• Blog
  • About Me
    • Press Release
  • Back Road Wineries
    • California Wine Trail
    • Tuscany Wine Trail
    • Baja California Wine Trail
  • Wine A Bit ~ Editorial & Reviews
  • Contact Me

UNCORKED WINE TRAVELS

Musings Along The Wine Trails

Panzanello Winery Is Panzano In Chianti’s Brightest Shining Star

October 23, 2016 by Deborah Mines

11pz5jpgHaving just returned from a whirlwind trip to Tuscany and looking through my 800+ photos, undoubtedly,  Panzano In Chianti is absolutely one of the most beautiful  places in Italy.  With a population of less than 1,200 people, the charming hilltop village of Panzano lies mid-way between Siena and Florence, right in the heart of Chianti Classico wine country.

img_0718

Anthony Bourdain, Rick Steeves and other travel writers often boast about Panzano’s famous resident butcher, Dario Cecchini  (read about Dario Cecchini on my blog)  But for Sangiovese lovers, Panzano is more about the legendary Chianti Classico wines.

img_0668

A scenic winding road outside the city center of Panzano leads to Panzanello Winery. Time seems to stand still as you pass the shimmering silver-green olive groves and the fruit-laden vineyards as you slowly turn down the long driveway to Panzanello Winery.

11pz2jpg

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Tuscany Wine Trail Tagged With: cellars, Chianti, Chianti Classico, estate olive oil, Grappa, Sangiovese, Super Tuscan, Wine Tasting, Wine Tour

Jordan Winery’s Wine & Food Pairing Is Alexander Valley’s Crown Jewel

December 20, 2015 by Deborah Mines

For one of the most memorable wine tasting experiences in Sonoma Wine Country, visit Jordan Winery in the stoic Alexander Valley.  Founded in 1972, Tom and Sally Jordan had a vision to produce great “approachable” Bordeaux-style California Cabernet Sauvignon.

IMG_9261

Inspired and fashioned after a French château, the Jordan Winery is at the top of the A-list for winery tours.  No detail is too small, nor overlooked. Guests meet in the stately lobby for a guided walking tour of the grounds and production area, followed by a first-class private seated wine and food pairing in the château.

IMG_9761

“Unique amongst Healdsburg wineries, more than three-quarters of the scenic estate has been preserved as natural habitat—an oasis where craggy oak trees pepper the landscape, geese and ducks swim the lakes, and rabbits and turkeys roam the hills. The property includes 112 acres of grapevines, 18 acres of olive trees, a one-acre garden, two lakes and several grazing pastures. The diversity of ecosystems on the estate encourages beneficial insects and other predators that support our sustainable farming practices”.                   

[Read more…]

Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: Bordeaux-style, Cabernet Sauvignon, cellars, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Wine Country, wine cave, wine cellar, Wine Tasting, Wine Tour, Winter Wineland

Sonoma’s Buena Vista Winery Attracts Ghost Hunters

March 30, 2015 by Deborah Mines

IMG_8371Buena Vista Winery is considered California’s oldest premium winery and was founded in 1857 by the self-proclaimed “Count of Buena Vista”, Agoston Haraszthy.  Situated in the Los Carneros AVA (also known as Carneros AVA), the Buena Vista Winery vineyards are poised atop the hills overlooking San Pablo Bay.

IMG_8355The proximity to the cool fog and breezes from the bay makes the climate cooler and more moderate than the wine regions further north in Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, allowing for the cultivation of cooler climate varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Many of the grapes grown in Los Carneros are also used for sparkling wine production.

IMG_8365

Rarely does one think of ghost hunting when wine tasting, however, Sonoma’s Buena Vista Winery has a ghostly past and an eerie presence.  In 1862, legend has it that 20 Chinese migrant workers were busy bottling, corking and wiring Champagne magnums in the deep wine caves when a minor earthquake triggered a cave-in.  Racism attitudes at the time, left the men to be buried alive amidst cases of fine champagne.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: California Wine Trail Tagged With: cellars, Chardonnay, ghost hunters, Pinot Noir, Sparkling wine, wine cave, wine cellar, Wine Tasting, Wine Tour, Zinfandel

Villa Dievole ~ Chianti’s Most Heavenly Retreat

May 4, 2013 by Deborah Mines

l'aria...in questo luogo e magica
l’aria…in questo luogo e magica

It was love at first sight! I had found the perfect sanctuary– Villa Dievole, a wine resort!  Could there be anything more sublime?

From the minute you approach the resort, you feel that you are in a most special place in the world.   And you are…

Show me the way... to Vaglagli per favore
All signs point to Vagliagli

Villa Dievole was nestled among rolling fields of vineyards as far as the eye could see, and bordered by the Tuscan wooded hills off of one of the “white roads” near Chianti’s main wine road,  the SR222.

The long road to Vagliagli was a solitary drive, meandering six kilometers  through the woods on a secondary unpaved road.  

