2007-04-18T23:10:08Z WineCountry.com urn:uuid:41e2585b-1c3a-34c0-a750-4a8bbd215e5e 2007-04-18T23:10:08Z 2007-04-18T23:10:08Z urn:uuid:b9247db3-2abe-16ab-dabe-f63ee684f7a3

Though I know it places me among a small minority for thinking this way, I consider it ironic that the popularity of the film, Sideways, based on the Alexander Payne book, was used so heavily to leverage the popularity of Santa Barbara. I think it's ironic because, while the movies beautifully shows off the landscape and is chock full of cameo appearances by great vineyards and restaurants — giving locals a thrill, no doubt — the movie tells the story of the private downward spirals of two longtime friends whose only real solace is found in the copious (and ostentatious) consumption of fine wines.

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Robert Farmer 2007-04-18T23:09:04Z 2007-04-18T23:09:04Z urn:uuid:904ef24c-6e92-4ac7-058c-6f08b4810b8c

This month is one of my favorites. Not because it's my birthday (my 40th this year&mdash;all well wishes are welcome!) or because of Easter brunch and Passover parties (although I love those), and certainly not because of the dreaded taxman. April is a most welcome month because the dogwood and wisteria are in bloom, the bulbs planted last winter have pushed up from the earth, and the wine valleys are visual riots of colorful flora.

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Erika Lenkert 2007-04-18T23:08:05Z 2007-04-18T23:08:05Z urn:uuid:4e496ca9-ad1b-ccc9-b6ff-bb8a299b5731

Anyone who&rsquo;s studied wine in books or in a formal wine course has probably heard of the Old World/New World debate. Based on the idea that wines from Europe (the Old World) are inherently different from those produced everywhere else (the New World), the debate has raged for years between lofty connoisseur types bent on drawing a stylistic divide between the two.

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Courtney Cochran 2007-04-04T22:29:59Z 2007-04-04T22:29:59Z urn:uuid:492bd198-fdde-57e2-32a6-cf523e2233d9

<h1 class="headerContentName"> <strong>Top 10 Hot Wine Event Weekends </strong> </h1> <div class="subTitle">brought to you WineCountry.com</div> The weather is heating up and so are the season&rsquo;s wine events. As spring turns into summer, wine country delivers weekend after weekend of regional wine and food events. And the ticket price is often so minimal in comparison to the comprehensive experience that awaits a true wine lover. Presented in chronological order, now through June, WineCountry.com recommends planning a getaway around one of these major events:

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> WineCountry.com 2007-04-04T22:29:10Z 2007-04-04T22:29:10Z urn:uuid:2b3292bc-f8f7-d6e6-fa7a-eb6546978e8c

<h1 class="headerContentName"> <strong>Wine With a Side of Fries </strong> </h1> <p class="betaNavLinks">What to quaff with these salty treats</p> <div class="authorName">by <a href="http://staging.www.winecountry.com/writers/w001/courtney_bio.html" class="authorName">Courtney Cochran</a></div> <p>Whatever wise guy once said &ldquo;some of the best things in life are free&rdquo; had it all wrong. </p> <p>Most of the best things in life, in my estimation, are just the appositive: cable TV, fabulous vacations, exquisite meals in high-end restaurants and fancy cars are just a few examples of some of the better things in life that are most decidedly NOT free.</p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Courtney Cochran 2007-04-04T22:28:14Z 2007-04-04T22:28:14Z urn:uuid:907edfd1-935e-7b83-7325-8b5b0695e592

<h1 class="headerContentName"><strong>The Monterey Way</strong> </h1> <p class="altHeaderCatName"> Great Grapes, hold the Wrath</p> <p class="headerContentName"> </p> <div class="authorName">by <a class="authorName" href="http://staging.www.winecountry.com/writers/w003/robert_bio.html">Robert P. Farmer </a></div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>John Steinbeck wrote his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath, in 1939 and in so doing solidified the Monterey region&rsquo;s place in the canon of American literature. But in spite of the gloomy outlook of the novel&rsquo;s protagonists and the commentary on the changes in the agricultural landscape and those who work in it, the novel at least hinted at a part of the prosperity on the horizon. </p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Robert P. Farmer 2007-04-04T22:27:16Z 2007-04-04T22:27:16Z urn:uuid:e0a19e3f-5065-5f48-dceb-8952e9a2e22a

