Summer wedding ideas - Unique Wedding Locations

The summer months are still the most popular months to marry, and for good reason. The weather is great, the flowers are in full bloom, and the beaches are inviting. And with the increasing popularity of destination weddings, top summer vacation spots ever top summer wedding spots. Where might you consider saying "yes" to a wedding in the summer?

Bahamas

The islands of the Bahamas is a 100,000-square-mile tropical paradise that claims more than 700Islands and 2,500 islands and is located just 50 miles off the coast of Florida. Previously, the "islands of eternal June" by George Washington was in the Bahamas with a tropical climate that makes it happy all year round eloping and wedding destination.

Cayman Islands

Looking for a unique and exotic place for your wedding in the summer? Why not consider a Cayman Island wedding? Located in the western Caribbean, the Cayman Islands consists of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and LittleCayman.

Why you should consider to a Cayman Island wedding? Consider this: Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman, is considered by many to be one of the best beaches in the world. And if you or your fiancé are in diving, the Cayman Islands as well as the world's best scuba diving destination. All of this adds up to the Cayman Islands as one of the best spots for a Caribbean wedding.

Costa Rica

If you are from a wedding in Costa Ricaprobably think of beautiful beaches and romance. And you're right. With almost two thirds of the borders of Costa Rica Coast of Costa Rica is the perfect place for a wedding on the beach.

But what you probably do not know, is all the other wonderful places in Costa Rica to say "I" as the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Tabacon Hot Springs and the foot of the Arenal Volcano. You may also want to check out the La Paz Waterfall Gardens, another spectacular place for aWedding.

Cruise Ship Weddings

Cruise ship weddings are tailor-made for destination weddings or couples who kidnap made. You can get married and start your honeymoon cruise. How cool is that? Some ships even have on-board wedding chapels, or you can decide before boarding the ride to get married or marry at one of the ports of call. For example, if you can go for a summer in Alaska Cruise, you are getting married on a glacier at one of your portscall.

California Wineries

California's Wine Country is a perfect choice for a summer wedding. A fun wedding idea is on the Napa Valley Wine Train, a three-hour round marry-trip rail and gourmet restaurants adventure of the city of Napa to St. Helena.

Of course, while many automatically think of Napa Valley, California Wine Country, if they think there are many different wine regions ofwhich to choose, as Paso Robles, Santa Barbara County and Sonoma County, to name a few. Although not well known outside of California is one of Paso Robles on California's fastest growing wine region, with nearly 26,000 acres of vineyards and more than 170 wineries in a 40-mile area. Not only that, but it is a beautiful area to boot. And you avoid the amount of the Napa Valley. A couple of wineries in Paso Robles consider for your wedding are Meridian Vineyardsand Zenaida Cellers.

Manitou Springs - Pike's Peak Area of Colorado

While Colorado is ideal for winter weddings, it is also ideal for weddings in the summer. The Pike's Peak area is just more and more popular as the top destination wedding spot, whether you marry in a castle in Manitou Springs, or even on the 14,110-foot Pikes Peak! One favorite wedding spot is Seven Falls in South Cheyenne Canon, often referred to as the "magnificent Mile of Scenery in Colorado".And grand it is. Seven Falls cascades 181 meters in seven different stages of a solid cliff of Pikes Peak granite, and is a popular destination for couples tie to the knot. You can send a wedding of up to 150 people at Seven Falls hosts, even if they are not staffed facilities and alcohol is prohibited.

Iceland Vancouver - Vancouver, BC

As "Canada's Paradise on the Pacific is known Vancouver Iceland known for its beauty - lush rainforests, beaches, rocky shores,incredible view - like the "typical British" city of Victoria, with its high teas, double-decker buses and horse-drawn carriages. A wedding here will certainly give couples a wide range of experiences.

As for your summer wedding venue, you have many outstanding decisions on Vancouver Iceland. Check the Sooke Harbor House on Whiffen Spit beach, weddings on the beach and offers in the garden with 180-degree Pacific Ocean views. Sooke Harbor House, theDistinction of winning the Wine Spectator Grand Award for the year 2006 with a best of five Canadian wine lists.

