Organic Wine | A Mendocino, California Cabernet Sauvignon

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I Love Organic Wine - A Mendocino, California Cabernet Sauvignon

By: Levi Reiss
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Mendocino County faces the Pacific Ocean, past Sonoma and Marin Counties to the north of San Francisco. This lovely area is best known for its sparkling wines including some by the French Champagne house Roederer Estate. The wine reviewed below comes from the Ukiah Valley, home to several prestigious wine makers, two breweries, and a town named Ukiah once voted the #1 best small town to live in California. Bonterra is an organic wine producer who also makes biodynamic wine that costs more than twice today's offering. Their main ranch building is made of reclaimed materials.
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon (V) 2006 12.8% alcohol about $18
Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. Description: This Cabernet used only organically grown grapes. The extra effort rewards with pure and polished aromas and flavors of cassis, cherry, roasted herbs, licorice and ripe blackberry, all wrapped in silky tannins with a medium-long finish. Enjoy with rosemary-and-thyme-rubbed veal chops, or with a hearty lasagna of beef, zucchini and eggplant. Our Quality Assurance Laboratory has determined that this wine contains 15 mg/L of free sulphur. And now for my review.
With the first sips the wine was mouth-filling and quite long. The initial meal consisted of slow-cooked beef ribs with sliced potatoes and a side of eggplant roasted with the skin in lots of olive oil and garlic. The wine was very plummy with some tobacco and soft tannins. Its length was fine. The eggplant dish intensified the tobacco taste. When I added a spicy green jalapeno pepper sauce the wine stepped up to meet it.
The second meal included zucchini and onions stuffed with rice and ground beef, cooked with potatoes and spices including pepper, garlic powder and cumin. The Cabernet Sauvignon was round with black cherries and some oak; it's aged in a mixture of French and American oak. It was mouth-filling and I tasted tobacco in the background.
The final meal centered around store-bought barbecued chicken wings in a sweet and sour sauce and chicken thighs whose skin was dusted with paprika. The sides were rice and green beans in a homemade tomato sauce. Once again the wine was round; now I got more than a touch of tobacco in the background. It was quite a good match.
As usual I tasted this wine with two cheeses; a goat's milk cheese and a Swiss Emmenthaler. The Cab was fruity and long when accompanied by the goat's milk cheese. With the Swiss I noted dark cherries and tobacco, with a good length.
Final verdict. This wine was quite good. But if you don't need organic I don't think that it justified its price tag. Once in a while I've had $10 wines that are almost as good.
Author Resource:
Levi Reiss authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but prefers drinking fine wine with the right foods and people. He teaches computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com features a weekly review of $10 wines and new sections writing about and tasting organic and kosher wines. Visit his Italian travel website www.travelitalytravel.com.

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Dirt Cheap Flights - Where? - Hard To Find But They Do Exist!

You may be an expat working overseas, a frequent traveller looking forward to visiting your favourite holiday destination, or a company executive travelling often on business? Definitely you will be looking for dirt cheap flights, and will invariably find this is no easy task. How many times did you have to pay more than the normal price even after looking for discounted tickets in the internet? Late booking can cost you a lot of money. Given below are some tips for planning your trip and researching for cheap flights.




Most airlines sell their discounted tickets well in advance, sometimes even 6-7 months ahead. You can take advantage of this opportunity, if you plan your travel itinerary a few months ahead. Business travellers may find it difficult to cash in as their business meetings are generally scheduled at short notice. However if you are flexible in travel dates, you can take advantage of paying less for airlines whose flights are less likely to be full and sold out on a particular day. Traditionally airlines offer discounted fares during the mid week in domestic sectors, but prices of international flights could vary from day to day.



You can save money by comparing air fares from different airlines flying over the same sector. Within Australia, you may be able to fly cheaper with budget airlines such as Tiger airways, Jetstar or Virgin Blue rather than flying with Qantas. Similarly for domestic travellers within India, there are so many budget airlines such as Kingfisher, Jetlight etc offering dirt cheap flights. Note of caution however when travelling budget airlines is that you need to check if quoted price includes all taxes, carry on luggage, seat allocation and in-flight meals etc, as traditional airlines do not charge extra for these services.