<h1 class="headerContentName"> <strong>Where The Chefs Eat in Sonoma </strong> </h1> <div class="authorName">by <a class="authorName" href="http://staging.www.winecountry.com/writers/w002/erika_bio.html">Erika Lenkert</a> </div> <br /> As a travel writer my tactic for finding the best local flavor has always included accosting residents and prodding them for information&mdash;in a friendly way, of course. Living in Napa for six years and writing about wine country for the past decade, I no longer need to ask the staff in Sonoma's tasting rooms or regulars lingering around Sonoma or Healdsburg's squares for their favorite dining experiences.

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Erika Lenkert 2007-04-04T22:25:23Z 2007-04-04T22:25:23Z urn:uuid:e59d99d3-58c9-0649-c0c5-b32679735b93

<h1 class="headerContentName"> <strong>Los Olivos </strong> </h1> <p class="betaNavLinks">Small in Size, Big on Charm</p> <div class="authorName">by <a class="authorName" href="http://staging.www.winecountry.com/writers/w001/courtney_bio.html">Courtney Cochran</a></div> <p>More good news for Southlanders! Your own backyard contains yet another hidden gem for wine country travel &ndash; the tiny town of Los Olivos. </p> <p>Part country western throw-back, part progressive rural hamlet, Los Olivos is the picture of wine country cute and makes the perfect spot to unwind from tasting at the many Santa Barbara-area wineries nearby. And with a population of just 1,000 inhabitants, the small town nestled in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley delivers big on charm for its size. </p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Courtney Cochran 2007-03-28T21:56:47Z 2007-03-28T21:56:47Z urn:uuid:0d45f247-b367-69c1-9a07-94d519c4302f

<h1 class="headerContentName"> <strong>Top 10 Vineyard Stays </strong> </h1> <div class="subTitle">brought to you WineCountry.com</div> It is the essential element in your dream vacation to wine country. Awaken each day to view beautiful vineyards from the balcony of your luxury suite. Dream? Or Reality? With the wonderful web, it is now feasible for you to locate these once in a lifetime vineyards stays for your next dream getaway. And WineCountry.com gets you one step closer to reality with these recommendations:

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> WineCountry.com 2007-03-28T21:55:53Z 2007-03-28T21:55:53Z urn:uuid:5df2e098-b8a7-f0ed-bbeb-ad7ff20dbfca

<h1 class="headerContentName"><strong>The Cabernet Crown</strong> </h1> <p class="altHeaderCatName"> Why Cabernet is the King of the Valley </p> <p class="headerContentName"> </p> <div class="authorName">by <a href="http://winecountry.com/writers/w003/robert_bio.html" class="authorName">Robert P. Farmer </a></div> <p>And now, if you&rsquo;ll indulge me, a word about cabernet. If there is hierarchy among wines&mdash;and there is&mdash;Cabernet wears the crown. Here&rsquo;s why.</p> <p>The reasons for its monarchy are myriad, and as with kingdoms, not always clear or universally accepted. But what is clear is that the Cabernet supremacy is seldom disputed. So how did Cabernet achieve its eminence? For starters, popularity. It continues to be, in spite of the trendiness of other grapes, my favorite varietal. As it was for me, Cabernet is often the wine drinker's initiation varietal. Its name recognition, availability and approachability make it a secure jumping-off spot for the beginner. </p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Robert Farmer 2007-03-28T21:54:55Z 2007-03-28T21:54:55Z urn:uuid:4d8a9ef1-3330-6726-938b-201175d369ff

<h1 class="headerContentName"> <strong>Where The Chefs Eat in Napa Valley</strong> </h1> <div class="authorName">by <a class="authorName" href="http://www.winecountry.com/writers/w002/erika_bio.html">Erika Lenkert</a> </div> <br /> When I first moved to Napa Valley I wanted to know one thing: Where do the locals eat? But I wasn't talking about the group of longtimers in my Napa neighborhood that regularly headed to the nearby classic chain restaurants for the early-bird specials. I meant the top toques. They were the serious foodies who on their nights off would travel half way across the valley for the best sashimi or a perfect batch of French fries. I knew if I followed them to the nooks and crannies between the destination restaurants I'd find the best everyday eats with prices to match.