Arrange for small, casual weddings, your celebration in public parks on Vancouver Iceland hold. Several popular public parks in Victoria for weddings include Laurel Point Park, Stadacona Park and Beacon Hill Park, you must obtain a license, and can call 250-361-0628 for more information.

Fine California Red Wines

An exquisite glass of fine California wine accompanies perfectly five-star meal at the poshest restaurant in town or a quiet evening at home. California wineries take the card internationally in the early 1970s and began producing high quality wine, known for its rich and diverse style. This artisan wines come from the heart and soul of California wine country.

At the top sits the king of red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon. This grape yieldsone of the best red wines from California. Cabernet Sauvignon enjoyed immense success in the wine drinkers, both in California and around the world. This robust flavored wine can be a full, lingering taste on the palate. The mouth consumed with aromas of blackberries, cherries, plums and other dark fruits. Typically, Cabernet Sauvignon tannins showing very significant and should age for several years before drinking.

The next two leading competitors in fine CaliforniaRed wines are Zinfandel and Merlot. Zinfandels continue as one of the most versatile grapes grown in California. They are spicy, full-bodied red wines, the two well with spicy foods and garlic because of the lower tannins. Merlots saw a dramatic increase in California in the past 35 years. Now, more than 300 wineries producing Merlot, compared to just four in 1972. Merlot rather medium to dark shades are kept open and fruity aromas with flavors of currants, herbs and cherries.They are softer and rounder than a Cabernet Sauvignon, but they get the richness and complexity of a good wine.

The climate in California's wine country makes it an ideal place for growing grapes. The cool winds and fog in the morning the balance of heat and sunshine from day one on a hot summer day. The winters are mild with little danger of frost or freezing temperatures. These conditions are creating some of the best red wines in California.

According to WineSpectator's "Top 100 Wines of 2007", four red wines from California, the top 50, the highest on the list was number nine, Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2004. He scored after 95 Wine Spectator ratings. This was followed by another Cabernet Sauvignon with 27, which Cappallett Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Signature 2004th Wine Spectator rated this wine a 93rd The two Zinfandels come at 37 to 44 years. NavarroMendocino Zinfandel 2004, registered 37 and scored in 92nd While hits Rubicon Estate Zinfandel Rutherford Edizione Pennino 2004 the list to 44 and achieved a 93 to Wine Spectator.

Today, the best red wines from California wine estate company with international sales and the smaller boutique wineries-are coming. For these smaller wineries, wine growers work and effort on every aspect of the wine. Often no effort to spare the quality of the wine,That can drive up the price in some cases. The bottom line is the higher quality of grapes and grape juice, the higher quality of wine production. At international level, California red wines was their position as some of the best red wines in the world.

Pouring The Castle

Welcome to the CNBC World TV Series Wine Portfolio Episode106 Napa Part 2



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjGpEp1xpuI&hl=en

Napa Valley, California - 5 Tips for a Napa or Sonoma Wine By Holiday

During the weekend of September, I embarked on my first trip to the beautiful Napa Valley Wine Country in Napa County, California - a paradise for wine drinkers and connoisseurs alike.

After an exhausting volleyball tournament at the weekend in San Francisco, we rented a car and put on our journey into attack. We drove up and down the hilly streets of San Francisco, over several tens of Lombard Street-zag, across the Golden Gate Bridge and through the particulargorgeous Napa Valley for the day.

The drive to Napa was unforgettable: endless hills of vineyards and shiny, that lay in the California sun sparkled (in some vineyards, shimmering silver cards adhere to their vines from birds). We visited the Robert Mondavi Winery, where the green fields of vines were stunning, the vineyard architecture was classic Mediterranean coast, the sidewalks were deep left, and the 2005 Moscato D'Oro was like honey for ourLips.

So the next time you forgot to California or the surrounding area - do not offer the unforgettable journey through the Napa Valley and Sonoma County for some of the best wines of the New World.

About Napa Valley

Napa Valley is an area in Napa County, which has been designated as an American Viticultural Area, because of its ideal geographic and climatic conditions for growing grapes. It goes back to the mid-1800 and is the most popular travel destination in California today, a year after Disneyland with 4.7 million visitors.

