Depaul Travel

If you love fine wine, it would be hard to find a more enjoyable vacation experience than the Napa Valley.

A visit to Napa is not just a chance to see where wine is made, or to explore the upscale shops and stores that now have found their way into the tiniest of Napa Valley communities. Rather, a trip to the valley is an almost spiritual journey that presents you at once with the beauty of 63,000 acres of vineyards and the industry that has brought a European elegance to the Valley lifestyle.

It was once quite sleepy, but the town of Napa has been changed forever by its wine industry. With 75,000 residents, Napa has become a city in its own right ‘ albeit with the feel of a small town. There are several major new shopping complexes and you’ll also see that Napa Valley is keeping up with one of the latest trends: downtown wine bars that enable you to do your tastings without even venturing into the countryside.

Up the 30-mile-long valley are much smaller towns such as Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga ‘ each an easy and scenic drive from Napa and all of them offering their own unique versions of what a Napa Valley wine town should be all about. Taken together, the towns of the Napa Valley offer a Disneyland for wine-lovers whose E-ticket rides will include some of the most famous labels in the world. But even if you are only mildly curious about wine, the chateaus, the gorgeous vistas, the educational tours that show you every step of the wine-making process ‘ all of these things will make a Napa Valley visit worthwhile.

It’s impossible to see any more than a small sample of wineries on your weekend or daytrip, and we’re told that people from the Bay area just drive up to Napa week after week checking off a few more wineries from their list each time. Most of the wineries charge for wine tastings ‘ although we did come across one that didn’t ‘ and either your pocketbook or your alcohol tolerance will probably limit the number of wineries you can visit on any given day.

That free tasting was at V. Sattui Winery, where on a Sunday afternoon the gift shop and deli were buzzing with people, and lines were forming along the wine bar to taste the latest offerings. Located in St. Helena, this winery is a popular stop for visitors who want to buy a bottle of wine and then picnic on the beautifully landscaped grounds. The winery even sets up a buffet line out on the grounds, offering barbecue for those who didn’t bring their brown bags. Interestingly, V. Sattui does not sell its wine anyplace other than the winery, by mail order, or from the company web site.

While V. Sattui is typical of a relatively small family-run winery, the other end of the scale is Domaine Chandon, which we found in Yountville. With spectacular park grounds and a four-star gourmet restaurant just footsteps from where the wine is made, Domaine Chandon is an example of a winery owned by a large conglomerate that distributes its product world-wide. We decided to take the 45-minute tour of this massive facility and found it well worth the time. Small groups are shown how wine is made, all the way from grape-growing to final production. The tour helped explain to us many of the process behind wine-making.

Most people visiting Napa Valley focus, of course, on the wine and the many fine restaurants that have chosen to locate in the Valley. Shopping also is a big part of any Napa holiday. But the other place where the Napa Valley shines is in the impressive array of accommodations up and down the valley, from historic bed-and-breakfast inns to exquisite boutique-style resorts. Most are obsessive about providing the most and the best amenities and service. They know that some of the world’s most discerning travelers spend time in the Napa Valley, and these innkeepers want the accommodations to be in the same league as Napa’s world-renowned wines.

We found that certainly to be the case at Meadowood, an impressive resort tucked along one edge of the Valley near downtown St. Helena. You can imagine yourself going to a country estate — here you go through a security gate and enter a lush world of green lawns, meandering trails and thick forests. Strategically positioned here and there are attractive resort buildings that seem to add to the area’s ambiance rather than detract from it.

If this were the 1920′s, it’s easy to imagine that Jay Gatsby would have loved Meadowood. It’s very fancy, but every-day working people will enjoy it as well. Whether it was lounging by one of the inviting pools or enjoying breakfast in Meadowood’s elegant cafe, we encountered many families and couples who just seemed to be enjoying the chance to luxuriate at one of the best resorts in the Valley.

We especially enjoyed our Meadowood suite, one of the newer accommodations at the resort, and situated on one of the forested hillsides. It gave us the feeling of being in a luxurious vacation home in the woods ‘ cozy, yet spacious with its high ceilings and open floor plan. A full living room included a fireplace, an attractive wall case, a couch and extra easy chairs for guests. The bedroom was especially decorative, featuring a window seat and bay windows. Thick white robes, down comforters, state-of-the-art home entertainment ‘ these and many other upscale amenities were all there.

A short walk from our suite was the recreation area ‘ with its 25-yard lap pool, family pool and expansive lawn — and the Health Spa, where guests can enjoy skincare, body treatments and massage therapies. Fitness trainers and private yoga instructors are waiting for your call. Fitness is never far from your mind at Meadowood, where you’ll also find saunas, steam rooms, seven tennis courts, hiking/biking trails and two championship croquet lawns.

