Why I love the Carmel & Monterey Wineries

By Philip Vonwrede


Among the seven appelations that encompass Monterey County, Carmel valley houses Monterey wineries, which is definitely unlike no other.You can find the Monterey wineries amidst the towering landscape of Santa Lucia. With this, Carmel valley is able to survive despite of the daytime fogs and gusts of wind during summer days due to its warm climate, which is remarkablt beneficial to many types of red wines like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Camel valley village is uniquely filled with attractive looking spaces for wine tasting representing the fast progress of wineries in this area.

My first pick is Ventana Vineyards. Randy Pura owns Ventana vineyards, a winery room in Monterey wineries and J. Douglas Meador produces the wine. The Ventana vineyards different a wide range of wine varieties including Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Gewurztraminer, Meritage, Muscat, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Shiraz/ Syrah and Sauvignon Blanc. Tasting wine at Ventana vineyards is usually charged at a fee which is essentially waived with a purchase. There are various amenities you can enjoy here including barrel room, gift shop, scenic views, meeting facilities and others.

Another winery in Carmel valley wineries, Talbott vineyards is owned by Robb Talbott and its Chardonnays have made this winery a legendary in its own right. The vineyards were launched in 1982 when the first grapes were planted on the Diamond T vineyard. Since then, the winery has continued to flourish and it today rated among the top wineries in Montreal County. It has continued to release a wide selection of top wine varietals since its inception.

Standing out, Parsonage Village Vineyard is a great

choice. Bill and Mary Parsons co-own the parsonage village vineyard, a winery in Carmel valley and Bill Parsons produces wine at this vineyard. The various wine varieties produced here include the Bordeaux Blend, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Petite Verdot, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc. Its unique location in Carmel valley wineries provides them with the advantage of the best climatological conditions for winery production.

Primarily, Chateau Julien Wine Estate is one of the larger vineyards. Chateau Julien Wine Estate boasts of a myriad of amenities for their guests such as manicured gardens, visitor facilities, covered patios, expansive areas and a vineyard that produces wine right in the 'Chateau'. Within a 6 acre land and a fully equipped barrel room, the wines there are consist of ferment aged wines and Chardonnay barreled longer in the oak. Some other wines that they have are cream sherry and port.

Also one of the winery vineyards in Montreal wineries, Bernardus winery and vineyards offers Bernardus as their main brand of wine. Nevertheless, there are still other signature varietals which include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. If you plan to visit Bernardus winery and vineyards, you should expect to find world class amenities like the art display/ museum, restaurant where you can purchase food and nice places for events such as weddings.




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Affordable Wine Trips: Livermore Wineries

By Philip Vonwrede


At the moment, Livermore Wineries is undergoing a major reformation in term of their wine. Over 40 wineries and vineyards scatter the 5,000-acre land that completes Livermore Wineries and has mastered developing Spanish and California varietals. The newest one to venture the wine business is boutique across well-kept vintage properties. These have positively improved the status of the state of California as a serious wine producing location. Not only that, this wine region has a myriad of leisure activities offered all throughout the year. Nearly all of the wineries in Livermore open their tasting rooms without any fee, the others that do only charge reasonably.

3 Steves Winery

The idea of starting 3 Steves winery was hatched by three friends who were just comfortably sitting enjoying some wine where they thought of starting their own wine machinery. They had previously owned a small winery boutique and had the necessary skills of making it in wine industry and staring their own label wasn't a major challenge as such. Their philosophy is buying the best quality wine making grapes in the region where great varietals grow in Livermore and transform the same to wine at their facility.

Concannon Vineyard

In terms of size, Concannon is certainly one of the leaders in Livermore wineries. They are able to package more than 30,000 wine cases every year and have Concannon and Petite Sirah wine they bestsellers. They also have other varieties of wine produced to accommodate every kind of preference and another outstanding blend that they carry is their Chardonnay. Founded by James COncannon in 1883, The Wine Group own Concannon Vineyard. Ever since, they have been the primary provider of the wine needs of the Roman Catholic church and they are distinguished to as the California Historical Landmark.

