January 14th, 2010
Now that I’ve started this online vote for “North America’s most romantic wine region,” I’m having trouble thinking about anything else. It’s got me thinking back on two of my most romantic wine getaways ever.
 Gaige House Inn No. 1 would have to be the Gaige House Inn in Glen Ellen, Calif. When I was there about 10 years ago, it was a labor of love for its owners — a couple of guys from NYC, as I recall. The place had a style like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. I’m still not sure what to call it: “Country Zen” or maybe “Romantic Minimalism”? Whatever the label, it was the kind of place that reminded you how lucky you were to be in love.
No. 2 is on the other side of the world: Old St. Mary’s Convent in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. I’ll never forget waking up in the morning in our big antique bed and looking out across miles of vines — shrouded in a purplish haze — all the way to the mountains rising in the distance. I can’t understand how anyone could maintain a vow of celibacy while living in such a romantic environment — yet the place was a working convent for almost 100 years.
 Old St. Mary's And No. 3? Hard to say. Maybe I’ll come back from my Valentine’s Day trip with a clear No. 3 in mind. If you haven’t voted yet, please do. I can’t wait to get packing.
Prost!
Tags: romance, wine travel
Posted in Cheers to that! | 1 Comment »
January 13th, 2010
This Valentine’s Day happens to be my 12th anniversary, and I want to do something special and romantic. As usual, I’ve been dithering about where to go, and now — just one month from V-Day — I still haven’t decided.
So, I’m asking for your help — not just a suggestion but a command. In two weeks, on Jan. 27, I’m going to book two tickets wherever you tell me to go. It has to be a wine region (for tax reasons) and it has to be in North America (for economic reasons), but those are the only two stipulations. Whatever North American wine region gets the most votes, that’s where I’m headed.
Call it crowd-sourced romance. I’m trusting you to steer me in the right direction. If the trip isn’t romantic, I’ll probably end up on the sofa when we get home!
How to vote? Three options:
- Leave your suggestion in the “Comments” area below.
- Tweet your suggestion to @prostcards. (And please follow us, while you’re at it!)
- Email your suggestion to mail@prostproductions.com.
I’ll write periodic updates on how the voting is going — and once the wine region has been decided, I’ll be back to ask about specific wineries, restaurants, inns, etc.
Thanks for your input. I’m sure this will be a Valentine’s Day to remember!
Prost!
 Sister72 on flickr.com
Tags: romance, wine, wine travel
Posted in Cheers to that! | 13 Comments »
January 12th, 2010
Starbucks needs to get into wine.
You’re probably gasping and choking right now, but hear me out: Whatever you think of their coffee, Starbucks did popularize the idea of the “Third Place” — not home, not work, but something in-between.
I think the wine industry needs an “in-between” kind of place where remote workers can plop down with their laptops, order one glass of wine and get some work done. Wine bars today aren’t like that. They’re too precious, too formal, or too intent on “educating” customers so they’ll buy a full bottle.
Soft music, comfortable chairs, free Wi-Fi and reasonably priced wines — that’s really all it would take to lure in people like me 3 or 4 times a week. You’d better believe I’d stop by regularly to sip something new while I update my website, correspond with artists and so forth.
With the growing prevalence of independent workers and telecommuters, I can’t be the only one looking for something like this, but I have yet to find it. (And believe me, I look for it every time I travel.)
What about you? Do you know of a great, laid-back wine bar that’s great for hanging out and getting work done? If so, please tell me about it — I’d love to visit.
Prost!
Tags: coffee, wine, wine bar
Posted in Wine Biz | No Comments »
January 11th, 2010
We’re not actually going to propose that you drink wine with your Wheaties, but since January is National Hot Tea Month, we did want to point out some interesting parallels between two of our favorite beverages:
First, both wine and tea appear to have real health benefits. Clinical studies have shown that tea can help lower cholesterol, reduce plaque and boost the immune system. Meanwhile, the cholesterol-lowering benefits of wine have been well-documented, and newer studies hint at wine’s potential for reducing the risk of heart disease and even slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s. 
Secondly, both wine and tea are complex beverages with thousands of variations and thousands of years of history. Wine lovers who can talk for hours about nose, finish, and mouth feel will find much of the same sensory stimulation when they begin exploring Pouchong, Silver Needle, and other varieties of tea beyond the Earl Grey standard.
So this month, while you’re waiting for the clock to strike 4:00, why not experiment with a new beverage obsession? Tea rooms are a great place to start your education, much like you probably learned about wine by visiting tasting rooms at your favorite vineyards. To find a tea room near you, try the searchable directory TeaMap.com.
Or, pour yourself a glass of wine tonight and check out a few tea-related websites. Among our personal favorites are Teas Etc. and Teavana. Both offer lots of easy-to-digest information, plus easy ordering if you’re ready to take the plunge.
Prost!
Tags: health, tea, wine
Posted in Cause for Celebration | No Comments »
January 7th, 2010
In a rush to catch a movie the other day, I ran into McDonald’s for a quick bite to eat. (So much for that New Year’s resolution!)
There was only one register open, but only one person in front of me, so I figured I’d make my show. I was looking up at the menu board, not paying much attention, when I heard a big clatter. Glancing back down at the register, my heart sank: The guy in front of me was homeless, and he’d just dumped his entire plastic cupful of change onto the counter.
 He asked again about his total. “$5.68,” came the reply, and the man started counting out a seemingly endless line of pennies and nickels.
I shifted my weight, checked my watch, rolled my eyes — everything I could think of to speed up the process, or at least show my displeasure. When he finally pushed a mountain of coins across the counter, I made a move forward to place my own order.
But no. The woman at the register painstakingly re-counted every coin, oblivious to my very important schedule. I turned to glare at the man who was ruining my day, and what I got was a figurative slap in the face. Instead of sweeping the remaining coins back into his plastic cup, he picked them up one by one and deposited them into a container in front of the register. He must have donated at least 20 of his hard-earned coins to the Ronald McDonald House before he picked up his sack of food and shuffled away.
I didn’t know what to say, so of course I said nothing. But two hours later, as I emerged from my movie, I saw him sitting on the sidewalk outside the theater, a crumpled McDonald’s bag at his side. He barely acknowledged me when I stuffed a few bills into his cup, but that’s okay — he’ll be able to pay for his next meal a little faster, and I know the change will be put to good use.
Tags: charity, homelessness, thankfulness
Posted in Cheers to that! | No Comments »
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