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Erika Lenkert 2007-03-28T21:53:34Z 2007-03-28T21:53:34Z urn:uuid:a72b4824-b514-b787-41df-79ca28fec952

<h1 class="headerContentName"> <strong>Going Both Ways</strong> </h1> <p class="altHeaderCatName"><em>How to Hit Up Napa &amp; Sonoma in a Single Trip</em></p> <div class="authorName">by <a class="authorName" href="http://winecountry.com/writers/w001/courtney_bio.html">Courtney Cochran</a></div> <p>Rather like the sexes, Napa and Sonoma sometimes seem worlds apart.&nbsp; Farmers are from Sonoma, people often say, while the technology barons and other members of the monied set call neighboring Napa home instead.&nbsp; </p> <p>In some ways these stereotypes ring true: I&rsquo;m yet to spot a Ferrari in Sonoma but am rarely in Napa for more than 15 minutes before one or even two of the slick machines whiz by me en route to brunch at Bouchon or gallery hopping in St. Helena.&nbsp; </p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Courtney Cochran 2007-03-20T23:41:56Z 2007-03-20T23:41:56Z urn:uuid:770c1ba0-8d96-8bf8-847f-db06b0a81d82

<h1 class="headerContentName"><strong>Yes, Virginia, There is a Wine Country</strong> </h1> <p class="headerContentName"> </p> <div class="authorName">by <a class="authorName" href="file:///writers/w003/robert_bio.html">Robert P. Farmer </a></div> <p>It&rsquo;s not uncommon anymore to travel the world and find &ldquo;wine country&rdquo; wherever you go. As wine and its appreciation has grown in prominence and popularity, so too has the industry designed to serve it. These days, grapes are planted with breakneck frequency and wine producers are taking root in regions previously better known for corn and wheat. </p> <p>For good or ill, there are wines coming from all parts of the globe. But not all wine regions are created equally. While some are well known, others have reputations still sung by only a few lucky erudite. And some of the lesser-known regions are deserving of mention alongside the names of the great wine-producing regions of the United States.<br /> Few such regions are as noteworthy or ambitious as Virginia. </p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Robert Farmer 2007-03-20T23:40:49Z 2007-03-20T23:40:49Z urn:uuid:dd0b8111-b161-2e7e-9eb3-bb4316578d4f

<h1 class="headerContentName"> Fame Among the Vines </h1> <div class="authorName">by <a href="http://www.winecountry.com/writers/w002/erika_bio.html" class="authorName">Erika Lenkert</a> </div> <p><br /> There's a joke commonly repeated in northern California that goes like this: What does it take to make a small fortune in wine country? The answer: A large fortune. While I have a hard time believing that the people and companies behind the multimillion-dollar wineries of Napa and Sonoma are running these businesses out of the goodness of their hearts, there is some truth in the saying. A peek into the backgrounds of a few winery proprietors proves that some of the biggest names in American business are behind places to swirl and sip&mdash;and ventured into winemaking after they made their fortunes. Read on and see if they sound familiar to you. </p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Erika Lenkert 2007-03-20T23:38:54Z 2007-03-20T23:38:54Z urn:uuid:4002b7b2-dde6-e8d5-9512-c51e0e58b72e

<h1 class="headerContentName"> <strong>Temecula to the Stars </strong> </h1> <p class="altHeaderCatName style1 style1"> Celeb opens B&amp;B in trendy Temecula</p> <div class="authorName">by <a class="authorName" href="file:///writers/w001/courtney_bio.html">Courtney Cochran</a><br /> </div> <p>Guilty pleasures &ndash; we all have them. </p> <p>For some, they involve junk food and bad reality TV like Fox&rsquo;s salacious Temptation Island. Others indulge in expensive spa treatments or buy things they don&rsquo;t need (like the fifteenth BBQ accessory you recently picked up). For me, the ultimate guilty pleasure is the hour or two I spend every week soaking in celebrity gossip in the deliciously shameless celebrity rag Us Weekly. </p> <p>Only this week, my guilty pleasure took a decidedly un-guilty turn.</p> <p>While flipping through the mag&rsquo;s splashy pages filled with paparazzi pics, the week&rsquo;s latest inter-star indiscretions and other worldly news, I discovered that ex-&ldquo;Beverly Hills 90210&rdquo; star Tori Spelling has just opened a Bed and Breakfast in Southern California&rsquo;s trendy Temecula wine region. </p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Courtney Cochran 2007-03-20T23:36:38Z 2007-03-20T23:36:38Z urn:uuid:a819e54d-d0e5-3494-0e5f-525c02c06577

