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Romance isn’t dead, but …

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Time for a belated update on our anniversary “crowdsourcing” experiment. It took a while to verify the winner of “North America’s most romantic wine region” because not all the votes were cast the same way. Some named a specific town, for instance, while others cited a county — or even a collection of counties.

But when all is said and done, the winner is (drum roll, please): Paso Robles, California!

I can’t wait to check out the low-key charm that voters cited again and again. Unfortunately, it looks like I have to wait a little longer than expected. You may remember that this was supposed to be a Valentine’s/anniversary trip, but now my better half can’t get away from work that weekend.

Really? In a firm with 15 lawyers, they can’t spare just one for a long weekend? This is precisely why I warned against law school in the first place. Romance isn’t dead, but lawyers are standing by with their “Do Not Resuscitate” orders.

Still, I promise not to say “I told you so” … it is Valentine’s after all.

Paso Robles, we’ll see you in the spring!

Tags: romance, wine travel
Posted in wine travel | No Comments »

California on my mind

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

Temecula, Calif.

Just four days until I book my Valentine’s trip to “North America’s most romantic wine region,” and the votes are still trickling in. (Mostly via email, which begs the question: In the age of social media, why do people still prefer email? But that’s another post.)

California has seen a surge in votes, but with more than a dozen distinct wine regions, the voting is pretty diffuse. Sonoma County is in the lead, followed by Paso Robles and Temecula.

Those last two are new to me, at least from a wine-tasting standpoint. I’ve been studying up on them, and I’m excited about the possibility of visiting either one. Still, I have a couple of questions:

Paso Robles is described as “rural and unpretentious,” the kind of area where “wearing a cowboy hat doesn’t seem out of place.” Sounds relaxing and fun, but is it romantic? If you know the area, feel free to weigh in.
As for Temecula, it seems to be a desert dotted with small, family-owned wineries. Again, a delightful and interesting place to visit, but is it right for Valentine’s Day?

Please feel free to keep casting your votes. I’m seeing a late surge for Texas, so I’d better start researching that too, just in case.

Prost!

Tags: romance, wine travel, wineries
Posted in wine travel | 2 Comments »

Romancing the vines

Thursday, 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 »

Tell me where to go

Wednesday, 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! | 14 Comments »