Love wine and travel? Experience them both at one of these upscale wine resorts around the world:

1.K-Club, Ireland: It’s not all Guiness and mash in Ireland. The plush K-Club, located 30 minutes from Dublin, is a 69-bedroom hotel nestled among the rolling green hills. K Club’s wine cellar, originally built by Hugh Barton of the famous Bordeaux dynasty, offers a “cellar table” experience that allows guests to dine in the cellar, surrounded by hundreds of wines.

2. Ritz-Carlton, Moscow: Forget caviar and vodka: The Pétrus Wine Room at the Ritz holds some of the rarest wines in the world. The collection of Château Pétrus includes the 1898 and 1990 vintages. Whisky aficionados can buy their favorite Macallan, the Fine and Rare vintage series spans from 1926 to 1976. ritzcarlton.com

3. Castello Banfi, Italy: This luxury resort was built beside the walls and towers of a medieval fortress overlooking 7,100 acres of vineyards in Montalcino, Italy. Famous for its Brunello, the resort offers 14 luxury guest rooms and suites, wine tastings, vineyard treks, a glass and wine museum, and a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Find more luxury wine retreats around the world in my article on Wine Enthusiast.

Germany’s edgy capital offers wine and culinary experiences that push the envelope.

Berlin’s progressive disposition is driving its trendy art and fashion scene. Just as controversial to some are its cutting-edge restaurants and bars, which attract visitors with a flair for wine and food.

The richness of Berlin’s history becomes apparent within seconds. Immerse yourself in Berlin’s complicated past by walking through the city, starting at the East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall. The open-air space near the center of Berlin along the Wall promotes paintings by artists from around the world. Study the artwork paying homage to Berlin pre- and post-Wall as you walk toward the Brandenburg Gate, through which people who were allowed entry into the West from the East passed. Don’t miss a walk through Berlin’s Jewish quarter (berlinwalks.com), which despite its demolition during the Nazi era, is now a revitalized part of the city. Young designers are located in the Mitte Quarter, where new labels are sold, including Lala Berlin, C’ést tout and Starstyling. Galleries like Me Collectors Room and provocative art and hidden sculpture gardens will delight art lovers.

Read more about Berlin in my article for Wine Enthusiast.

At the southern tip of China’s Hainan Island, amid the white sand beaches and blush sunsets, a gourmand’s paradise of local cusine and carefully crafted cocktails awaits.

The Chinese are known for many things: ancient tea ceremonies, elegant silk garments, exotic foods, excellent shopping and state-of-the-art technology. China is fast becoming a favorite for new wine production, but look beyond the burgeoning economy and mass produced products and you’ll discover a little piece of paradise where gourmet cuisine and carefully crafted cocktails are just as much of a draw as the white beaches and pink sunsets.

Located just an hour by plane from Hong Kong and three hours from Beijing, Sanya is an exclusive getaway where the mountains, sea and city converge. But to those in the know, Sanya is more than just the “Hawaii of the East.” Sanya is a feast of culinary delights originally derived from the history and beliefs of ancient Chinese culture, and brought back to life by some of the world’s top chefs. Tasting the local delicacies is a must when you’re here, but part of the fun is cooking with the culinary masters.

Read more from my article on Sanya in Wine Enthusiast

Ireland is known for many things: rolling green hills, stunning landscapes, ancient castles, endless pubs and bottomless glasses of Guinness. On any given night in Dublin you’ll make new friends while ordering fish and chips or devouring a homemade Shepherd’s Pie in one of the dozens of pubs that line Dublin’s streets. But venture outside the city limits and you might discover a new Ireland – one with the same green hills and endless views that preserves the history and heritage of Ireland’s people and culture, but that also offers a bit of new to go along with the beloved old.

The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt was buzzing with excitement a few weeks ago. The resort, which has only been open three years, was at full capacity the day Gordon Ramsay arrived and it’s no surprise: the man’s got serious skills. Forget the impression you have of the hot-headed chef who entered your living room via “Hell’s Kitchen” screaming about undercooked chicken and lack of teamwork during table service. Ramsay is a passionate perfectionist and it shows in his culinary creations. At the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, the only Gordon Ramsay restaurant in Ireland was getting a makeover, and Ramsay was on property to make sure opening night went off without a hitch.