Garre Vineyard & Winery

Garre Vineyard & Winery is surrounded by beautiful scenery and is part of Livermore wineries. The vineyard has unique panoramic views that give visitors spectacular backdrops as they enjoy what the winery has to offer. Garre Vineyard & Winery to be the producer of award winning wines and it is one of the greatest destinations in California where visitors keep coming back again and again.

Red Feather Winery & Vineyard

Bearing the catch phrase "Wine From The Heart", Red Feather Winery & Vineyard is owned by Dan and Connie. Ever since 2005, they had produced the best quality of wine and made sure that when people come to taste it, they are placed in a beautiful and comfortable tasting area. Some of their finest wines include Gunnar Cabernet Sauvignon, Jaidem's Dessert wine, Livermore Merlot and a lot more. Guests can check this out every Saturday from 12 o'clock noon to 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

Wente Vineyards

Founded more than a century ago as part of Livermore wineries, the family owned Wente Vineyards is regarded as the oldest winery in the country. Presently, the winery is still recognized as a leader in the wine making industry of California and has been managed by consecutive generations of Wente family. Currently, they blend innovative and traditional wine making practices on their vineyards located on over 3,000 acres of land and have created a unique portfolio as being a producer of world's fine wines in Livermore region.




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Hana Tours By Bus On Hi-360 In Maui, Hawaii

By Rena Hudson


There's no dearth of spectacular beaches and waterfalls in Hawaii, but Hana tours offer an experience unlike anything else on the islands. Located in an isolated corner on the eastern tip of Maui, it is the last unspoiled tropical paradise in the Hawaiian Islands. Visitors will be immersed in lush greenery and natural beauty so often promised in the tourist brochures, but seldom seen in reality.

The usual point of entry into this area is through Kahului Airport. The tourist experience begins almost immediately, once the tour bus is clear of Kahului and heads out on the HI-360 towards Hana. This 52 mile trip is among the most popular things to do in Hawaii.

Navigating the 620 treacherous curves and 59 bridges requires a driver with a great deal of skill and knowledge of this route. Many of the bridges and hairpin curves take an eternity to cross because only one lane of vehicles can cross at a time. All of this is irrelevant for passengers entranced by the incredible natural beauty on display.

For those who want to enjoy this as a proper tour, there are air conditioned tour buses. The large windows offer a spectacular view of the coast and the scenery as the bus winds its way through the highway hugging the eastern coast. There will be many stops along the way at bridges, waterfalls and scenic points of interest where tourists can get off the bus and admire the beauty and historical attractions.

One of these stops is at the Puohokamoa Falls. The lower falls here tumbles down 130 feet into the ocean. Another serene spot where the bus stops is called the Ohe'o Gulch Pools, also known as the Seven Sacred Pools. Visitors can spend some time taking a dip in the pools. Just before the bus reaches Hana, it stops at the Black Sand Beach, which is in Waianapanapa State Park.

Yet another place for a relaxing break is the Tedeschi Winery. Passengers can get off the bus, explore the winery and get a taste of some of their wines. Keanae Peninsula is also a popular attraction, created by lava flowing out of the Haleakala Crater. The never-ending and momentous battle between the jagged lava stones and the ocean waves offers clear evidence that man has no control over the elements in this part of the world.

After all this, visitors enter into Hana and are presented with the spectacular Hana Bay and historic attractions such as the Hasegawa General Store. Most tours will also stop by at the Kahanu Garden Botanical Gardens and the 13th century temple there, better known locally as Pi'ilanihale Heiau. Beaches included among the stops are Hamoa Beach and Hana Beach Park.

Hana tours don't end in the town, because getting back to civilization requires another drive on Hi-360. Visitors on a tour bus will likely go back the same way they came, but some tours and people in their own vehicle may decide to continue past the town to the Palapala Ho'omau Church. It is famous and well worth a stop because it has Charles Lindbergh's grave. The road continues past the church and snakes ahead towards the opposite coast and then through the island's central part back to Kahului, making this tour a round trip of Maui.




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