Travel companies such as Go Holiday in conjunction with Air Asia offer holiday packages from Australian cities to many holiday destinations in Malaysia. All these packages can be booked via internet (airasia.com). Internet booking needs attention to details though, making sure you click the correct date, destination etc. The slightest mistake can cost you money as no refunds are given once the booking order goes through.



Travelling during off peak period also saves significantly, as airlines and hotels offer cheap rates during off peak periods. It will be expensive to travel during school holidays too. Simply avoid travelling during school vacations if you do not have to travel with your children. Basically if you choose not to travel at a time when everyone else travels, you can save money.



Every airline does not fly every day of the week, and often these airlines could be the ones who have got cheapest fares. So it makes sense to check the airline schedule before deciding date of travel. Some airlines offer cheap rates during certain time windows such as after midnight. For example Virgin Blue offers cheap fares during "happy hour" 10.00am to 11.00am Australian EST.



The above various ways to find dirt cheap flights may look a bit messy at times, with so many constraints when planning to travel. Therefore one must strive to look for other avenues which may yield better results. You will certainly be better off by finding short-cuts which reveals more secrets to find better deals.

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Venice, Italy - San Marco District Hotels

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The San Marco district is situated in central Venice. Who hasn't heard of Piazza San Marco, "The drawing room of Europe"? It's the only square in Venice to merit the name Piazza, all the others are called Campi. In the words of Wikipedia "As the central landmark and gathering place for Venice, Piazza San Marco is extremely popular with tourists, photographers, and pigeons." Given Venice's relatively small size, you can enjoy San Marco without staying there, but you may wish to take advantage of this great location and stay in the neighborhood. For your convenience we have listed district hotels in approximate order of cost, starting with the least expensive. We have personally verified all hotel websites to make sure that they include English-language pages.


There are only three rooms in the Al Teatro bed and breakfast so you better reserve early in anything but the off-off season. The largest room has a balcony and can hold four beds. The Teatro in the name is Teatro La Fenice (the Phoenix) the Venice Opera House that has twice risen from the ashes. One of the owners was born in this very house so we are really talking about a family operation. The bed and breakfast address is Fondamenta della Fenice, San Marco 2554.

The Ca' dei Dogi offers six rooms and an attic apartment ensconced in a Fifteenth Century Palace a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Piazza. You get a view of the Doge's Palace and breakfast in the courtyard. There's a restaurant on-site where you can enjoy traditional Venetian specialties. Some of the rooms have private terraces and wall tapestries and mosaic tiles abound. The hotel address is Corte Santa Scolastica, Castello 4242.

The Locanda Orseolo Hotel is almost right around the corner from the Piazza. This family-owned hotel faces the Orseolo Canal. There's a quiet courtyard and each room is dedicated to a Carnevale theme. There are 12 rooms. The hotel address is Corte Zorzi off Campo San Gallo, San Marco 1083.

The Novecento family-run hotel is only a short walk from the Piazza. Their rooms are decorated in a variety of styles. While there is no on-site fitness center, guests are welcome to use the nearby Hotel Flora's fitness center that even offers a personal trainer. Weather permitting, breakfast is served in the courtyard. As an extra attraction the hotel also organizes art exhibitions, giving the guests an opportunity to meet local and national artists. The hotel address is Calle del Dose, Campo San Maurizio, San Marco 2683/84.

The Bauer Il Palazzo is quite luxurious. You'll eat breakfast on Venice's highest rooftop terrace, Il Settimo Cielo (Do you need a translation?) The terrace also boasts an outdoor hot tub and none of the 44 rooms and 38 suites are decorated the same. There's an exercise room complete with personal trainers, a bar, and a gourmet restaurant where you can dine indoors or on the terrace. The hotel address is Campo San Moise, San Marco 1413/d.
Vino Con Vista Florence and Tuscany: Wine With a View of Italy (Volume 1)

Restaurant Dining | Trattorias and Restaurants in Vernazza | Cinque Terre | Italy Travel

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Restaurant Dining | Trattorias and Restaurants in Vernazza | Cinque Terre | Italy Travel

If you’re staying in this town during your Cinque Terre holidays, there are enough restaurants and trattorias here to keep you nicely fed.

