Travel Spots

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Value Portuguese Red Blend from the Douro

The wines of Portugal represent some of hte best values on the planet. They’ve received a lot of press over the past 10 years or so, and are not the real sleepers they used to be. But still, values abound, from the Alentejo region in the south to the great estates along the Douro river,

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A Perfect Summer Day Rose, from Abruzzo!

There are Rosés and then there are Rosés. Many seem to follow the middle of the pack and really remind you of so many others. Now and then you find a truly special Rosé, and we have reveiwed many here. But there are other types of Rosé out there, and one which provides a different

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A Weekend in Beaufort NC

A few months ago it was early spring in North Carolina, and Cheri and I decided to head down to Beaufort, NC for a long weekend. We had heard of Beaufort many times and seen it on local travel shows. A small waterfront downtown, boat rides, history, restaurants, shopping and the wild horses of the

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Very Nice Bordeaux Blanc for $15

Dry white Bordeaux is frequently overlooked, and not what you would consider a crowd favorite. That’s generally because the crowd hasn’t really tried any. Bordeaux white wine can be delightful, and quite affordable. Made primarily with Sauvignon Blanc, you will find some with Semillon in the blend as well depending on the producer and the

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Delicious Valpolicella Ripasso

The red wines made from dried grapes in the Veneto region of Italy can be sublime. Amarone is the king, a rich, full bodied wine with berries everywhere in the good versions. Some can get a bit overripe and raisiny, but still very good. I just prefer the brighter fruit driven versions. A good Amarone

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Exceptional Value Merlot from South Africa

We ran into a series of South African wines at a recent wine tasting or two in the Raleigh area. There were several that really made an impression, and which we bought for our cellar at home. All are pretty great values. Here is a Merlot from Swartland which pushes all the buttons at a

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Delicious Summer Rose – The Little Sheep

While Rosé is not our favorite style of wine, somehow we keep running into versions we like, or at least that I like. Maybe it’s time to change that overall impression. Here’s another good one.

Wine: 2024 The Little Sheep Rosé

Winery Location: Languedoc Region, France

Tasted By: Neil & Cheri Date: May 2025

Tasting

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Simply Gorgeous, Value Petite Sirah from South Africa

Petite Sirah is a favorite of ours. Many versions are deep and brooding, almost black in color and filled with black plum flavors. The best keep a freshness to them, while still presenting a big, rich wine. It is not a widely planted grape, with California being the main area cultivating it. This wine is

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An Unusual and Delicious White from South Africa

Here is an unusual white from the Swartland region of South Africa. What makes it unusual is the blend, but it does really work well. Here it is:

Wine: 2023 Reign of Terroir – “The White”

Winery Location: Swartland, South Africa

Tasted By: Neil & Cheri Date: April 2025

Tasting Notes: This is an unusual

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Outstanding 2021 Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignon

After the fires of 2020, the 2021 vintage in Napa and Sonoma is highly touted, and we’re seeing why as some of the 2021’s start to come out of the wineries. Yields were very low unfortunately, but quality is very high. We just received our Spring shipment from Laurel Glen Vineyard, in Glen Ellen, Calfornia,

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