On Wednesday May 8, Wine Trail Traveler, LLC announced the establishment of the Wine Tourism Club. This club is free and for people who visit wineries and wine tasting rooms while traveling.

Benefits: The Wine Tourism Club provides a way for visitors to winery tasting rooms to keep track of their visits to wineries and of course receiving a personalized certificate for “bragging” rights.

Membership in the Winery Tourism Club is free. Download the application, complete the application and send it to Wine Trail Traveler LLC. You will receive a membership certificate.

Currently six levels are available. The first level will be Pioneer ranging from 1 to 99 visits. You can get your first certificate after visiting 100 different wineries. The following certificates are Pathfinder 100 visits, Voyager 200 visits, Wayfarer 300 visits, Crusader 400 visits, and Globetrotter 500 visits.

Wine Tourism Club applications are available online:

• pdf application
• Excel file application

Download a copy of the application and keep it in your car or carry it with you when you travel.  For more information visit the wine tourism page.

We hope you enjoy participating in the Wine Tourism Club.

Cheers!

Kathy

The winter edition of the Wine Trail Traveler Quarterly was just released. It is now available at http://winetrailtraveler.com/newsletter/magwinter1213.pdf.

This issue is filled with photos from our recent visit to wineries in North Carolina. North Carolina offers delightful wineries large and small but all with delightful experiences and stories.

We were able to include a visit to Biltmore Estates that also includes the most visited winery in the United States. One North Carolina winery has a unique connection with llamas. Check out the llama photo we took while at Divine Llama Vineyards.

While in North Carolina we asked wineries for recipes that use wine as one of the ingredients. Three recipes we collected are in the Quarterly.

Since our fall edition of the Quarterly, we have published our first book, A Wine Journey. Frequently people have asked us questions about our first experience publishing a book, so we have included answers to several questions.

Winter is the time for Icewines. Our Icewine article provides insight into the production of Icewine and provides  information about Icewine festivals for 2013.

Meghan Neumeier has written an article in her Wine in the Bible series. This time she explores why Daniel refused wine from King Nebuchadnezzar.

We hope you enjoy this winter edition.

Cheers!
Kathy and Terry

Wine Trail Traveler is expanding their current website with the addition of Virtual Visits.

Golan Heights Winery, Israel

With so many wineries and vineyards in the world and more wineries opening as much as we would like to we cannot possibly visit all of them. There are just so many wineries we would like to explore and learn about. So, we have started adding wineries to Wine Trail Traveler website under the category Virtual Visits.

These winery articles are based on phone and online interviews. Photos of each winery are provided by the individual winery.

Currently we have three virtual visit winery articles: Halter Ranch, Colterris Wines and Golan Heights.Our latest virtual winery article is Golan Heights Winery in Israel. Check out our article at http://winetrailtraveler.com/virtualvisit/golanheights.php.

Cheers! Kathy

Interested in Italian wines? Interested in great people that also enjoy wine? Then consider a trip to Northern Italy with fellow wine enthusiasts. The trip was organized by Theresa Beaver,Viticulture and Enology Certificate Coordinator Washington State University. The trip takes place during March 17th – 29th, 2013. The trip will cover wineries in the Piedmonte, Tuscany and Veneto. There are only four spots left.

Kathy and I would love to attend another wine trek with this group; however, at the same time we will be next door in Zagreb, Croatia presenting at the 5th International Wine Tourism Conference. We went to New Zealand with Theresa in 2010, and met many new friends. We enjoyed the focus on wineries and wine. Italy is a wonderful wine country. The different regions are unique and often have their own varietal grapes. In addition to the wines the food is great.

For more information check out the trip site.

Cheers,
Terry

Our return visit to Yadkin Valley and Swan Creek AVAs in North Carolina began Monday with a delightful visit with Chuck and Jamey Johnson, owners of two wineries about half an hour west of Winston-Salem.

The Johnsons had already started Shadow Springs Vineyard when a nearby winery became available. They purchased the neighboring winery, renaming it Windsor Run Cellars.

Chuck and Jamey knew they wanted the two wineries to have their own individual personalities and wines. Today the outside of Windsor Run Cellars tasting room is a natural reddish wood reminding one of a large cottage. Inside it offers a relaxed, cozy atmosphere. Large windows overlooking nearby vineyards make one feel as if they are in the vineyard. Wines are produced from their own vineyards and the nearby Ferguson Vineyard, a vineyard owned by “the Judge.” In addition to traditional wines, Windsor Run Cellars also produces Apple Mead and Cherry Smash. The Windsor Run wines have intriguing names including Justice, Judge’s Verdict, Hillbilly Holiday and Midnight Run.

Wine enthusiasts will also enjoy a visit to Shadow Springs Vineyard tasting room just minutes away from Windsor Run Cellars. When approaching the tasting room, travelers will see what might appear to be a small stone castle, elegant with its stone walls and trim. Inside the tasting room is a combination of maple, cherry and oak. The tasting counter is maple. Plenty of light provides a bright and cheerful atmosphere. A selection of gift items is available for purchase. Shadow Springs’ wines include traditional varietals as well as a strawberry wine named Shortcake and a red blend with dark chocolate named Dark Shadow.

When visiting Winston-Salem area be sure to stop at Windsor Run Cellars and Shadow Springs Vineyard.

Cheers, Kathy

Three Brothers Wineries in the Finger Lakes

Penguin Bay Winery, also in the Finger Lakes area, is offering wine specials for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Robert Hall Winery in Paso Robles, California has “gift-boxed specials, package deals, wine, gourmet items, books, ornaments and more.”