The "white road" to Vagliagli
The “white road” to Vagliagli

My eyes were peeled for wild boar and deer, but the only “wildlife” I encountered were a few cars madly passing me on the narrow road leaving me in a cloud of dust. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Tuscany Wine Trail Tagged With: Cabernet Sauvignon, Canaille, cellars, Chianti, Chianti Classico Riserva, Chianti wine trail, Merlot, olio d'olivo, olive oil, Peti Verdot, Sangiovese, Siena ~ Tuscany, SP222, Super Tuscan, Tuscan, wine resort, Wine Tasting, Wine Tour

Candlelight Wine Cellar Tour With Dario Castagno

April 21, 2013 by Deborah Mines

Dario Castagno ~ Reknown Author and Chianti Wine Guide
Dario Castagno ~ Reknown Author and Chianti Wine Guide

My quest to meet author and wine enthusiast Dario Castagno actually began a few months before my second trip to Tuscany.

I had read one of Dario’s books, A Day in Tuscany – More Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide, an entertaining collection of short stories about Dario’s mischievous “formative” years in Tuscany sprinkled with colorful folklore. The stories were both amusing and cleverly written with tidbits of historical facts thrown in the mix. Touted by many as a keen observer, Dario artfully embraces the anima (spirit) of the characters in each book, bringing the stories to life with wit and ease.

Besides being a great storyteller, apparently Dario was also a bit of a free spirit in his younger years! He had formed a wine tour company called the Rooster Tours, aptly named after Chianti’s Gallo Nero (Black Rooster) signature wine consortium symbol. His zany adventures toting American tourists around the Chianti countryside for more than a decade was the catalyst for several other books, Too Much Tuscan Sun – Confessions of a Chianti Tour Guide, Too Much Tuscan Wine and An Osteria in Chianti. Light, fun reads!

 

IMG_4484

From the start, I was enthralled with Dario’s stories of Tuscany and wanted to meet this man who shared my passion of writing and great love of wine! Up to this point, I really had no preconceived ideas of who Dario Castagno was or even if he was still in the wine tour business. However, It didn’t take long to find Dario! Yes, he is still in the wine tour business, very much so as a matter of fact, and has a great website showcasing his books and tours www.dariocastagno.com

Fattoria Tregole ~ Restored 16th century Agriturismo & Winery
Fattoria Tregole ~ B & B with Boutique Winery in  Tregole,  situated in the heart of Chianti

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Tuscany Wine Trail Tagged With: Black Rooster Map, cellars, Chianti, Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva, Chianti wine trail, olio d'olivo, olive oil, Rooster Tours, Sangiovese, wine resort, Wine Tasting, wine tours

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Wine Trail Search

Follow My Wine Blog

    Your Name

    Your Email

    A Little About Me

    To many, I’m simply known as a wanderlust ~ a free-spirited adventuress with a passion for travel and a lover of great wines!Read more...

    Vintage Posts

    • Jordan Winery’s Chateau Block Vineyard Tasting Is Unforgettable November 26, 2021
    • Trending Now ~ Top 3 Wineries in Temecula September 12, 2021
    • Freeman Vineyard & Winery’s Cave Tasting Is A “10” August 8, 2021
    • 2021’s Top 10 Winery Picks off Russian River Valley’s Iconic Westside Road July 5, 2021
    • Kickstart The Weekend In DRNK’s Wine Cave June 6, 2021
    • Cannabis in Wine Country? NIMBY. May 29, 2021
    • Ojai’s Spiritual Vortex (And Great Wine) Soothes The Soul April 4, 2021
    • Book Review: The Billionaire’s Vinegar January 3, 2021
    • Book Review: Sonoma Wine And The Story Of Buena Vista November 29, 2020
    • California Wineries Are Now “Waiting For The Other Shoe To Drop…” November 15, 2020
    • Russian River Valley Welcomes Visitors in Uncertain Times… September 20, 2020
    • BOOK REVIEW: A Wine Journey Along The Russian River May 30, 2020
    • US Wine Market Update: A Regional Perspective Webinar Unites Top Industry Leaders April 17, 2020
    • The Lifecycle of a Grape Vine ~ From Vine To Wine March 26, 2020
    • 2019’s “Top 10” Eclectic RRV Wineries December 29, 2019
    • Russian River Valley’s Arista Wines Earn Top Accolades From Wine Spectator September 24, 2019
    • Littorai Wines ~ A Tale of Two Coasts & Three Pinot Noir Styles September 13, 2019
    • After Much Ado, “House of Flowers” Debuts In Russian River Valley August 29, 2019
    • Best Backroads For Cycling In RRV-Healdsburg Wine Country August 16, 2019
    • Experience Cave-Aged Wines At DRNK Winery in Russian River Valley July 3, 2019
    • Best Kept Secret in Sta. Rita Hills ~ Spear Vineyards & Winery May 17, 2019
    • Spring Is An Ideal, And Uncrowded, Time To Visit Wine Country April 19, 2019
    • NEW BOOK RELEASE: Root Cause, A Novel by Steven Laine February 19, 2019
    • Discover the Hidden Wine Caves in Sonoma Wine Country December 17, 2018
    • Vin Santo Reigns In Chianti’s Medieval Hamlet of Castello di Volpaia November 16, 2018