The original concept of the Gordon Ramsay at Powerscourt restaurant was what you would expect from him: a fine dining atmosphere with an eclectic menu, an extensive wine list and white tablecloth seating. It’s exactly the restaurant you’d expect to see at his restaurants in London, New York and Los Angeles. But this is Ireland, and while Ireland can certainly step up to ‘fancy’, it’s roots are steep in casual and comfortable. The Ramsay team said ‘out with the old and in with the old-with-a-new-twist,’ and a redesigned restaurant was formed.

Read more from my article in Huffington Post

There’s an old saying, “It’s beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.” When I first pulled into the horseshoe drive at Blantyre, I knew immediately there was something special about this Relais & Chateaux property. Not only was it beautiful, but the warmth and affection shown by the staff immediately captured my heart.

I was cordially invited to spend the night in the Scottish-inspired estate and attend one of their famous wine dinners, this one hosted by the Oregon-based Beaux Freres. I drove to Lenox, eager to enjoy a nice meal and a good night’s sleep, but what I left with was so much more.

The Scottish-inspired estate is perched on a hill in Lenox, Massachusetts, tucked away from the chaos of the highways and forcing all who enter to consider themselves at home. Blantyre dates back to the early 19th century, when the main house and potting shed were the only buildings in use. The home was furnished in the English style from England, and most of which still exists throughout the home today. The family used the house for the summer and fall and entertained frequently, a sight I can only imagine is something similar to what F. Scott Fitzgerald dreamed up when he wrote The Great Gatsby. Today, Blantyre is run by Anne Fitzpatrick Brown, whose love and pride for Blantyre extends from the front doors to each and every guest who walks through them.

I walked into my “Corner Room” and fell into a state of exhilaration – the beautifully decorated room, complete with a fireplace, Tiffany lamps and Murano glass accents felt like something out of a fairy tale. I used to dream of beds I had to jump up to get on, footed bathtubs and antique writing desks. As I got older, I found magic in horse-drawn carriages, pine tree forests and old wine cellars. Blantyre was the magic that made these dreams come true. (more…)

New York is known for many things – Times Square, The Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Bronx Zoo, “Sex and the City” – but wine? In fact, New York’s Long Island hosts some of the best vineyards on the east coast.

Just north of Manhattan is Long Island wine country and home of some of the nation’s most unique wines.
Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Long Island sound, Long Island’s wine country produces award-winning wines thanks to the region’s moderate climate. After a weekend in Montauk at the Montauk Yacht Club, I hopped in the car with my girlfriends and headed down Route 27 to taste some of what Long Island has to offer.

Long Island wine country

Our first stop was at Wolffer Estate along Route 27. The Wolffer Estate is known for its rose wine, and to our surprise, you don’t have to be in the south of France to enjoy a rose! The vintage was crisp and clean, with the right depth of a good rose. The bottle was $10.99, a great price for a decent rose. The bonus: A bottle of apple wine, which is a great alternative to Reisling’s or ports as a dessert wine.

Read more from my article on SingleMindedWomen.com

When in China, eat Chinese food – or in my case, cook your own Chinese food! During my recent visit to Shanghai, I took in a cooking class in The Portman Ritz-Carlton’s kitchen. On the menu: siu-mai and chicken and shrimp dumplings.

Preparing dumplings

Adorned in my personalized chef’s jacket and apron, I took to the kitchen and started the fine art of dumpling making. No stranger to getting my hands dirty for a meal, we dug right into the chicken and shrimp mixture, adding flour, oil, salt, pepper, garlic and a dash of spice. The real test of my chef strength came when it was time to mold the dumplings. Who knew there was an art to forming dough?

First, cup your hands as if you’re holding a golf ball. Place the dough in the middle of your palm and scoop and generous portion of the chicken-shrimp filling into the dough. Squeeze the dough so the ends stand up forming a pocket, and the filling flows from the top of the pocket. Level off the filling, and pinch the edges of the ‘pocket’ until it’s firm around the top. Place the dumpling in a bamboo steaming basket and continue on…

When it’s time to steam, cover the basket and place it into a water steamer for 5 minutes.

Here’s the recipe:
INGREDIENTS:

1/2 lb chicken thigh (deboned and skinless)
8 medium shrimp (peeled, deveined, and diced into small pieces)
2 black fungus (chopped into thin threads)
1/2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger
1/2 tablespoon finely chopped scallion (white part only)
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
3 dashes white pepper
1/4 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
1/2 tablespoon flour
1/2 tablespoon egg white
A pinch of salt
Round wonton skin

METHOD:

Chop chicken but make sure that it’s corsely ground. Mix the chicken with other ingredients and seasonings and set aside in the fridge for 20 minutes.

