Dena Roche

Wine has been around for centuries. Throughout time it has adapted and evolved with nature and changing tastes. In the 21st century, winemakers are ushering in another new era with hybrid varietals to combat climate change and disease. But is the wine world ready to swap Sauvignon Blanc for Seyval Blanc or Pinot Noir for Baco Noir?

With an elevation of over 4,300 feet above sea level and a landscape dominated by iconic red rocks, Sedona makes it hard to take a bad photo. But some locations are so special that they can turn even an amateur shutterbug into a budding Ansel Adams.

We asked award-winning local photographer Zach Rohe to give the inside scoop on where — and how — to shoot the most memorable vacation pictures in Sedona.

If you’re dreaming of a wine getaway, you don’t need to travel to Napa or Bordeaux to sip great Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. In fact, you don’t even need to leave Scottsdale.

Winemaking in the desert still surprises people, but Arizona has a thriving wine industry with well over 100 wineries. While grapes are grown in Willcox, Sonoita, and the Verde Valley, several top producers have tasting rooms in Old Town Scottsdale. These allow locals and guests to spend the day tasting their way throug...

With healing desert ingredients, Native American traditions and ageneral laid-back lifestyle, it’s no surprise that Scottsdale, Arizona hasthe most spas per capita in the country. Travelers come to the city forsun, fun and relaxation, with the only hard decision being which of itsmany spas to enjoy. Thankfully, we’ve curated the don’t miss luxury spaspots for your next trip to the Valley of the Sun.

London has been my favorite city for as long as I can remember, but each time I visit Paris, the City of Light climbs closer to claiming the top spot in my heart. Paris’s charms continue to unfold the more you visit. These are my recommendations for what to do if you’re a first-time visitor and have 2 days in Paris....

For kids, the holidays are about presents, sweets, and school break. But for adults, the season is a time of friends, family, and parties.
As you plan your holiday festivities and gift-giving, nothing elevates a celebration like a great bottle of wine. Whether you’re hosting the soiree or looking for the perfect hostess gift, we have four wines that pair perfectly with your holiday celebrations.
Palmer Champagne Rosé Solera
Champagne-Palmer.fr/en/ | Retail Price: $92
Nothing says celebration ...

Think you know Prosecco? Think again. Prosecco isn’t just a party girl. In Conegliano-Valdobbiadene, she’s a badass, serious wine that oenophiles must put on their radar.
In the United States, Prosecco is perceived as an easy-drinking fizz that goes just as well in your brunch mimosa as it does toasting a special occasion. It’s no wonder that’s what the wine-drinking public thinks ...

This summer, I, an American who has visited Rome three times before, had the pleasure of introducing my Italian citizen husband to his own capital. Despite being an Italian who grew up in nearby Switzerland, he had never been to Rome. Clearly, we needed to fix this travesty!

Besides being the capital of Italy, Rome, or Roma as the Italians call her, is at the center of world history. Strolling through the cobblestone streets is like walking through my high school history book. The old and the new coexist side-by-side, creating a dizzying contrast as I imagine Julius Caesar at the Roman Forum

Battling through the jet lag that comes from being up for over 24 hours, I nervously pushed open the door to Au Pere Louis wine bar in Paris. This was the moment of truth.

I scanned the small bar until my eyes settled on him. Dressed in a black shirt and jeans at a table by the window, his eyes locked on mine and a smile filled his face. The butterflies in my stomach fluttered for a different reason now.

For decades farm-to-table has been a mantra in the culinary world. Chefs and foodies clamor for local ingredients and purveyors, so why doesn’t that same mentality translate to grapes? Arizona has over 120 wineries, but only a handful of local restaurants are putting these homegrown bottles on their wine lists. Why hasn’t vineyard-to-table caught on in the Grand Canyon State?
“We’re baffled by it,” said Scott Stephens, co-owner of Bec...

The first time someone asked me if I wanted to spend the day going wine tasting in Switzerland I was in Zurich and assumed we were heading to Germany. Instead, we stayed in the canton sampling the Swiss wine Blauburgunder (Pinot Noir) from a variety of producers.
Wine in Switzerland? At first, I thought, “No way,” but then I started to think of the countries bordering this tiny neutral nation-Germany, Italy and France, and it quickly made sense.

100 years after it last hosted the Olympics, all eyes will again be on Paris as it hosts the 2024 Summer Olympics from July 26-August 11. The City of Lights is one of the most popular destinations anytime, but it will shine even brighter as the world’s best athletes take center stage.
With more than 9.7 million spectators expected to attend more than 329 events during the ...

One thing I love about wine and travel is that there are always new things to explore. This past weekend I had the chance to virtually travel to Bordeaux during a wine blending class taught by Master Sommelier Michael Jordan at the Wrigley Mansion’s annual Festivin wine event.
Jordan is one of only 273 Master Sommeliers in the world. For a wine lover, this is akin to being taught how to throw a football by Aaron Rodgers.

Thanks to the wildly popular White Lotus television series, Americans are obsessed with all things Sicily. Just in time for fall and winter fashion unveilings, Sicilian brands Dolce & Gabbana and Donnafugata Wine have teamed up to bring wine and fashion lovers a specially curated collection of Sicilian wine.

The Grand Hotel Victoria, Lake Como’s newest five-star property, makes a great base for exploring cute villages, gourmet dining, and spas.
For years, jet setters have come to Lake Como attracted by picture-perfect Italian towns, superb Italian cuisine, luxury villas and hotels, celebrity residents, and sparkling water. With the opening of the area’s newest five-star hotel, The Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & Spa, by R Collection Hotels, travelers have a new place to call home on the lake.
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