Wildside Winery near Versailles, Kentucky (yes Kentucky does have wineries in addition to distilleries!) has specials for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Paradise Springs Winery in Virginia is featuring special Black Friday sales and raffle drawings every hour.

Barrel Oak Winery also in Virginia is planning a Recovery Ward Weekend and Holiday Bazaar for Black Friday. They are also accepting canned goods donations for F.I.S.H.

Contact the wineries in your area today to discover their plans for Black Friday.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Cheers! Kathy

One of the main entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Close by urban areas include Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. This area offers an array of activities for families including but not limited to Dollywood, theatres, and outdoor activities.

While planning your visit to this summer wonderland, stop by one of four boutique wineries in the area. The newest winery, Sugarland Cellars, is in Gatlinburg. The Apple Barn Winery and Hillside Winery are in Sevierville, Mountain Valley Winery is in Pigeon Forge.

Wine Trail Traveler visited all but the newest winery and we are looking forward to visiting Sugarland Cellars. Articles about visits to these Tennessee wineries are available online.

• Apple Barn Winery: http://winetrailtraveler.com/tennessee/applebarn.php
• Hillside Winery: http://winetrailtraveler.com/tennessee/hillside.php
• Mountain Valley: http://winetrailtraveler.com/tennessee/mountainvalley.php

Tennessee is a beautiful state to visit and you will discover a southern style welcome.

Cheers! Kathy

Enjoy a visit to Woodlawn Farm and taste wines from one of Maryland’s newer wineries – Slack Winery in Southern Maryland. Wine lovers who want to experience Slack wines have the opportunity to do so when visiting Woodlawn Farm. Woodlawn Farm is the location of the Woodlawn Estate Bed & Breakfast and for Slack Winery wine tastings. The beautiful Manor House built in the late 1700’s is only a few feet from the Potomac River. For more information read the Wine Trail Traveler article.

A special sale of Slack wines is taking place now until Sunday, July 8. Purchase white or rosé wines and get 20% off. Wine Club members receive 35% off. Events for this summer include music events on Thursday evenings when visitors can enjoy Sunset Serenades and Sunday afternoons are Sparkling Sundays. Scheduled for Thursday July 5 is Billy Breslin and on Sunday July 8 is Richard Wagner. For more information visit the Slack Winery website.

If you plan to visit to taste wines and/or enjoy an event, consider spending an evening or two at the delightful Woodlawn Bed and Breakfast.

Cheers! Kathy

Sometimes it’s so easy to miss the delightful boutique wineries in your own backyard. Those who follow our winery and vineyard travel adventures know that we have traveled to wineries near and far. We have been fortunate to travel to the West Coast of the United States, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and Italy. We also are fortunate to have numerous wonderful wineries within driving distance of our East Coast home. We have visited many of the local wineries and enjoy what each one has to offer.

While it’s fun to plan a long trip, it’s also great to discover the wines produced along the East Coast. We’ve been home for a few weeks now and while continuing writing winery reviews, adding photos and editing our first book, getting caught up on Social Media and writing blogs we have also taken several day trips to wineries.

In Pennsylvania, we visited with the owners of Tuscarora Mt. Winery in Chambersburg.  We also made a stop at Trickling Springs Creamery, where we were able to get some great milk that we used at home to make our first feta cheese.

On our way to Tuscarora Mt. Winery we visited Knob Hall Winery in Maryland where we met the owners, Richard and Mary Beth Seibert. Mary Beth is also the winemaker. On another day we visited Romano Vineyard and Winery. While the Romanos do not have a dedicated tasting room yet, they occasionally do wine tasting onsite and at small Maryland wine festivals. Thanksgiving Farm Winery is a jewel to be found in Anne Arundel County not far from Annapolis. The very long driveway goes past farm buildings, farm equipment and through shady trees until visitors see vineyards and arrive at the winery.

Yesterday we drove along Route 15 between Frederick, Maryland and Leesburg, Virginia. After passing into Virginia there are several wineries and we were delighted to visit three of these wineries. Fabbioli Cellars, Lost Creek Winery, and Hidden Brook Winery. All are within a few minutes of each other and offer different experiences.

We are currently contemplating visiting more wineries in our own backyard!

Cheers! Kathy

Are you looking forward to some enjoyable and fun two or three day trips this summer? Terry developed numerous short winery travel itineraries to help wine lovers and travelers. Each itinerary includes a map. These itineraries are suggestions to help get you started in the region you want to visit. Keep checking back as we will continue to add more itineraries. Countries covered by the itineraries include Canada, New Zealand and the United States.

The itineraries are located on the Wine Trail Traveler website

at http://www.winetrailtraveler.com/itineraries/tripitineraries.php.

Canada has itineraries for Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Jordan and Vineland, and Prince Edward County.

New Zealand itineraries include Waiheke Island, Hawke’s Bay, and Marlborough.

The US North East section offers itineraries for New York’s Finger Lakes’ region while Pennsylvania has suggestions for Brandywine Valley, Lehigh Valley, North East and Interstate 83.

US Mid West itineraries include wineries in Michigan and Ohio. The itineraries include Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula. Ohio’s regions covered are Conneaut and Geneva/Madison.

US South offers itineraries in Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, and Virginia. Eight itineraries are in Virginia and five in Tennessee.

 US West itineraries cover California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

Keep checking back as we will continue to add more itineraries.

Cheers! Kathy