Place about a tablespoon of filling on each wrapper, gather up the sides and leave the center open. Steam in a bamboo steamer for about 5-10 minutes. Serve hot.

Enjoy!

Chicken Shu Mai dumplings

Any traveler will tell you the best food in any destination is likely found off the beaten path. Case in point: Miami’s Red Light Little River. Don’t let the decor fool you… this little restaurant tucked inside Biscayne Boulevard may look run down from the outside, but the kitchen serves up some of the best food in South Miami.

Walk up the shabby stairs to this neighborhood joint and the smells of barbeque take over. The inside seating is reminiscent of an old hamburger joint from the 1960s, complete with red leather booths and swivel seats at the counter. Ask for a seat outside and you’re transported to a little slice of romance along the river.

South Florida Chef Kris Wessel, originally from New Orleans, runs the joint. Wessel’s grandmother landed in Miami Beach in 1925 and built the restaurant inside of a then notorious prostitute- and drug-filled motel. The neighborhood is still known for its red light ways, but that doesn’t stop Wessel from cooking up a mean meal in the kitchen.

We cozied up to a table and took in the ambiance. The outside is decorated to resemble a garden dining experience. Tree trunks grown from the patio, wildflowers are placed on every table and lantern lights in various shapes and colors hang from the ceiling.

The neon light outside the gentleman’s club – a throwback from the red light days – blinks from across the street, which surprisingly didn’t ruin the mood of this quaint little kitchen.

Gentleman's Club across the river

The meal started with a couple of drinks and the restaurant’s famous little red smoker fish dip. Served cold and packed with fresh crab and white fish, the crock is served with warm flatbread for dipping and the portion is big enough to share. Our second course was a fresh whole artichoke, steamed and bathed in butter then baked in breadcrumbs. It was delicate enough to fall apart in your mouth and savory enough to make you want to lick the bowl it arrived in. Spinach salads and seared scallops made their way to the table, as did another round of Shiraz and Cabernet.

Seared scallops

The main courses of barbeque shrimp (a restaurant favorite) and lamb tips brought out last, and despite the filling pre-dinner portions we savoured every last bite of these New Orleans-infused delicacies. Never one to turn down dessert, the chocolate cake was served with two forks and enough berry glaze to make you think you were eating healthy.

BBQ Shrimp

Before you dine there’s one thing to remember: Wessel cooks everything to order, which means it comes out when it’s ready. You might get your fish before your salad, but no matter what order to eat the meal in you’re sure to leave satisfied and wanting more.

Information:

Red Light Little River www.redlightmiami.com
7700 Biscayne Blvd
Miami, FL 33138
305.757.7773

Ah, the hotel bar – although sometimes underrated, it can actually be home to some of the best bartenders and most creative concoctions around. There’s something wonderful about hotel bars even for those who live in the same city; it’s a chance to see first-hand the kind of traveler your city is attracting, and if you play your hand right, it’s an opportunity for you to get to know a bartender well enough for him to divulge the secrets of the room to you. Some of the best people watching goes down in Boston’s hotel bars, so we’ve offered up a few of our favorite hotel bars for your next trip to Beantown:

M Bar & Lounge, Mandarin Oriental: If elegance and extravagance is what you seek, look no further than M Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Boston. The new hotel sits pretty in Boston’s trendy Back Bay and M Bar plays into the style and sophistication of the neighborhood. The crowd is a mix of high-rollers celebrating a new VC-deal and cougars on the prowl for cubs, and you’ll enjoy a little bit of everything from your corner seat with a Mandarin Martini.

Read more (and get the honorable bar mentions) from my column on Oyster.com

Trattoria Otello alla Concora, Roma

Food was never the same after my first bite in Rome…

With all the smells scenting the streets of Rome, it’s hard to know where to start when you’re hungry. Don’t worry, weary travelers, the best thing about being in Italy is that you can taste everything in one day (as long as you know how to pace yourself).

Nothing wakes you up quite like a coffee from an Italian cafe, and since you’re likely to be a little jetlag from your flight this first cup will be an essential start to your day. Grab a cup of whatever you choose and spend the morning people watching near the Spanish Steps or along the Via Condotti.

Continue reading my post, Foodie Travel: One Day in Rome, on Gadling…