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Sicily: A Story of Sitting Around « baroquesicily.com – Sicily Stories and Travel Tips from Jann Huizenga
The pictures say it all.

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Almost Wordless Wednesday: Lardo!

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In the past the lard provided the quarrymen with much needed calories, but now it is a renowned delicacy and people journey to Colonnata to enjoy it, because it has a richness and delicacy cured lard from elsewhere simply lacks.

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This dish is a great way to incorporate all the fresh vegetables of spring from wild asparagus to roman artichokes & sweet fava. The dish originated in Rome, they called it vignarola or vignole but it can be found here as well in Le Marche. It's a versatile dish that you can make as a primo or pasta dish or as a stew/soup by adding more vegetable stock (and a good hunk of crusty bread).

Red wine runs with the lambs | battlecreekenquirer.com | The Enquirer

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Springtime is a popular time to serve lamb, and a glass of red wine can make a great companion to leg of lamb or lamb chops, whether roasted or grilled.

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If you’re not familiar with Italy’s Aeolian Islands, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

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What NOT to do When Moving Internationally

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Moving overseas is generally a very exciting time in your life. However, you know that it's not going to be an easy job. Considering how many things need to be done and the huge change to your life, it's certainly worth taking the time to think about what to realistically expect.

Regardless of your reason for moving, you will never regret doing things the right way. It may only take you a day or two to get to your new country, but it will truly take weeks or months of ocean shipping for your belongings to get there. Don't you think that many people have moved overseas and then realized how many common mistakes they made in the process? Absolutely. Accept the fact that regardless of how well you try to do, you are probably going to make some mistakes. The primary thing is to do as well as possible to avoid added stress, money and time.

1) One major mistake that people make when moving overseas is to think of it as an escape. Making an international move is much different than taking a vacation overseas. Regardless of where one lives, there are going to be stresses, disappointments and problems. As a matter of fact, moving in itself can be quite stressful, perhaps causing you to periodically wonder if you should move at all.

2) Don't be unrealistic about what you are doing. No matter where you live, you are going to have to continue paying bills, working and dealing with relationships. It's important to have a positive mindset and yet know that the move will be stressful at times and also know that day-to-day living will commence. All of your problems are not going to miraculously disappear by making an international move. In fact, it's best to resolve as many issues as possible before moving and therefore, feel like you can move on with your life rather than escaping from current problems.

3) Don't expect things to be the same in your new country, but plan on lots of change. Don't ever forget that you are now the foreigner, the visitor, the stranger in this new country. Just assume that you are going to be misunderstood and make some mistakes. For example, if you are moving to England, you will find that they live by an entirely different set of rules and regulations. Rather than argue or complain about this, just accept the fact that you are no longer in your home country. Also, if you complain or argue too much, people in your new country will begin to dislike you because you will appear arrogant and surly.

4) Do not make negative comments about their cars, food, laws, weather, culture or homes. Slowly acclimate yourself, being kind and courteous at all times. In some countries, people are more formal at first, so accept that and be polite in all circumstances. Do not act arrogant and aggressive, but let it be known that you are new and need some help from time to time. Unless you are absolutely positive of the correct usage, do not use their slang and never try to speak with their accent. You will be amazed at how helpful people will be if you remain respectful and courteous and ask for their assistance.

5) Do not make any long-term commitments to anyone. Your move is likely based on some type of relationship with friends, employers, and business associates. These people are going to try to help you make good choices about moving, getting a job, a home, etc. However, it is important to remember to give yourself plenty of time before making any commitments at all. Don't sign your name on any important contracts until you are certain of what they entail. You need to reserve the right to your own preferences by waiting and avoiding a bad situation later. Take your time and spend a few months, even a year, in your new country before making any major decisions such a buying a home, a job, or a vehicle.