You can find both fine and casual dining at Meadowood. The Restaurant at Meadowood features California cuisine, while the Grill offers light meals overlooking the golf course. We felt that the most relaxing experience would be simply to dine-in and enjoy our luxurious suite.

Even if this was not the Napa Valley, Meadowood would stand on its own as a premiere destination resort. But the fact that this was the Napa Valley meant that we couldn’t just hole up and relax the entire weekend ‘ there was far too much to see and do.

The shopping and wineries were great, but we also just enjoyed driving this scenic valley. From Napa to Calistoga, we found communities that were each just a little different and each with its own selection of panoramic views. We enjoyed stopping alongside the road and taking close-up pictures of the grapevines, or angling for the best view of the Valley and its vines.

Interestingly, the feeling you get from so much natural beauty is kind of like the satisfaction you get from the perfect glass of wine. It’s all part of the amazing power of the grapevine.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: The Napa Valley is about 45 miles northeast of San Francisco or about 60 miles southwest of Sacramento.

WHAT: The Napa Valley has become famous because of the grapes grown in this location. Grapes grown in different climates, soils and locations have different characteristics and Napa Valley grapes are judged to be some of the best in the world for making several varieties of fine wine. Accordingly, more than 300 wineries now have located in the Valley. Fine restaurants, lodging and shopping have also come to the Valley.

WHEN: Any time of year. A special bonus comes in August and September during the annual grape harvest. You can sometimes see first-hand how the grapes are crushed. Hint: Most of them don’t do it like Lucy Ricardo did.

WHY: The Valley has an almost mystical ambiance that is hard to describe, but easy to discern.

HOW: You can find out more information about the Napa Valley by going to www.napavintners.com or www.napachamber.org. To learn more about Meadowood, call (800) 458-8080 or go to www.meadowood.com.

Alvin Starkman, M.A., LL.B.

 

It took a reduction in Oaxaca’s tourism and an increase in staff to bring La Biznaga back into my good books.  While we never actually stopped patronizing the trendy, relaxed eatery in downtown Oaxaca, the painstakingly slow service coupled with a sometimes snooty attitude of the wait staff was enough to cause us to caution both our house guests and fellow residents.  But word does get around, and that, combined with the reality check caused by the social and political unrest in the latter half of 2006 resulting in empty downtown streets (all now long gone) must have caused management to take a step back, re-evaluate, and act.  And it’s worked.

 

The complacent attitude has disappeared.  Once again waiters have smiles on their faces and interact with clientele with helpful suggestions, even when serving new faces.  The staff complement has significantly increased, and now even includes a school-aged busboy-esque youngster.

 

Drinks and complimentary seasoned carrot sticks arrive promptly, orders are taken when you’re ready to proceed, with appetizers and main courses arriving without table discussion about how much longer to wait before just picking up and leaving.

 

And so a testimony to the always consistent quality and presentation of fare, and welcoming ambience, La Biznaga has managed to maintain a following of residents and tourists alike in the face of its earlier seemingly deliberate shortcomings. 

 

The atmosphere is open courtyard, with a fashionable retractable roof protecting from  mid-day sun and seasonal rains; tables and chairs are wood, á la simplicity of arts-and-crafts vogue, comfort enhanced by wicker seats and backs; a selection of palms willows off to one side, with tall leafy tree mid-court; the bar by design provides a focal point given that its selections are contained on an overhead blackboard; and a rotating selection of gallery art graces the walls.  Music is most often jazz, but eclectically ranges off to other similar genres, thereby maintaining an air of coolness in the beatnik sense of the term. 

 

Enormous chalkboards, one at either end of the restaurant, contain the menu selections, print somewhat cryptic … interesting to say the least.  Be sure to bring your glasses, or strain your eyes over the tables of others, or simply get up and walk closer to the cartes du jour and you’ll be fine.  On the other hand, our experience over the past three years has been that one cannot go too far wrong choosing blindly.  Appetizers, soups and salads range from about 35 – 100 pesos, and entrées (meat, fish or fowl) come in at 65 to 200.

 

La Biznaga is known for its cocktails, and in particular its margaritas and mojitos, served as in the case with all other beverages, in classic Mexican blue accented thick hand-blown glassware (vidrio soplado).  The mezcals are also noteworthy for the selections offered. Pretty well all of the bar servings are healthy, and prices across the board are competitive, mezcals beginning at, get this, 15 pesos.

 

But we’re here for dinner.  La Silvestre is a mushroom soup, more in the nature of a light broth devoid of dairy, containing a selection of wild hongos including setas, along with bacon, onion and chile poblano … a must for toadstool enthusiasts.  Rarely does a visit go by when I won’t indulge.

