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Archive for category Travel/trips

Wedding Destination

Feb 27

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Vineyard at Vino Bello/Meritage Resort in Napa


I recently read an article by Stephanie Cain in “Wine Spectator” magazine, see Napa May Ring Wedding Bells that except for a few wineries, county ordinances prevent weddings from being held on winery properties.

Grape Crusher at the head of Napa Valley

With a rule change possible in order for Napa Valley wineries to make more money, there’s so many options available. V. Sattui has been able to hold weddings and it is a beautiful location, so that’s a great option.

Vino Bello/Meritage Resort are able to hold conventions, educational event and weddings. If you’re a wine enthusiast, and looking to get married, think about Vino Bello. I’ve been to Vino Bello and with its beautiful vineyard hillside, the grape crusher statue at the head of Napa, a wine cave and a a open-air gazebo, it is breathtaking. Here’s some images from my convention there last year.

Estate Wine Cave

The resort itself is amazingly beautiful with an Old World Tuscan décor, located in the heart of wine country in the shadow of the Grape Crusher statue at the head of Napa Valley. Upscale accommodations with Jacuzzi’s, heated swimming pools, full kitchens or kitchenettes, fine dining and wine tasting bar. It’s only 10 minutes from downtown Napa, the Wine Train and Oxbow Marketplace. You can schedule wine tours, recreational activities and in-room services with the Resort concierge.

Golfing available at the Chardonnay Golf Course (three different nine-hole courses).

Choosing this location for your wedding or business meeting will impress, excite and satisfy.

Cheers to full glasses all around!

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Door County New Year

Jan 2

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Jerome and I spent New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day in Door County. It was the first time we had actually spent time alone there that wasn’t a company function (we used to go yearly when I worked at another company), and it was the first time at Little Sweden in Fish Creek.

Even in the middle of winter, it was a beautiful trip (thankfully no snow was expected). We found Little Sweden lovely, and got to know a couple of residents who actually live in the same town that we do! Little Sweden had a small social get-together on Friday evening and we happened to sit down next to a family who is from our city. We started talking and found we had a lot in common. It’s so wondrous sometimes how you find yourself at the right place at the right time, isn’t it?

Jerome and I had lunch at the White Gull Inn … fantastic Butternut Squash soup. Service was good and the food was great.

We had dinner at the Old English Inn and were so impressed by the ambience, friendly and knowledgeable staff. The food was excellent, and though it took a little dent out of our wallets, it was well worth it. The food was so delicious, we were thoroughly satisfied and couldn’t even fit in dessert!!

This experience was so wonderful for us that we are definitely looking into returning to the same place when the weather warms and even to enjoy the beautiful fall colors.

Musings from Napa and Sonoma

Jul 6

Posted by greatWineSource in Travel/trips | Comments off

I recently returned from our annual convention to Napa Valley. I stay at the Vino Bello Resort (fabulous resort by the way, highly recommend it). It was a great convention, and needless to say, much wine was enjoyed.

This was my second visit to Napa Valley, the first being last year at our annual convention. My initial impressions of Napa last year and this were that it doesn’t initially meet the vision that one has in their mind about wine country. The wineries are wonderful and plentiful, so don’t get me wrong there. It’s great to visit all the large and small wineries and sample so many terrific and varied wines (and on a side note, as someone who works in the wine industry, wine tastings are free, and discounts plentiful). I was, however, hoping to see the rolling hills and beauty of wine country that one imagines.

I was not disappointed. But, the beauty wasn’t found in Napa Valley. The true beauty of wine country is found in neighboring Sonoma. My friends Jennifer, Beverly and I headed over to Sonoma County on Monday afternoon, after a full weekend of wine. One would think that we’d be all “wined” out. After all, there’s only so much wine one can take, right? Well, yes and no.

We headed over to Schug winery just off Hwy 121 in Sonoma. It’s not an easy to find winery, and we had to turn around once. But it was well worth it! The views on the way met every expectation I had of wine country. Hills, and vineyards as far as you could see. It was as if we were taking a trip back in time (well, except for the road construction).

Once we arrived, at Schug Carneros Estate Winery, we were not disappointed. A small tasting room, we were the only ones there, but we loved it! It was truly a personalized experience. Schug specializes in Pinot Noir and if you’re a Pinot Noir fan, you know that a good one can be hard to find. Schug’s Pinot was quite delicious, as was their oaked Chardonnay (harder and harder to come by). Jennifer fell in love with the Chardonnay as she is a huge, full-bodied oak-filled fan. Schug had the cutest little demi bottles, and we each purchased a couple of them, as well as “Vinifera” cards cataloging many of the well-known and some not-so-well known grape varietals. Their tasting room is small, which made it even more special. We were treated with great service, and will definitely be visiting Schug again next year!

I invite all of you to come next year!
Visit my website and contact me to find out how: greatWineSource.com

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