Currently there are over 200 wineries within 30 miles, as well as hotels, spas, bed and breakfasts, golf courses, wedding facilities and world-class restaurants in the area. The Napa Valley Wine Region is located about 50 miles northeast of San Francisco, a little closer than Sonoma County, a different world celebrated > Wine-growing community. The drive from San Francisco takes about 90 minutes without traffic delays and it is a good idea earlier (9 or 10) to leave than later.

5 Tips for Wine Tasting Tours in Napa Valley, California

1) The objective to visit three wineries a day.

If you really like, you can try between four and five - so you really sit and beauty that the wine is grown in theNot be missed> Napa region - and of course the scenery. They do not want to nibble on rushing from one place to worry, but take the time while you a little taste. Surprisingly, it is too much wine tasting in one day-a feeling overwhelming experience - everything as it was until the end of the day taste!

2) Wine Tasting Etiquette.

Swirl, smell, enjoy (and spit, if you are a foretaste). Do you appreciate the beauty and the complicated nature of thethe wine you're about to taste - and you're not afraid to be honest with wine tastings with professional, which it is created by us all your questions about the way the wine thinking. You can understand what you want, and your experience will be that much better. The vineyards are very comfortable and are in what they demand: $ 10 for a glass and three wine tastings flexible decisions. You are not obligated to buy a wine, but if one of theVineyard, but it is usually a little cheaper than if you have to buy from the store and vineyards generally shares that are not available in stores. Here's a tip: If you buy a few bottles, the vine replicates normally enter the wine tasting free.

3) Gourmet Food & Fine Dining.

A few of the top 50 restaurants in the world, as well as the Restaurant Magazine rated the Michelin guide are in the Napa Valley area. One of them is "The French Laundry" byChef Thomas Keller, and finds himself in Yountville. Reservations are required and are up to 2 months in advance.

4) winery or vineyard tours.

Most of the vineyards / wineries offer tours of their fields, basements, historic buildings and processing methods. It is always fun and educational. They are about the history of the vineyard to learn their roots in the manufacture of wine, wine types that they offer, and the complexity and labor it takes to create a beautifulWine. California vineyards all have stories to tell because of its ban on history, announced his status as one of the best New World wine producers and much more. I suggest you go for a walk on the first vineyard you do not, but everyone.

5) Group tours and the Napa Valley Wine Train.

There are many tour operators that offer both individual and group travel through the vineyards, with both contact andcustomizable routes. This is a great way for you not to make travel planning or San Francisco or Sacramento worry, and allows you to really enjoy wine! Some vines, such as Diageo Chateau & Estates Wine offer Crush Camp for those interested in a weekend of real winemaking activities.

The Napa Valley Wine Train runs from Napa and travels through the beautiful valley to St. Helena. During the trip, all ofon-board offers the best of Napa Valley's wine and food while they take in the scenery. Each car has its own theme, and lunch and dinner, with topics such as crime and jazz.

Be sure to check your government or airport website to see what the deadline for applying is back alcohol or liquor from another country. If you are willing to pay additional taxes, then you find out how much you must pay for a certain quantity of wine. Vineyardsalso offer the wine to your package you ship. With the Internet it is also easy to maintain online to see if the wine label / type is offered at your local wine shop.

Have fun and remember to drink responsibly!

Wine Labels - What Do They Really Mean?

Most people are very confused when it comes to wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Burgundy, Beaujolais, dry, sweet, etc. .. What are all these names really?

If you live in America, you may want to know that such names as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, you will be taken to the bottle tags are simply the names of the grapes, the wines, the French are the names of the grapes .

Interestingly enough, but France is not the name of the Grapes on wine bottles, but the name of the domain or the region the wine was in. This is because a general confusion is made. If the name "Beaujolais" or "Cabernet Sauvignon" on the labels, you can not know what they actually mean. In this case, a Beaujolais region of the Rhone Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon is the name of a red grape.

Here are some basic instructions about French wine, are to help you better understand your California will> Wine.

