We found Bodegas Marqués de Tomares up from quiet narrow streets lined with trees, under the bluest of skies just outside the town of Fuemayor in La Rioja, Spain. Wine is in the air here, one of those places where the bodegas seem more numerous than houses, whose road to town was painted with the fall oranges and reds of grapevines of a harvest just concluded. We've come to the epicenter of Rioja, one of the world's most famed and storied wine regions -- one of Spain's only two regions to share the Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOC) -- whose 600 wineries produce some of the finest Tempranillo on the planet alongside smaller varieties such as Graciano, Mazuelo, Garnacha.
Read moreSix winery recommendations for your next journey through stunning Virginia Wine Country
We're often asked to recommend wineries in Virginia wine country, a place that I wrote last year "is one of the world's most under appreciated yet truly delightful wine regions". Virginia wine country is our home turf, so to speak. The closest of its delightful wineries are about thirty minutes from our front door. In fact, there are few cities from which hundreds of thriving wineries are as accessible as Virginia wine is from Washington, DC and Arlington, VA just across the river. These are our recommendations for the wine excursion you should be planning as the weather warms into spring this year.
Read moreThis handy tool will easily track your progress towards earning elite status on U.S. airlines in 2017
The elite status qualification systems on the big legacy U.S. airlines (American, Delta, and United) have become excruciatingly complicated over the last several years. I still maintain that earning your way into a higher privilege tier nets worthy benefits in terms of better seats, free checked baggage, an overall kinder and gentler airline experience, and other perks that come along... so we built a tool that will help you track your progress and take some of the mysticism out of earning elite status.
Read moreOur top five wines for March take us off the beaten path to regions you must get to know
Casual wine drinkers, aficionados, and beginners alike: Each month we expose you to new things, educating and diversifying your palate with a lineup of our monthly wine picks. We're sharing some of the best we've tried in the last month so that you can seek them out and bring them to dinner this month. As we focus a bit more on education and exposure to new things, we're also straying a bit off the beaten path with wine from some unique regions. Enjoy!
Read moreMadrid's Plaza Mayor just celebrated its 400th anniversary with this incredible light show
Plaza Mayor marks the historic heart of Madrid, Spain, one of the world's truly spectacular cities. Lined with shops and restaurants, overflowing with the near-round-the-clock energy of Madrileños and tourists alike, the site of celebration and horror throughout its history, this infamous city square has been a personal favorite place for what is now most of my life. The Plaza celebrates its 400th anniversary this year, opening up the festivities on February 17 with the most incredible light show spectacle we have ever seen. Though the show itself has passed, the anniversary celebrations are ongoing throughout the year. Whether now or in the future, we recommend that Plaza Mayor and Madrid in general be at the top of your travel list.
Read moreReview: British Airways 747 Boston to London is mixed bag with lots to love, lots to be annoyed by
Though arguably the most recognizable airplane ever built, it turns out that I had not traveled on a Boeing 747 (the original "jumbo jet") in years. This combined with the storied history and legendary quality of British Airways (BA), which I had never flown, to make for a highly anticipated journey. Good for travelers who can find the right price, who value reasonably decent airplane food, a comfortable physical seat, full tea service, and who can overlook a surly crew and some of the most cramped leg room I've ever experienced on an international flight.
Read moreOur first take on Spain's excellent, compelling Méntrida wine region
Tracks gently hum as they glide beneath you, the rail yard melts into buildings that melt into hills until the greens and browns of the Spanish countryside just south of Madrid have surrounded you. You step off in Toledo, one-time capital of Spain famous -- we believe ought to be -- the fruits of its Méntrida wine region. We recently visited Bodegas Arrayán and Bodegas Alonso Cuesta, two compelling and uniquely inviting wineries (bodegas) that we will later review separately, and offer this as our first take.
Read moreHow to use credit card points to get great deals flying First or Business Class
I wrote a piece last year discussing When to book free travel with credit card points vs transferring to airline miles, in which I promised to come back with a future post addressing how to use credit card points to get great deals flying first or business class. That explanation happens now.
Read moreCelebrate "Global" Drink Wine Day with these bottles from Australia, Spain, and Arizona USA
We celebrate Drink Wine Day this Saturday, February 18. The origin of this seems to be National Drink Wine Day in the United States, but we're going to join our Australian friends at Travelling Corkscrew in taking this thing global with our recommended white, red, and rosé from Australia's Strathbogie Ranges, Spain's Toro, and the state of Arizona in the American southwest. We love this lineup because we've either tried each bottle personally with the winemaker, or have visited the winery ourselves.