<h1 class="headerContentName"> <strong>New Twist on Bubbly </strong> </h1> <p class="altHeaderCatName style1 style1"> Sparkling sake takes off stateside</p> <div class="authorName">by <a class="authorName" href="file:///writers/w001/courtney_bio.html">Courtney Cochran</a></div> <p>Just when I thought the world of bubbly couldn&rsquo;t get more interesting, sparkling sake changed my mind. Incorporating two of my favorite things &ndash; the delicious Japanese rice wine, sake, and sparkling wine production &ndash; sparkling sake is a welcome newcomer on the bubbly scene.</p> <p>Although the first bottles of sparkling sake (sock-ay) trickled into the US just a few years ago, the stuff is taking off quickly stateside thanks to a growing interest in all things wine-related around these parts. And besides this abundant enthusiasm, sparkling sake&rsquo;s delicate aromas and low alcohol content (many clock in at just about 5% alcohol &ndash; about the same as beer) make it a versatile drink that I like to think of as the wine cooler of the new millennium. </p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Courtney Cochran 2007-03-14T23:12:57Z 2007-03-14T23:12:57Z urn:uuid:c9e6b365-5097-5cf1-7493-083b039f79fc

<h1 class="headerContentName"> <strong>Top 10 Gourmet Winery Experiences</strong> </h1> <div class="subTitle">brought to you WineCountry.com</div> <p>Springtime weather is sublime, grape buds breaking, gentle breezes blowing and the mild sun shining.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s time to get outdoors to enjoy this natural setting and an afternoon of gourmet goodies on the grounds of a beautiful winery. Whether for a full picnic or a little cheese and wine, WineCountry.com recommends spending an afternoon at these wineries. &nbsp; </p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> WineCountry.com 2007-03-14T23:12:14Z 2007-03-14T23:12:14Z urn:uuid:5c105906-a9c7-ab85-1489-4897d853a9a5

<h1 class="headerContentName"><strong>Say Hello to Healdsburg</strong> </h1> <p class="headerContentName"> </p> <div class="authorName">by <a class="authorName" href="http://winecountry.com/writers/w003/robert_bio.html">Robert P. Farmer </a></div> <p>In a galaxy where the stars of Napa and Sonoma shine like supernovas, there are a few glimmers in the sky that also command the attention of wine country stargazers. Take for instance the town of Healdsburg, for years content to exist in the outer reaches of what most people thought of as Wine Country. But these days, the gravitational pull is proving too great to resist.</p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Robert Farmer 2007-03-14T23:11:18Z 2007-03-14T23:11:18Z urn:uuid:b6ab8b3e-2288-d638-3fa8-7dc0d8770d53

<h1 class="headerContentName"> The New Magic of Meadowood </h1> <div class="authorName">by <a class="authorName" href="http://www.winecountry.com/writers/w002/erika_bio.html">Erika Lenkert</a> </div> <p><br /> Meadowood may be the hot spot for most of the wine-loving world during the extremely high-profile annual Napa Valley Wine Auction, which is held there each June. But around my household the luxurious hillside resort is the place to go whenever R&amp;R is an order and the credit card can afford it&mdash;especially given its recent improvements. </p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Erika Lenkert 2007-03-14T23:06:03Z 2007-03-14T23:06:03Z urn:uuid:42c56682-dd31-3d89-504d-a470f24209f0

<h1 class="headerContentName"> <strong>Spring Forward to Wine Country</strong> </h1> <p class="altHeaderCatName style1 style1"> <em>Get the Jump on Wine Country This Season</em> </p>

<![CDATA[&copy; WineCountry.com]]> Courtney Cochran