The reason why France does not use the grape name on the bottles is that each wine region is generally well known and linked to one or two types of specific grapes.

For example, (the red wines from the Burgundy region of Burgundy, known as the United States) are all made from Pinot Noir and white wines are all made from Chardonnay. Bordeaux wines are produced from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and Beaujolais wines are mostly fromGamay and Chardonnay.

The southern areas, such as the Rhone Valley produces mainly red wines, because red grapes bask in the southern sun no better than the white does. The northern regions such as Alsace produces mostly white wines, as is the white grape variety a better fit for the cooler regions.

As far as France calls appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) is a wine that the regulation, which contains the better wines from France. It's a bit similar to the American Viticultural AreaAreas (AVA), but the difference is that the (AVA is) only one area in which at least 85% of the grapes used a wine has become. It does not include a specific quality such as the French (AOC).

Dry or sweet?

Most wines in France are dry, not sweet. This is because, in France wine is drunk with meals, and meals will be enjoyed as a rule with a non-sweet wine. Sweet wines are mainly reserved for desserts. EvenDemi-sec (semi-sweet) wines are also preferred desserts in France.

Red or white?

Red and white wines also have their food. For example, fish and salads are preferred by whites, while meat and pasta are eaten with red.

Champagne, excellent expensive champagne from this region, is also preferred and desserts served in a rule at the end of the special meals.

A guide on how to Wine Tasting, the right way

Going to a wine tasting party can be a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone. But most people do not participate because they do not know fear, how to act in one of these parties and fear that it will hurt someone or do not know how to taste wine embarrassing.

In essence, the basics of wine tasting are really quite simple. You do not need a formal education, and everyone can do it. By the time you finish reading this article, you willalso on the way to a wine taster in and you will be ready enough to take part in wine tasting parties, or even go on a wine tasting holiday in one of the most famous vineyards and wineries in the world.

As far as etiquette is concerned, the ladies are usually served before the gentlemen. In most wine-tasting parties you can expect to be served at room temperature mineral water. The water is on the mouth between tastings so that you rinse yourPalate to be clean for the next wine. Cold water is not as cold water will be served your palate, which together can affect the taste of wine shock.

In addition, wine-tasting parties, serve bread or unsalted and unflavored crackers. This also helps in cleansing the palate, which also get your taste buds ready for the next tasting.

When tasting wine, it is important that you should always keep the wine glass by the stem and non-Cupthe bowl in the palm. The purpose is to prevent it, that the wine with the warmth helps the heat of your hand. You have to remember that this will also affect the overall taste of the wine.

It is also very important that if you participate in wine tasting parties, you should not wear strong smelling perfumes or colognes and after shave. The scent of perfume will overwhelm the bouquet or smell of the wine, so that the taste ofthe wine. You will not be the only one affected by this problem, but other reviewers. So, please be polite and do not wear strong smelling perfume or other scents.

It is also important that you should not smoke, chew gum and coins before and during the tasting. This can affect your taste buds have and you will enjoy not able to meet all of the real taste of the wine.

Tasting the wine is not just about the implementation of wine in the mouth androll it around your tongue a few times before spitting or swallowing. One must remember the fact that it's all about tasting the wine. It's about the color of the wine, the smell or the ostrich, and of course the taste.

The first step in tasting wine is characterized by a look at its color. The glasses should always be served neat and clear, so you a good insight into the wine. The tables are covered with white linen tablecloths in So you can see the wine's color clearly. You have to remember that white wines do not always know. You may have a yellow, green and even brown color. For red wines are, you will notice that there are also different shades of red. The brighter the color of red wine is, the older she gets.

The color of the wine must also specify the age or the flavor. Try to test a wheel to look at the color of the wine. To tilt the glass and look at the> Wine. If there is purple in color, it means that the wine is young. If it is brownish, it means that it is an older wine.

The next step is to smell, waving his wine. Exposing the wine into a glass of wine in the air you breathe in the glass positioned in the vicinity of the nose and deep. Swirling is also the aroma of the wine. You have to remember that the wine in the bottle six months time to have been many, many years. OfSwirl the wine, you will release the flavors. It's like cooking at home, where you stir the food so that you can mix to taste.