Read moreA Lover's Guide to Champagne
Champagne is the much talked about, much written about, much enjoyed ambrosia from the gods. So, what makes Champagne so special? In this post, we will explore how Champagne is made, and attempt to uncover the sweet mysteries behind this magical beverage that makes us all love it so much. Let’s dive right in with some of the most important things to know about the bubbly beverage that will improve any day of the week.
Read moreReview: TAP Portugal, Lisbon to London: Good value, but utter chaos makes a bad experience
TAP Portugal flies about eighty aircraft from its hub in Lisbon throughout Europe, Africa, North and South America. You've likely been tempted by their often-great airfare if you're one who flies to, from, and within Europe. They're particularly relevant if you fly United Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada, SAS, and any of the other Star Alliance member airlines because you might find yourself on a TAP flight through Portugal en route to where you're going.
Read moreRe-visiting Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, lighting the fire with two new vintages in Virginia Wine Country
Zephaniah has begun pouring two new vintages -- 2015 Steamship White and 2013 Three Captains Red -- since we last covered them. With Valentine's Day fast approaching, and cold weather decidedly upon us at least for a bit longer, we wanted to encourage your visit to this most special of Virginia wineries.
Read moreBodegas Arrocal in Spain's Ribera del Duero produces richly textured Tempranillo wines
The sun had begun its long fall across the western sky, destined to cross that stark threshold of color where sapphire blue meets the autumnal yellow tree tops that rise out of rough hewn grass and brown clay upon which is built the worn red tiled roofs of Gumiel de Mercado. Here we found Bodegas Arrocal, a winery where several generations work side by side embracing modern technique to produce beautiful Old World wine.
Read moreI've never used Airbnb. Should I? How does it work? How do I find one that's best for me?
You'd not be alone if there's something about staying in a stranger's home that makes you feel too vulnerable, that holds you back from taking the plunge enjoying Airbnb's many benefits. The service is going mainstream all over the world, though. Meghan and I recently tried several in Spain, Portugal, and Sweden. This is our guidance to you.
Read moreOur Top 5 Wines for February each come from a different country. None are American. All are great.
Casual wine drinkers, aficionados, and beginners alike: Each month we expose you to new things, educating and diversifying your palate with a lineup of our monthly wine picks. It's February, so we've in part continued our January theme of wines that we want to drink watching the snow fall (Edelzwicker), in a wine bar with friends after trudging through that snow (Ben Marco Malbec), by the fire (Quevedo LBV), with those great winter meals you eat long after the sun has set (San Román), or (in a slight departure from our January themes) with your Valentine's Day dinner (sparkling, of course). Enjoy!
Read moreLovely wine, gorgeous country, and barrels of living history at Portugal's Quevedo Port Winery
It was quite easily one of the most stunningly beautiful vineyards we'd ever seen. Vines covered in autumn's reds, yellows, and oranges stretched in neat rows towards green fields beyond, a country road turning around the next vineyard where houses dot the hillside, river and mountains beyond, white clouds streaking across the crystal blue sky above, all seen through the floor to ceiling window in the tasting room at Quevedo, one of the Douro's finest port wineries.
Read moreAre ultra low cost fares to Europe via Iceland's WOW air right for you?
Iceland: A land of sagas, legends, waterfalls, and restaurants that serve puffin. The main way to travel to Iceland from the USA is on their national airline Icelandair, but this can get pricy. For the last few years there has been a new game in town, an Icelandic low-cost carrier named WOW.
Read moreExpand your palate by adding cheese and chocolate pairings to your next Wine Night
I recently discussed hosting your own wine night to expand your wine knowledge and preferences. This week I want to share one of my favorite ways to host a wine night: hosting a wine, cheese, and chocolate night. The idea expands the basic wine night. Instead of asking your friends to bring a bottle of wine along a theme, ask your friends to bring a favorite cheese or chocolate and a wine that pairs well with it.
Read moreReturning to Williamsburg, VA as we investigate the renovated and re-opened Green Leafe tavern
Winter break is over for many a college student across America. We'll mark the occasion by returning to the alma mater of two Wine:Thirty Flight writers, The College of William and Mary, to share thoughts on the renovated and re-opened-in-2016 Green Leafe Cafe and Pub in Williamsburg, home not only to a college, but to a history tourism industry that attracts many thousands of visitors and families each year.
Read moreWhat I've learned about America from my recent travels, wine, and the holidays
In the typical American telling of our individual stories, we tend to equate nationality with citizenship, not with ethnicity. Most of us descend from people who came from somewhere else, and many of our families have not -- in the grand sweep of time -- been here all that long. What makes America great?
Read more