6) Find a reputable international moving company as soon as possible. Most likely, you are going to have to ship by ocean in order to move all of your belongings. You have paid good money for your belongings and you need to know that they will be well taken care of. As soon as you know that you are moving overseas, you need to start getting information from various moving companies. You need to get a minimum of three quotes from reputable international moving companies. It's possible that you do not yet have your visas yet, but representatives from the companies will need time to come to your home and access everything to go on your inventory form. They will need to know about every single thing in your home that needs to be moved.

There are always possible problems, especially during the difficult task of relocating. Thankfully, most of them can be avoided by careful thought and planning. Give yourself plenty of time and realize that although you might make some mistakes along the way, you will soon be in your new country, learning a new culture, and broadening your horizons.



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Bassano del Grappa and Italy's White Asparagus Season - WSJ.com

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Bassano del Grappa and Italy's White Asparagus Season - WSJ.com

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A Wine Lover's Weekly Guide To $10 Wines - A South African Rose

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South Africa is a major wine producer, ranking seventh in volume. It has been in the wine business for centuries. Most South African wine is produced within a few hours of Cape Town blessed with a mostly Mediterranean climate. This particular wine comes from the relatively cool Elgin Valley in the western Cape.

South Africa's signature grape is Pinotage, which is a cross between Cinsault and Pinot Noir, both of which originated in France. This red grape has lost popularity in South Africa over the years and never became popular anywhere else in the world. I know I haven't tried drinking many Pinotage wines. Let's give it a chance.

OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.

Wine Reviewed Slowine Rose, 2008 13.0% alcohol about $10.00

Let's start with the marketing materials. Description: We agree with Wine Enthusiast, this is a 'very pretty' rose. Read the note below -- this is a great buy. Tasting Note: [58% Pinotage, 28% Pinot Noir and 14% Shiraz] This classic, restrained rose offers a wave of lemon, cherry and strawberry on the nose and refreshing, crisp berry flavors on the palate. Acids and fruit are very well balanced and the wine finishes clean with a slight spin of sugar. Very pretty and a great everyday sipper. Score - 86. (Susan Kostrzewa, Wine Enthusiast, March 1, 2009) And now for my review.

At first tasting the wine had mouth-puckering acidity, and yet was light. It lingered in my mouth with a definite berry taste. The initial meal consisted of bagels, cream cheese, and Atlantic smoked salmon (lox). The wine was quite refreshing, tasting of raspberries. By the way, with the salmon its acidity was bang on.

The second meal consisted of stewed okra in tomato, garlic, and onion sauce over rice and eggplant grilled with its skin and covered in lots of oil, garlic and lemon. Accompanying the okra this rose tasted of raspberry and some lemon. It had light acidity with just a touch of sweetness and was quite refreshing. With the eggplant the wine was palate cleansing and once again raspberries predominated. On the other hand when it faced a raspberry and rhubarb pie the wine was initially disappointing. I hoped that the raspberry taste of the wine would meld with the pie. At first this didn't happen but as I continued the combined raspberry taste intensified. The second dessert (sometimes we indulge) was a homemade peach, pear, and strawberry cobbler garnished with chocolate chips. The rose had fine acidity with a touch of sweetness.

The final meal consisted of a commercial boxed vegetarian eggplant rolatini that included eggs, ricotta cheese, and tomatoes. I added a lot of grated Parmesan cheese. The wine had bright acidity with a lot of lemony taste. It wasn't the least bit unpleasant and had a nice length. I ended this meal with a high-quality chocolate-coated vanilla ice cream bar. The wine and the dessert simply didn't mesh.

I finished the tasting with two cheeses. The first cheese was a sheep's milk feta. The rose was fruity but short. Then I tried a brick cheese. The wine was somewhat longer and fruitier, but all in all the wine and cheese pairings weren't up to the rest.

Final verdict. I really liked this wine. I made sure to finish every drop and would be happy to buy it again.
Author Resource:- Levi Reiss authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but really prefers drink fine German, Italian, or other wine. He teaches various computer classes at an Ontario French-language community college. His global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com features a weekly review of $10 wines and new sections writing about and tasting organic and kosher wines. Visit his wine, nutrition, and health website www.wineinyourdiet.com .

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Knowing Rome: What is the best time for me to travel to Rome?

Knowing Rome: What is the best time for me to travel to Rome?