Drink Up, Chow Down

Let's face it, we're going to be social distancing for a while, so we might as well make the most of it. Here are a few picnic-friendly favorites you can enjoy outside with or without a meal. So, grab a bottle and remember to sit at least six feet away from your drinking companions. Barone Montalto Pinot Grigio, Terre Siciliane IGT You can find this refreshing tipple for under 15 bucks a bottle. It is great on its own (although some goat's cheese and crackers would be an ideal picnic pairing.) Notes of peach, citrus and mango coupled with bold acidity and a clean kick of alcohol on the finish make this wine deliciously easy to drink. And drink. And drink. Chill before serving. Bunan Moulin Des Costes, Bandol I adore Bandol wines and I'll proclaim it to anyone listening. It's one of the most underrated yet quality-producing regions in France, which means you can actually still get a decent bargain for some stellar wines. This inky beauty exudes...

Wine tourism is a thing. As a write this, I'm en route to Valle de Guadalupe to sample some of Mexico's finest. (Wine. Not tequila. Although there may be some tequila involved...) The fabulous Snooth.com asked some of their wine bloggers (including me) to write about their favorite wine travel destinations. Although I'm also partial to the spectacular Cape, the mighty Bordeaux and the always-surprising Paso Robles regions, I wrote about my visit to the magical Champagne area. Check out my take on it, and the regions other wine writers chose, here.  Cheers, wine lovers! Don't forget to tweet me your favorite wine travel destinations  @LAWineGal . Tasting at Krug Champagne

Château Suduiraut After an unforgettable morning at d’Yquem and a fantastic (rich!) lunch in Sauternes, the magnificent Château Suduiraut was next on my list. Other than the great wine, seeing the château itself was my favorite part of the visit. Completely modernized by AXA since their acquisition of the property in 1992, it is a popular conference spot nowadays with its own stellar restaurant onsite. In fact, much of what is served is grown right there in their gardens. Château Suduiraut And what gardens they are! I could happily get lost with a blanket and a book (and, naturally, some Château Suduiraut and local cheese) for hours. While the late spring morning in Sauternes had been fresh and misty, by the afternoon it was hot and still — this microclimate makes the area unique, and is what ultimately brings on the glorious botrytis that makes the area so famous. They generously opened three wines for me: Castelnau de Suduiraut 2006, Sudu...

The illustrious history, the famous fans, the personal invitation! A highlight of my recent trip to Bordeaux was a visit to Château d'Yquem , recognized as one of the most superior fine wines in the world. They graciously opened their cellar doors (and bottles) for me, and it took days for me to stop smiling. The grounds are as spectacular as you’d expect – with its fairytale castle, parts of which date back over 500 years, its lush gardens, and its impeccably cared for vineyards. And its story is equally spectacular. During the Middle Ages, Château d'Yquem was owned by the King of England before passing into French hands, and finally, luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. Château d'Yquem's unique microclimate (its vineyards are at the highest point in Sauternes), famed terroir (clay and gravel over deep limestone), exceptionally low yields (all hand-picked), delicate botrytis (that magical noble rot) and meticulous winemaking ensure a qual...

I was lucky enough to score a private tour of   Château Lynch-Bages   during my visit to Bordeaux earlier this summer. (Thank you to the Twitter-friendly staff who handle their marketing!) This Pauillac icon has been producing wine since the mid-eighteenth century and was classified as one of the 18 fifth growths in the Bordeaux classification of 1855. The Château has passed through several families since then, but has now been in the Cazes family since 1938. When visiting the Bordeaux area, it’s easy to be impressed by the ultra-modern technology, the shiny wine cellars and sparkling new vat rooms, but what impressed me most about Lynch-Bages was their devotion to preserving and celebrating the past. They’ve dedicated plenty of prime Pauillac real estate to creating a museum on their property to house their old equipment and share the winemaking stories and traditions of past generations. Their old press, sorting table and vats teach us an important wi...