Wine Travel Stories

In-depth Tales of Winery Visits Around the World

How Bonterra Winery Leapfrogged Ahead Of Other Businesses To Achieve Climate Neutral Certification In 2021

Recently I had the chance to drive the 2-hour drive from Southern Sonoma County to Bonterra Winery in Mendocino County. It was my first time to visit the organic vineyards and taste Bonterra wines in the original old barn that serves as a by-appointment-only tasting room. It was very inspiring to see the cows and sheep in the vineyards, an owl flying through the trees, and the biodynamic free flow fountain to create the biodynamic preps. While there, I interviewed most of the people quoted in this article. What prompted my visit was Bonterra's Climate Neutral Certification that they received [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-01-31T16:03:19-08:00January 31, 2022|

Trentodoc Wine Region in Northern Italy Gaining More Recognition for Its Sparkling Wines

When I first visited this wine region in the Fall of 2016, I was astounded with its stunning beauty. Nestled high in the Italian alps with snow-capped mountains overlooking hillside vineyards, I discovered that due to the cooler climate, Trentodoc specializes in sparkling wine. After five days of visiting wineries and tasting excellent food with refreshing bubbles, I was in love. I wondered why it wasn't that well-known in America, except by wine experts and somms. Fast forward to 2022, and this hidden wine region of Italy is gaining more and more recognition for fresh and exciting mountain bubbles! Trentodoc [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-01-12T11:41:44-08:00January 12, 2022|

A Conversation with a Champagne CEO – Mathieu Roland-Billecart

Mathieu Roland-Billecart never planned to be CEO of a Champagne House. His life was in London where he worked as a financial analyst. But after 14 years of doing mergers and acquisitions for Ernst & Young and other firms, his family requested he return to Epernay, France. “I wasn’t groomed from birth to take over the family Champagne business, like other wine families,” he says. “Instead, I was encouraged to pursue my career goals. Then several years ago, I was invited to come back and work with my family. For me, it is a great honor. We are one of [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-12-30T17:47:15-08:00December 30, 2021|

A Brief History of Wine in America

According to historical sources, the first wine in the US was made by French Huguenot immigrants in Florida in 1565 using the native American grape, Muscadine (Bates et al, 1989). Though successive European immigrants brought cuttings of vitus vinifera winegrapes from their homeland to the East Coast of the US, the majority did not survive due to phylloxera and other native pests. Greystone Cellars in Napa Valley, CA (now the Culinary Institute of America) - Established 1889. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons It wasn’t until the 1620’s that Spanish explorers successfully made wine from vitus vinifera grapes in what is now [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-02-17T13:26:36-08:00November 19, 2021|

Wine In Peru

Given that Peru is considered to be one of the top culinary capitals in the world, it is not surprising to learn that they also produce wine. However, most people are not aware of the small wine region in Southern Peru that has been producing wine since 1540, and is actually the oldest wine-producing country in South America. Today, the Peruvian wine industry still struggles for both national and global recognition, but there are forces in play that suggest the future may become brighter. Panoramic view of the city of Macchu Pichu in Peru GETTY Peru Wine Region, Varietals and [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2022-02-17T13:27:30-08:00November 15, 2021|

Chandon’s Global Strategy Finds Success With New Consumers And Innovative Products

Chandon Winery in India

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-11-01T10:42:48-07:00November 1, 2021|

How Quintessa Winery Honors The Passing Of Grapes Through The Value Chain

Harvesting grapes by hand. Photo Credit: L. THACH During harvest in wine regions around the world, it is useful to examine some of the practices that go into picking the grapes and transforming them into the delicious wine in your glass. One winery that has a unique practice is Quintessa, nestled in the Rutherford AVA of Napa Valley. Here they perform a harvest opening ceremony to pass the grapes through the value chain. “It’s a practice that we have been doing for many years,” reports Rebekah Wineburg, Winemaker at Quintessa. “Early in the morning, as the first delivery of grapes is [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-10-18T17:40:43-07:00October 18, 2021|

Bears In The Vineyard And Other Challenges Of Being An Emerging Wine Region In El Dorado County

Bears In The Vineyard And Other Challenges Of Being An Emerging Wine Region In El Dorado County

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-09-14T15:31:05-07:00September 14, 2021|

