Food and Dom Perignon Pairings on Oceania Cruises (VIDEO)
Oceania Cruises made headlines just last week with the announcement of two new additions to their already stellar fleet. While usually that’s enough of an announcement for one month, the people over at Oceania decided that January was going to be epic. As a leading culinary- and destination-focuse
Princess Cruises Debuts New Wine List
One of the most important factors people consider when booking their cruise vacation is the food and drink offerings on board the ship. From a main dining room with rave reviews to speciality restaurants with a wine list as diverse as the passengers, cruisers want options in order to take their crui
Grape Destinations: The Wines of Nova Scotia
This year my husband and I had the pleasure of traveling to the Northern Atlantic coast to visit the Canadian maritime province of Nova Scotia. One thing I was pleasantly surprised to discover was how Nova Scotia is a well-hidden wine country! Even though wine from this wind-swept area o
The Best Part of an All-Inclusive Cruise? Free Drinks
The modern cruiser expects a lot from their cruise line. The accommodations have to be superb, the food excellent and the entertainment…well, entertaining. Another thing cruisers expect from their ships is a great value. The rise in “all-inclusive” cruises means passengers aren’t reachin
Grape Destinations: What is Port Wine?
Port, when used in the context of a cruise ship, usually refers to the left side of the vessel. However, when in the dining room of that very same cruise ship, port becomes something very different. In the Douro region of Northern Portugal, you’ll find thick bunches of touriga and tinta grapes cas
9 Delicious Ways To Launch A Cruise From Florida This Fall
Fall is for foodies in Florida. The whole state is like a big table set with bountiful feasts to tempt every palate this time of year: everything from food and wine fests to Oktoberfest celebrations to seafood festivals. Here are nine festivals to consider pre- or post-cruise if you would like to la
Grape Destinations: A Wine Glass Tutorial
The best (or maybe worst) part about living in our modern age is the sheer number of choices we have. For wine drinkers, not only are there numerous varieties of wine, but hundreds of labels which make them. A trip to the wine store can be an almost overwhelming experience because of how many differ
Grape Destinations: Have You Heard of Anderson Valley?
Napa Valley is easily the most famous wine-making region in California and probably the United States as a whole. The region’s fame and considerable fortune in the winemaking industry are renowned, but it’s not the only place in California where grapes are pressed into Decanter Awards. Just 100
Grape Destinations: What Does a Wine Decanter Do?
It’s probably hidden in a box somewhere in the attic or basement collecting dust with all your other wedding gifts, but a wine decanter is one of the best ways to get the most out of any bottle of vino. A decanter may seem unnecessary, but if you truly want to appreciate the subtleties of [&hellip
Expedition Cruise Eats
People always ask me, “What is the food like on a seventeen day expeditionary cruise?”. Well, to be honest no one has actually asked me that, yet, but I want to offer my answer and head off eventuality. I would argue that it’s relatively easy to come up with a rotating roster of creative cui
Grape Destinations: Wine and Your Health
An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but so too can a glass of Argentinian Pinot Noir, bold and fruity to the nose and complex on the tongue. Wine and your health may not seem like two things which go together, but there are plenty of benefits to enjoying a glass of the right […]
Grape Destinations: A Snootful of Art and Wine
Dreaming….. How often do thoughts of childhood wash over us? How often have these thoughts transported us to a time when everything was a lot easier and laid back ? Fun times, uncomplicated lives, not a care in the world, no gizmos to peer into, great outdoors most of the time, good simple foo
Grape Destinations: Getting Lost in Florence
Bubbles come in handy when you are fashionably late. That was a great lesson learned on a trip I recently took to Tuscany. You and your travel partners are sharing the wheel. On those hills the views are stunning and nobody cares if the GPS is audible, at least. The Winding Roads of Florence I [&hel
Grape Destinations: A View From The Top (Of a Fermentation Tank)
Being in the wine business certainly has its perks. One such perk, “Harvest intern” for a week in beautiful Napa Valley, California. In late September 2016, for the second vintage in a row, I worked side by side with the owners, wine makers, cellar masters and other interns at Amici Cellars, a p
The Enchantment of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a one of a kind destination, the ideal place to enjoy your vacation to the fullest. Characterized by its epic mountains, serene beaches, majestic rainforests, kid-friendly attractions and delicious culinary delights, the Island has it all! There’s no shortage of incredible places to
Grape Destinations: Rosé Wine by the Pool
The perfect weekend came just in time for a break. Sounds familiar? Of course it does, specially when you have a place near the sea in mind. I was really enjoying a mojito de parcha, (passion fruit mojito) by the pool at Copamarina in Guanica, when I saw a man with a glass of rosé […]
Grape Destinations: Seize the Wine!
There is a quaint wine bar and restaurant called Carpe Diem in downtown Napa Valley. It serves ostrich burgers and house made burrata that makes me salivate at the thought of it. My mother discovered this wine bar within its first year of business. I had recently turned twenty one when she first too
Grape Destinations: Here’s to Your Health!
Pouring a glass of wine for enjoyment or opening a nice bottle with dinner also appears to have some health benefits beyond strictly the pleasure. Moderate consumption of one glass per day (approximately 5 ounces) for women and two glasses for men is considered to be the magic number. Heavier drin
Grape Destinations: The Best of Tasmanian Wine Culture
What started as a novelty experience 10 years ago has morphed into an annual wine tasting event I cannot miss. And nor should any serious wine lover. It involves a single wine variety that is renowned for its brooding and moody character called Pinot Noir. For me the event is quite literally a sea
Enticed by the Flavors of Abruzzo
To my throngs of ardent Porthole Cruise followers (both of you!), you know I love to expound on regional foods. Well, it’s been two days since I posted anything about that dear to my stomach subject, so allow me fill the void in your never ending search for culinary enlightenment. In Abruzzo, It