three months later, I walked into a hotel ballroom, joining ninety-some well-dressed beverage professionals and took my seat. I was instantly petrified. When the lead instructor, a Master Sommelier…
An après ski happy hour at Park City’s High West
Join me for an après ski happy hour at the restaurant and saloon of Utah’s beloved distillery. It is one not to miss! Park City is one of America’s best ski towns and also home of the Sundance Film Festival each spring. With predictable influxes of visitors from around the world, investment, restaurant and retail…
The Wine Drinker’s survival guide to Vail’s Big Beers Festival
Not a huge fan of beer? Love wine? Peer pressure to go to a beer festival? I recently survived – no, actually enjoyed! – Vail, Colorado’s 16th annual Big Beers, Belgians, and Barleywines Festival. Discover beers you might not expect to like! If you follow this blog, you know I’m a wine drinker. I enjoy…
The CD Road Trips down California’s Historic El Camino Real
How does The CD road trip? Join us for our first – food filled – drive down the historic El Camino Real (U.S. Highway 101) from San Francisco to Los Angeles. I was born to road trip. At a young age, I stayed alert and curious of my surroundings on our many family road…
Freemark Abbey: Cabernet (and more!) Greatness in the heart of Napa
Stop by my favorite winery in California’s beautiful Napa Valley for some of the valley’s best wines. From reds to whites to their rare library finds, theirs are truly worth trying. If you have been following this blog, it’s no secret that my interest and appreciation for wine goes hand in hand with my love…
The Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival
Ghirardelli, a San Francisco icon, is the perfect host, and its bayside Ghirardelli Square is the perfect setting for a festival celebrating all things chocolate. Experience the gluttony and homage to all things chocolate. For 20 years, Ghirardelli Chocolate Company has hosted an annual chocolate festival outside its factory at Ghirardelli Square near Fisherman’s Wharf…
The Culinary Diplomat 