    Uncorked Wine SD

    UncorkedWineTravels Follow

    Deb Mines is a wine enthusiast with a passion for travel! Seeking the stories behind the vines... . WSET Level 3, FWS, CSW,AWE

    UncorkedWineSD
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    16 Dec

    Christmas in Grapevine Texas ⁦@landonwinery⁩ 🍷🍷

    Reply on Twitter 1603815303867252765 Retweet on Twitter 1603815303867252765 Like on Twitter 1603815303867252765 Twitter 1603815303867252765
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    21 Nov 2021

    Master Sommelier Program Out of Time | Wine-Searcher News & Features https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2021/11/master-sommelier-program-out-of-time #GoodOldBoysClub #EnoughIsEnough

    Reply on Twitter 1462563347627343876 Retweet on Twitter 1462563347627343876 Like on Twitter 1462563347627343876 Twitter 1462563347627343876
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    3 Oct 2021

    A shout out to Ryan Kunde ⁦@DRNKwines⁩ Wildwood Vineyards 2018 Cab Sauvignon ~ perfectly integrated lusciousness🍷🍷🙌🙌#wine #SonomaStrong

    Reply on Twitter 1444458315619061760 Retweet on Twitter 1444458315619061760 Like on Twitter 1444458315619061760 1 Twitter 1444458315619061760
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    16 Sep 2021

    The @WineSpectator Scholarship Foundation is giving $10M to @NVCollege's Viticulture, Wine and Technology program. The Wine Spectator Wine Education Complex will offer affordable training for aspiring #wine industry workers young and old: https://winesp.ec/39nW5r7

    Reply on Twitter 1438493844467699721 Retweet on Twitter 1438493844467699721 Like on Twitter 1438493844467699721 Twitter 1438493844467699721
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    13 Sep 2021

    Top 3 Wineries in Temecula WIne Country
    https://uncorkedwinetravels.com/trending-now-top-3-wineries-in-temecula/
    #winelovers #wine #winetasting

    Reply on Twitter 1437212801898934278 Retweet on Twitter 1437212801898934278 Like on Twitter 1437212801898934278 Twitter 1437212801898934278
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    15 Aug 2021

    Discover Scout & Cellar's Clean-Crafted Wines - Be ready to be wowed! Interested in starting your own wine business? DM for details or visit http://www.scoutandcellar.com/UncorkedWineTravels

    Reply on Twitter 1426984234573615111 Retweet on Twitter 1426984234573615111 Like on Twitter 1426984234573615111 Twitter 1426984234573615111
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    9 Aug 2021

    Freeman Vineyard & WInery's Cave Tasting is a "10"
    https://uncorkedwinetravels.com/freeman-vineyard-winerys-cave-tasting-is-a-10/

    2

    Reply on Twitter 1424526599458754563 Retweet on Twitter 1424526599458754563 Like on Twitter 1424526599458754563 Twitter 1424526599458754563
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    14 Jul 2021

    Hot time Summer in the city 🎵🎶. Fire up the BBQ and pair grilled goodies with Scout and Cellar’s clean-crafted wines 🍷🍷DM me for info or visit my bio link. https://www.instagram.com/p/CRUti0CLHoh/?utm_medium=twitter

    Reply on Twitter 1415431411956396040 Retweet on Twitter 1415431411956396040 Like on Twitter 1415431411956396040 1 Twitter 1415431411956396040
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    2 Jul 2021

    Beautiful warm breezy day @PalumboWinery #temeculawinecountry #winetasting #July4th

    Reply on Twitter 1411062285917847552 Retweet on Twitter 1411062285917847552 Like on Twitter 1411062285917847552 1 Twitter 1411062285917847552
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    2 Jul 2021

    Breezy warm day in #temeculawinecountry @palumbowinery Where Will your travels take you this holiday weekend? @ Palumbo Family Winery https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ1p0hVrv_Q/?utm_medium=twitter

    Reply on Twitter 1411060360086425601 Retweet on Twitter 1411060360086425601 Like on Twitter 1411060360086425601 1 Twitter 1411060360086425601
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    1 Jul 2021

    Just posted a photo https://www.instagram.com/p/CQyXbPwLFdd/?utm_medium=twitter

    Reply on Twitter 1410597696662949889 Retweet on Twitter 1410597696662949889 Like on Twitter 1410597696662949889 Twitter 1410597696662949889
    uncorkedwinesd UncorkedWineTravels @uncorkedwinesd ·
    26 Jun 2021

    Getting in the groove! Studying for Spanish @winescholarguil exam https://el9nou.cat/osona-ripolles/actualitat/santi-carcasona-torna-a-donar-so-al-vi/

    Reply on Twitter 1408922699460534275 Retweet on Twitter 1408922699460534275 Like on Twitter 1408922699460534275 Twitter 1408922699460534275
    Load More...

    Uncorked Wine Travels

    Follow on Instagram

    Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in