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Showing posts from January, 2009

Great books worth reading

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Wine Country International ® magazine’s Book Reviews by Christopher J Davies Ratings: good, very good, excellent, must read Wine Works: Wine books worth reading The Billionaire’s Vinegar Author: Benjamin Wallace Rating: Must Read Publisher: Crown Publishing Format: Hardcover, 336 pages Price: $24.95 Web Page: http://www.benjaminwallace.net ISBN-10: 0307338770 ISBN-13: 978-0307338778 This is one of those books that you really cannot put down. It covers a very historical & expensive bottle of 1787 Chateau Lafite Bordeaux—unearthed in a Paris cellar and supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson—it went for $156,000 to a member of the Forbes family. This book is full of suspense and mystery. After reading it you will wonder about how many wines purchased at auctions may also be flawed… quietly sitting in their new owners cellar. This was one exciting and intriguing book that I hoped would be turned into a movie…it seems like my wish will come true! Escape Artists and Ove

Touring & Tasting Tips

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Touring & Tasting Tips 1. PLAN BEFORE YOU GO . Many of the world's famed wine regions contain dozens of wineries, from vast multi-national conglomerates to virtual garage operations. Most are clustered as tightly as old vine Zinfandel grapes along the main artery, though several sprout on scenic, corkscrewing country roads. Traffic, especially during harvest (autumn, or spring in the Southern Hemisphere) and summer, can be heavy. To maximize your time, avoid mid- and late-afternoon visits, especially on weekends. Winery staffers are usually more attentive weekdays, and you might even luck into meeting the winemaker at smaller operations. Allot at least one hour for a full-scale tour and tasting and factor in travel time between wineries. Complex ordinances require some establishments to open by appointment only (a few, such as Bordea

What to do in Munich for an afternoon

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What to do in Munich for an afternoon Story and photos(C) 2009 by Christopher J Davies Darcy and I had the good fortune of staying a day in Munich on our return from a cruise of Eastern Europe. Since our connecting flight to Denver was early morning, we decided to stay close to the airport. To our delight we found the 5-Star, Kempinski Hotel Airport München on line. Cost was $200 USD on Priceline.com. The hotel is located in the middle of both terminals, making it extremely convenient. After picking up our luggage, we had a short 5-minute walk from the terminal through an outdoor courtyard to the hotel. The Kempinski Hotel Airport features unique and modern architecture from Helmut Jahn. Its stunningly soaring glass roof and grand atrium lobby provides a friendly welcome for the dreary traveler. The staff is friendly and expedient. The rooms are well appointed with modern bathrooms, comfortable bedding and desk areas. The pool and spa were exceptional and included with the room rate.