Wine in Belize

Belize is known more for its beer and rum than wine, but when traveling I always enjoy checking out wine lists in restaurants, shops, and grocery stores. As a small Caribbean country of only 420,000 people in 2020, located south of Mexico, Belize has a warm tropical climate that is not ideal for fine wine-grape growing. However, they do have fruit-based wines, with the most well-known made from dried hibiscus flowers, which they call sorrel wine. CocoBeach Resort - View from Our Room, San Pedro, Belize Common Wine Brands in Belize Like most first-time visitors we immediately took the 15 [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-07-15T11:16:39-07:00July 15, 2021|

Materra-Cunat Family Vineyards – A Unique Napa Valley Destination Known for White Wines

Entrance to Materra Cunat Family Vineyards in Napa Valley. Photo Credit: NapaWineProject Napa Valley is known world-wide for its famous wines made from cabernet sauvignon and cab blends, so it is unusual to find an estate winery in Napa that doesn’t grow cabernet sauvignon. Instead, Materra, located in the Oak Knoll AVA, a mere 10-minute drive north from the town of Napa, is known for its white wines. “Many visitors come here because they hear that we have a good selection of white wines,” says winemaker, Chelsea Barrett. In fact their 39 acres of vineyards are planted not only to [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-06-30T12:32:59-07:00June 30, 2021|

Acquiesce Winery – Where the Queen of White Rhone Lives

Earlier this Spring I was honored to visit Acquiesce Winery in the Lodi Wine region of California. Tucked away on a small farm road 13 minutes north of the town of Lodi, you will come upon a charming barn and tasting room, surrounded by verdant green vineyards. After parking in the small gravel parking lot, you will most likely notice a large imposing round sign on the red garage door of the barn. It depicts a woman standing on a grape vine with the words: Awaken, Transcend, Acquiesce. Acquiesce Winery Barn Door with Logo Immediately I was fascinated by the [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-05-24T10:20:29-07:00May 21, 2021|

Migliavacca – Resurrected Napa Winery Focuses on Italian Varieties

“What does Migliavaca mean?” I asked, sitting at the kitchen table of Katie Migliavacca, founder and co-owner of Migliavaca Winery in Napa Valley. We were tasting the wines of her family’s newly resurrected wine brand, Migliavacca. “Roughly translated it means ‘thousands of cows,’” replied Kate, “but it is a common surname in Italy.” “Fascinating,” I said, delighted to have the opportunity to participate in another Covid-safe winetasting during the pandemic. Katie had carefully spaced us 6 feet apart, opened the patio doors and windows wide, provided hand sanitizer, and insisted we wear masks until it was time to taste. “Tell [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-04-19T17:03:16-07:00April 17, 2021|

Rolling Hills and Spanish Varieties at Bokisch Winery in Lodi

Bokisch was the second winery we visited during our tour of the Lodi Wine region, and we were pleasantly surprised at its location on the crest of a small hill overlooking a vast vineyard. While the majority of Lodi vineyards are planted on the flat sandy soil of the Delta, Bokisch is located in the Clement Hills AVA. Here the elevation can range from 100 to 450 feet above sea level, and provides beautiful views of undulating hills covered with vineyards and wildflowers. Bokisch Winery in Lodi, California Liz Bokisch welcomed us, and we followed her to a beautiful outdoor [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-03-22T18:08:24-07:00March 21, 2021|

Oak Farm Vineyards – One of the Most Elegant Wineries in Lodi

As we listened to the voice of our GPS and turned down a narrow road, we were unprepared for the magnificence of the winery we were about to visit – Oak Farm Vineyards. My husband and I were touring the Lodi Wine region for two-days, and all around us stretched row upon row of bare grape vines, their limbs gnarly and black on a grey February day. The landscape was flat, composed of the sandy soil deposited by the confluence of two great rivers – the Sacramento and San Joaquin. Together they created the famous California Delta, home to some [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-03-02T09:04:16-08:00March 1, 2021|

Lodi Wine Region Fights to Save Ancient Grape Vines

Old grape vines are literally living, breathing pieces of agricultural history, with the grace of a magnificent sculpture. In the Lodi Wine Region of California, home to the highest concentration of old vines in America, with many of them over 100 years of age, there is a fight going on to preserve these ancient beauties. Bechthold Vineyard in Lodi Planted in 1886. A Heart-Breaking Choice Unfortunately, due to the increasing costs of vineyard management, low yields, urban developments, and a diminishing financial return, hundreds of acres of old winegrape vines around the world are ripped out each year. For growers [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T21:48:01-08:00November 14, 2020|

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