Wine Travel Stories

In-depth Tales of Winery Visits Around the World

Seven Small Family Wineries to Visit in the Umpqua Valley of Oregon

The small family winery is alive and well in the fairytale Umpqua Valley. Often overlooked with the mad rush to the Willamette Valley just one hour north, or the warmer Rogue and Applegate Valleys of Southern Oregon, the Umpqua wine region is located in the center of Oregon where two rivers converge into one of the most picturesque mountain valleys in the West. The word “Umpqua” is based on the Native Americans who lived in the area, and is thought to mean “thundering waters." The Umpqua Valley of Oregon - View from Cooper's Ridge Winery The main town [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:23:01-08:00July 19, 2019|

Which Famous Global Wine Region Prohibits Swearing in the Vineyard?

(June 2019) Though vineyards can be very beautiful with their lush green foliage and jewel-like clusters of grapes, anyone who has worked amongst the vines knows that it can be back-breaking work with long hours of suckering, thinning, and sculpturing the vines. Obviously on certain occasions, this could result in some exhausted workers letting loose a few swear words. However, there is one famous wine region of the world where the vineyards were considered to be so sacred and a gift from God that anyone caught cussing could be fined. Sacred Vineyards of Tokaj, Hungary “The fine was [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:23:23-08:00July 16, 2019|

The “Terroir Whisperer” at Domaine de Villaine in Bouzeron, Burgundy

(May 27, 2019) It was only a 45 minute drive from my hotel in Vougeot to the small village of Bouzeron in the Côte Chalonnaise where I had a 10am appointment at Domaine de Villaine. I was greeted by winemaker, Pierre de Villaine, a slim man with a goatee and calm grey eyes. Even since tasting his Aligote several years ago in Beaune, I have been wanting to meet him, because he has an intriguing reputation of being a “terroir whisperer,” with strong beliefs in the benefits of organic and biodynamic farming, as well as the use of numerology to [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:24:00-08:00June 1, 2019|

Wine on Safari in South Africa – What is Available?

(January 2019) Going on safari to witness the majesty of the big five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) is a dream held by many people, but for wine lovers there is also the question of “how is the wine on safari?” Fortunately in South Africa, the answer is “great,” because with more than 700 wineries in the country, South African safari lodges can afford to be generous with wine, and they are rightly proud to show off the delicious and well-balanced wines of their country. Elephant Sighting on Safari in South Africa I am lucky to [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:24:23-08:00January 21, 2019|

Luiz Argenta – A Must Visit Winery for Design, Architecture and Wine Cuisine in Brazil

Have you ever seen a wine bottle that takes your breath away? That is what happened to me when I was visiting a wine shop in Bento Gonçalves, Brazil and saw two wine bottles snuggled together with curving necks in an elegant embrace. “Which winery produces these wines?” I asked. “You will visit there at the end of the week,” responded our host, Diego. “The name of the winery is Luiz Argenta, and they are known for their artistic wine bottles and unique architecture.” Diego was correct, because when we finally arrived at the entrance to Luiz Argenta [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-05T20:19:57-08:00October 15, 2018|

Wines of the Czech Republic: Searching for a Signature Product

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:31:50-08:00October 8, 2018|

Aurora Winery – A Disneyland of Sparkling Wine in Southern Brazil

(June 2018) It was raining lightly when we arrived at Aurora Winery in the town of Bento Gonçalves in southern Brazil. However, this did not matter because as soon as we entered the wide double doors we were transported into one of the top wine tourism experiences of the country. Beautiful women dressed in long red gowns from the glory days of 1800’s Brazil welcomed us with gentle smiles and gestured for us to enter the massive wine cellars. Golden Bacchus Statue at Aurora Winery in Brazil About Aurora Vinicola – Largest Winery Cooperative in Brazil Established in [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:25:46-08:00October 1, 2018|

Casa Perini – Like Finding a Perfect Italian Wine Region in Brazil with 50 Shades of Muscato

(June 2018) Nestled deep in the rolling hills of Southern Brazil is a sleepy little valley filled with vineyards, Araucarias pine trees, wildflowers, and an old Italian styled winery called Casa Perini. Not only does the landscape look like Italy, but the home-made food spread out on the lunch table speaks loudly of the Italian heritage of father and son team, Benildo and Pablo Perini. Entrance to Casa Perini Winery “My great great grandparents arrived here from northern Italy in 1876,” explains Pablo. “At first they planted a small vineyard and produced wine at a local coop, but in [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:26:10-08:00September 30, 2018|

