Wine

Since Earth Day debuted on April 22nd,1970, it’s gone from fringe to mainstream as people all over the world began to realize that responsible stewardship of the earth is a matter of human survival. But it doesn’t need to be difficult. You can celebrate Earth Day with fun and in style. All you need is…

Now that you’ve done your taxes, you may be asking yourself: How can I save money and have fun too? According to Travel + Leisure Magazine, San Diego is one of the “greenest” and most eco-conscious cities in the United States, and it’s getting greener than ever: public transportation is on the rise. San Diego’s…

Tired of wine? Neither are we. But here’s a different way to enjoy Easter dinner: pairing it with craft beers. Since San Diego is a beer aficionado’s dream, we didn’t need to look too far to find local brews to sample with your food. Here are a few suggestions: Eggs or egg based dishes – Weissbier or wheat beer works well with eggs’ characteristic flavors. Try pairing with Wahoo Wheat Beer from Ballast Point or Windansea Wheat Hefeweizen from Karl Strauss. Ham – darker ales or lagers pair well with the smoky sweetness of Easter ham by offsetting the saltiness and amplifying other flavors. Try San Diego Dark Session Ale from Alesmith Brewing Company or Ugly, an American-style black ale from Alpine Beer Company. Lamb – Trappist ales or Abbey ales work well with the more delicate and lean flavor…

“Mr. and Mrs. Bliss, please follow me.” With that, we were welcomed into a palace. Paul Anthony, my partner in love and business, and I had a delightful Valentine’s dinner this year at the Addison Grand Del Mar. I’ve traveled all over the world and eaten many fine meals, but this was hands down the best meal I’ve ever had! The first thing I noticed and loved was the quiet of the place. The Addison is large and spacious, with fireplaces in each room, an open floor plan, and a huge, exquisite wine cellar. Despite the size of the place, we were seated in a luxurious private booth and treated as if we were the only people there. The wine director, Jesse Rodriguez, was brilliant, helping us choose our aperitif drinks and directing us through the menu. Because we felt…

Expensive wines aren’t always good wines. Who hasn’t had the experience of being seduced by snappy packaging into paying way too much for a bottle of wine that is, quite frankly, mediocre? The same goes for beer. Even here, in the heart of craft beer country, there are great beers… and then there are duds. This April First, don’t be “fooled” by bad beer and wine in a beautiful glass! How do you learn to tell the difference between what’s pleasing to the palate and what’s just barely palatable? Often, learning which brands are delicious and which to pass on is a matter of trial and error or personal taste, but sometimes people don’t know the signs of a corked wine, especially when it’s being served to them in a restaurant. Here’s a tip – if your wine smells like…

By Paul Anthony Vild, Co-founder San Diego Beer & Wine Tours I don’t want to take anything away from vineyards. It is nice to get out there and experience the romance of being right next to the vines, meeting the winemaker and seeing the operations, and of course the tastings. In this article, though, I…

“Hey Baby, what’s your sign?” is more than just a pick up line these days.  According to the San Diego based company 12 Signs Wine, there is also a wine for every sign! 12 Signs Wine (www.12signswine.com) is the first brand to pair wine with astrology.  Each bottle was handcrafted to match the personality of your sign, whether that is bold and feisty like an Aries Old Vine Zinfandel, bright and vibrant like a Gemini Chardonnay, or romantic like a Pisces Pinot Noir.    For the first vintage the wines are categorized by Fire, Earth, Air, and Water.  Read below to find out which wine is paired with your sign. Fire Signs include Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. These naturally outgoing signs need a wine that makes a statement as big as they do!  The Leo, Aries, and Sagittarius wine is a…

One of my favorite dishes growing up was my grandmother’s beef stroganoff. Recently, someone offered me the challenge of re-creating this wholesome comfort dish… WITHOUT using dairy. Considering the main ingredients in a beef stroganoff include CREAM of mushroom soup and sour CREAM, it was quite the challenge. After some careful thought, I developed my…

Ask us about our Saint Patrick’s Day tours! Leap into something new, turn your routine on its ear, and have fun doing it! That isn’t just a suggestion – it’s part of a long and storied tradition. Leap years, as you probably know, occur only in years divisible by four (or, in the case of a brand-new century, by 400.) The extra day that gets added onto the end of February helps synchronize the Gregorian calendar with the solar year, keeping important dates, such as the spring equinox, from drifting off into other seasons. Since it is out of the ordinary, the Leap Year is also the subject of colorful folklore. In the British Isles, back when gender roles were much stricter, February 29 th was traditionally the only day that women could propose marriage to men; if he turned…

The San Diego Beer and Wine Tours Team is thrilled to announce a new addition to our team! Stephen Ansley has just joined us and we couldn’t be more pleased! Stephen Ansley is well-known and respected in the local craft beer community, and a personal friend of many highly respected local brewers. As a recognized…