 

Las Calendas is a starter worthy of selection.  While described as tamales, there is no corn, but rather squash blossom and melted string cheese (quesillo) enveloped with tender hierba santa leaf, an herb with a distinct taste used in preparation of many Oaxacan dishes yet not often enough as a single flavor source.  You’re apt to recall, “so that’s  the exquisite essence I’ve been enjoying all this trip.”  The triptych is presented with sides of refried beans and diced spiced tomato, and topped with a drizzle of cream.  Another worthy triumvirate is the Cerro Viejo, crunchy fried tortilla horns stuffed with seasoned sautéed hibiscus (jamaica) flower, presented with a center of guacamole crowned with chipotle peppers.  It would be a mistake to not share each of these two tasters.

 

The grilled salmon is served over a bed of cilantro pesto, with lightly dressed side salad comprised of select lettuce, tomato and pineapple wedges which, together with pine nuts in the entrée provide complimentary crunches.  The tuna, similar to the salmon in terms of a good sized serving prepared to the exact degree of doneness as demanded, arrives on a sea of avocado salsa and is topped with pico de gallo, a flavorful traditional combination of tomato, radish, cucumber, onion, chile and cilantro, with an added tang of lime. Finally, my  own entrée on this outing consists of four filets of chicken breast each wrapped around a piece of cooked plantain with just enough walnut crumbles to be detected and welcomed, presented on a platter of puréed guava set off with swirls of cream. 

 

The distinctive flavors one has just experienced almost call out for further indulgence, and thus dessert is difficult to neglect:  on this evening healthy scoops of pistachio sorbet (nieve) are served in a margarita schooner, and chocolate truffle-cake (trufa) floats on a strawberry coulis.

 

It’s indeed a rarity for a restaurant to exhibit this level of consistency in quality of cuisine.  Now if La Biznaga can only maintain a degree of humility translating into value-added service, there’s no stopping its continued success, nor reason for patrons to ever again hesitate stopping by. 

 

La Biznaga, Garcia Vigil 512, Centro Histórico, Oaxaca (tel: 516-1800)

 

Melbourne, Victoria, is a vibrant and attractive city with a unique selection of budget and exclusive accommodation with many things to do for the visitor such as attractions and tours.

Melbourne has always been a tourist destination in Australia due to its unique characteristics and gateway to outstanding natural scenery.

With many great accommodation specials and interesting tours, visitors get to enjoy the eclectic mix of modern and historical sites around the CBD whilst sampling the great selection of dining and bars. 

Melbourne has also become known as the Major Sporting Capital of Australia

Some Australian sporting events are bigger than others, they bring the nation to a standstill, bring family and friends together and give us a good excuse to fire up the barbeque and watch the drama unfold. 

Over the last century Melbourne has proven itself to be the sports capital of Australia due to its success of holding major internationally acclaimed sporting events.

We take a look at some of the key sporting events in Melbourne that captivate the nations hearts;

The Melbourne Cup Carnival – Flemington Racecourse

Billed as ‘The race that stops the nation’ the Melbourne Cup is Australia’s largest annual thoroughbred horse race.  The annual race is run at Flemington Racecourse Melbourne and was inaugurated in 1861.  The race is part of the Spring Racing Carnival in Victoria which last year attracted over 730,000 people.

AFL Grand Final Day – MCG Melbourne

The 2008 Grand Final proved that this is without out doubt the most cruel and exciting game of the year.  Over 4 quarters the game decides where football dreams are made and who’s dreams are to be shattered. 

Fans and players of the Australian Football League have spent the last year watching the teams play it out in the hope that their team, the one who has put them through emotional highs and lows, will run out onto the MCG on Grand Final Day and bring the flag home.

3 Mobile Boxing Day Test

The Boxing Day Test match has become a cultural tradition for Victorians.  The Boxing Day Test is the biggest day in the Australian cricketing calendar and has provided the games finest and most memorable moments at the home of Australian cricket, the MCG.  More:

Australian Open Tennis Championships

Steeped with over 100 years of tradition, the Australian Open is one of the world’s greatest sporting events. The history of the event has spanned over a 100 years, during which time inspiration players such as Pat Cash and Roger Federer have fought to victory on the courts of Melbourne since 1971 where the game has been ever since. 

The game is now held in and around the Vodaphone Arena, last year over 500,000 people came to watch the stars smash it out. More:

The Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park

The Australian leg of the annual Formula One championship season is held on the stunning Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit.  Since moving from Adelaide the annual F1 race is enjoyed by many who squeeze around the Albert Park lake to watch the teams compete for the podium. 

Arguably one of the most stunning courses due its proximity to the lake, the CBD and Port Phillip Bay, this race attracts a lot of interest from the world motoring media.

For more information on Melbourne accommodation, attractions and tours visit the planbooktravel Melbourne page: http://www.planbooktravel.com.au/regions/australia/vic/melbourne

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