Salton Winery – Started by Seven Brothers in Brazil with a Link to Scotland

(June 2018) Salton Winery is considered to be the oldest wineries in Brazil, and is also one of the largest. Established by seven brothers in 1910 in the city of Bento Gonçalves, Salton specializes in Brazilian sparkling wine production, but also produces still wines as well as tea. After my visit here at the end of June, where I met with Gregorio Salton, a member of the 4th generation of the family, I left truly impressed with all of the investments they have made in quality control, including ISO9000 and 14000 certifications for the winery. Entrance to Salton Winery [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:26:42-08:00August 25, 2018|

Lidio Carraro Winery – Boutique Producer of Pure Natural Wines from Brazil

(June 2018) If you enjoy visiting small boutique wineries where you are invited to taste wine in the family home, then Lidio Carraro Winery in the Serra Gaucha wine region of Brazil is for you. Even better is the fact that Lidio Carraro is the Brazilian leader in producing natural wines, based on their purist philosophy of winemaking with no additives, no filtration and not even any wood on red wines! The result is fresh and delicious wines with distinctive personality. A Visit to Lidio Carraro WInery in Southern Brazil Background of Lidio Carraro The Carraro family emigrated [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:27:07-08:00August 23, 2018|

Miolo Winery – One of the Most Beautiful Wineries in Brazil

(June 2018) The first view of Miolo Winery almost takes your breath away. It seems like a fairytale winery with its impressive gates and tall tower, all nestled amongst flowing vineyards and sleeping mountains filled with fog. I took this photo of Miolo Winery from my hotel room on the first morning of my visit to Brazilian wine country. Since I arrived late at night, I had no idea what I would see when I opened the curtains in the morning, but this was the view. At the time, I didn’t know it was Miolo Winery, but was very pleased [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:27:29-08:00August 2, 2018|

Casa Valduga – Brazilian Wine So Rare Thieves Steal It

(June 2018) It was a bright sunny morning when I visited Casa Valduga in the Serra Gaucha wine region of Southern Brazil. Elisa Walker, Export Coordinator, met us at the front door with a large smile, gesturing for us to enter the spacious tasting room and retail shop. Immediately I was reminded of Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley, not only for the large size of place with countless different types of wines for sale, along with grape-based cosmetics, glasses, and souvenirs, but because the winery was the first in the region to focus on tourism – just like Robert [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:27:53-08:00July 24, 2018|

Pizzato Winery – Waterfalls and Cool Climate Merlot in Southern Brazil

(June 2018) Pizzato Winery is halfway up a very windy road in the Serra Gaucha wine region of Southern Brazil. I had to hold onto the side of the car as we twisted and turned around mountain bends, with long drops into a tree filled canyon below. Finally we arrived at a small tasting room perched on the side of a hill, with a large deck overlooking a magnificent range of mountains with a long white waterfall in the distance. To the left were rows of vineyards stretching out across the hillside and fading into the distance. What a beautiful [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:28:15-08:00July 21, 2018|

Cave Geisse – Home of Highly Ageable Sparkling Wine and Burrowing Owls in Brazil

(June 2018) We arrived at Cave Geisse in the late morning, when the fog was just beginning to lift from the long green rows of chardonnay and pinot noir vines. Nestled in the Serra Gaucha wine region of southern Brazil, Cave Geisse is one of the oldest and most prestigious sparkling wine producers, with a cellar full of vintage sparkling wines made in the Champenoise method. The winery and it surrounding vineyards are ideally located in the Pinto Banderia GI, which is a cool climate area dedicated to sparkling wine production. It is also an area rich in bird life, [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:28:38-08:00July 14, 2018|

Fun Facts about Brazilian Wine

If your only reason to go to Brazil is to play on white sandy beaches and drink caipirinhas, think again. Instead consider heading further south to the Brazilian wine region of Serra Gaucha, about 375 miles north of the Uruguay border in a cool hilly region that looks like Northern Italy. Indeed this region was settled by immigrants from the Veneto and Trentadoc regions of Northern Italy in the 1880’s, and, of course, they planted grapes and made wine. This region of Brazil also has many excellent Italian restaurants, as well as Brazilian steakhouses to celebrate the fact that this [...]

By Dr. Liz Thach, MW|2021-01-22T22:29:00-08:00July 10, 2018|

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