Finally, you now need to properly taste the wine. Do not drink the wine down. Take small sips and turn the wine into the mouth. Tor, you have to remember that in three steps, the actual tasting, is the first impression, the taste and aftertaste.

These are the steps in tasting wine. So, theNext time you are invited to attend a wine tasting party, you have to be able to feel safer, as you know what to do.

Vineyard Trip Yields Ideas

In my first column, I explained that I will offer two sections in each monthly column to talk a general wine information section called "wine" and entitled "Food and Wine Pairings." Here goes:

Wine talk

I just returned from a 10-day West Coast trip with my family, and visited several key wine regions. In Oregon, we visited the Willamette Valley (for Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris known) and in Northern California, we visitedAnderson Valley in Mendocino and Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Since there during the annual harvest of grapes, known as "Crush" (when the grapes), picked, sorted and pressed for quality grape juice, I was interested in the quality of the crop this year.

Almost every winery reports that the vintage will be 2006 on average, not only in quality but also quantity. Both the Willamette Valley and Anderson Valley reported ideal growing conditions withwarm days and cool nights. However, Napa and Sonoma counties experienced record heat in July, the crop producers' abilities questioned. The leaf canopy protects the grapes. If you prune too much of the canopy, you run the risk of exposure of the grapes in the high temperatures, and they can actually get a sunburn. A dense forest canopy in a humid climate will promote mold and mildew on the grapes.

For an optimal harvest, which is guaranteed quality wineries practice, quality care throughout theGrowing season. These include pruning of the canopy, some reduced to encourage grape (concentrated flavors in the other clusters), irrigation when needed and harvesting the grapes, when the desired blood glucose levels. Based on this report, we can all expect many fine white wines in about nine months, and delicious wines in about eighteen months, from the West Coast.

Food and wine pairings

So that you easily find, myRecommended wines, I am going to act in a network of local shops as a resource for the column. I will discuss my ideas for food and wine pairings with these neighborhood wine shop owners, and wine will find they achieve shares the goal. The wines will be included and will be generally available around the $ 10.00 price range and the $ 25.00 and up range. I hope this offers something for everyone.

It is November, and for many of us, that means Thanksgiving.This meal is not only an American tradition, it is a time when the whole family gathered around the table and closes again. This constitutes a burden on the meal planner and preparer as wine suggestions can be estimated.

The center of the Thanksgiving dinner is, of course, Turkey. Turkey as a meat tends to be neutral in flavor, can the door for interesting wines to be opened. However, the balance can offer complex flavors of the meal with side dishes of tasty dressing,tart cranberry relish and spicy pumpkin pie. In this sense, I recommend:

Picks

White Wines

A more complex type of wine with good acidity and balance is my choice. A wine with good fruit and acidity to help balance this meal wide range of flavors. Some suggestions are:

Château Lamothe de Haux (a Bordeaux blend of 3 varieties), France, 11 U.S. dollars.

Chateau St. Michelle Indian Wells Riesling - Columbia Valley, Washington, $ 15.

Sokol Blosser's"Evolution # 9" (a mixture of 9 varieties) - Anderson Valley, California, $ 17.

Gewrztraminer Thomas Fogarty, Monterey, California, $ 18

Caymus "conundrum" (a blend of 5 kinds) - Napa Valley, California, $ 27

Red Wines

Pinot Noir, my favorite variety, is my choice. This wine tends to medium body, flavor with "red" fruit notes such as raspberries and cherries, and has a good acidity to cope with the various courses of this complex meal. SomeProposals are:

Mark West Pinot Noir - Sonoma Valley, California, 13 U.S. dollars.

Regis de Valliere Bourgogne (the area in France known for Pinot Noir), 14 U.S. dollars.

Sanford Pinot Noir Santa Barbara - Central Coast, California, $ 25

Van Duzer Estate Pinot Noir - Willamette Valley, Ore., $ 28.

Cristom - Willamette Valley, Ore., $ 30.

(Prices are suggested retail and may vary.)

Enjoy your time with your family this Christmas and enjoy your meal!