Top 10 Places to Imbibe in Fermented Grapes

If you're like me one of the greatest pleasures in life comes from the never ending quest to find a grape of unsurpassed quality. Grown in the sun, nurtured with love, pressed with care, and fermented with patience, that humble grape, be it cabernet, chardonnay or pinot, transforms into a beautiful drink known as wine. As the oenophile in all of us knows, the grape nectar comes in as many varieties as grains of sand on the beach. With so many varieties come as many different tastes for what is considered flavorful. But this is not a post to review wine as I am nowhere near qualified to provide wine reviews.

However, what I am qualified to review is where to drink the liquid smooth relaxation. To me, as important as the differences in aroma, body, and palette of the wine is the environment in which we enjoy that drink. Be it festivities with family, romantic nights with a special someone, or a introspective moment of private thought under the stars, I will share with you my top 10 places to enjoy a bottle or just a glass of wine.

1. Cique Terre, Liguria, Italy

If you have never been to the Italian Rivera, I recommend that you put all travel plans and desires on hold and make a bee-line straight away to the area known as the Cinque Terra. This area of Italy located on the northwestern coast of Italy about a 2 hour train ride north of Rome has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site. When you think of classic seaside Italy, brightly colored architecture hanging on the cliffs of the Mediterranean, this IS what you are picturing in you mind. That and a whole lot more.

Cinque Terra or "five lands" is comprised of five towns located along sheer cliffs, quaint vineyards and stunning scenery to take your breath away. The five towns located in this region are: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Each town has a quaint seaside feel with a warm inviting atmosphere that subtly invites you to sit, relax and well, drink some wine.

My personal favorite place to imbibe in the Cinque Terra is a restaurant run by Signora Fonda called Resturane de Castello, in Vernazza. Perched precipitously above the sea and overlooking the small harbor, you can relax and realize all your Italian dreams. The food is outstanding family oriented Italian fare and the wine selection quite good. But nothing beats sitting here with fresh bread, the famous Ligurian pesto and several bottles of wine as the sun descends to the horizon. As it paints the sky in brilliant pastels that match the stucco of the town architecture you can sit as long as you wish. Enjoy another bottle and watch the stars emerge and the fresh ocean breeze carry your cares away.

Be a little careful how much you drink as the restaurant is located up a LOT of stairs from the main part of the town but it is well worth the trip.

Restaurant Al Castello

Via Guidoni 56

19018 Vernazza (La Spezia)

Phone: +39 0187 812296

2. Jost Van Dyke

In the Caribbean, thoughts often drift towards the likes of the Rum Runner, the Fish Bowl and the Painkiller. However, as I've discovered over the years, anytime you can find sand, sun, tropical ocean breezes and gorgeous sunsets, a bottle of fermented grapes makes a perfect companion.

In this case the small island of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is perfectly suited to all of these conditions. Whether you are staying in a private villa, one of the guesthouses or just visiting the famous Soggy Dollar bar the white sand beaches will warm your soul and the lapping of the warm turquoise waters will massage you cares away.

If you happen to be lucky enough to be on the island for the party at New Years, you are in for a nightlife treat. It is on this night every year that the island turns into one of the hottest spots in the Caribbean to ring in the New Year. With live bands, fantastic food and drink flowing like water you're sure to have a good time. Make sure to find a god cool place to stash your private bottle (a $20 to the bartender will find you a private icebox storage) of Veuve-Cliquot bough at a much cheaper price from the duty free shop on your way through St. John's or Tortola. Then as the magic new years hour arrives, retrieve your chilled bubbly and retreat to the beach with that special someone.

With the music playing in the background, the sand in your toes, the water lapping at the shores and sparkles in the sky, in your hand and hopefully in the eye of someone special, enjoy and experience you wont soon forget!

http://www.b-v-i.com/JostVanDyke/default.htm

http://www.jostvandyke.com/

3. Paris, France

No list of places to drink wine would be complete without at least one French locality. For me that location is Paris. With its cosmopolitan atmosphere, and its warren of romantic avenues and alleys to explore, finding a unique and ubiquitously "French" venue to enjoy a bottle of the countries finest is a challenge that is almost too easy.

From a walk along the Seine, you can explore either side of the famous river of love. Be that the upscale neighborhoods between the river and the famous Champs E'lyse or the more touristy neighborhoods surrounding the Eiffel Tower or the more quaint neighborhoods found by just wandering off in any direction from the Notre Dame cathedral, you have everything going for you to find a magnificent place to enjoy a bottle of wine.

The French, who love their food and wine, have so many little places to enjoy what the earth has provided, that its difficult to point to a particular place. But I will share a small place a few blocks away from the Eiffle tower that I found while trying to get away from the crowds one late summer afternoon. This summer after the Millennium, with the sun setting, as I strolled the streets, the Eiffle lit up to sparkle like a diamond in the sky. The view I had right then was down a lovely side street not with anything special from an architecture perspective. But it was all so "French" that the combination of the Eiffle above the roofline, the quite site street and the classic French Cafe made for a perfect spot to stop and have a bottle of wine and enjoy the view.

That restaurant was the Fontaine de Mars (La) - 129, Rue St Dominique, 75007 Paris, France, 01 47 05 46 44

However, it is by no means the only restaurant of its type. The best will be the one YOU discover by wandering in when the mood hits you just right and the magic of Paris overtakes you.

4. Longboat Key / Anna Maria Island, Florida, USA

From north to south, east to west, one of the best beaches I have encountered in my life can be found just an hour south of Tampa, Florida in the USA. The small island village of Long Boat Key, is an upscale retreat with one of the longest, best maintained and most peaceful beaches to be found anywhere. As the island caters to the wealthier set, staying here might be out of reach for many, however for the day there are several points of public access to the beach up and down Gulf of Mexico drive which runs the length of the island.

The sunsets from this beach have year in and year out proven to be some of the most magnificent in the world. Visit the local Publix market (there is one on either end of the island) and grab a nice bottle of whatever suits your fancy and your budget, a nice wedge of cheese and some crackers and head to the beach. As the sky changes from the pale blue of a magnificent sun filled Florida afternoon, to the crimson and oranges of sunset, keep your eye to the waters for pods of dolphin that like to swim along the beach. You will be treated to sights of Pelicans diving in for a feeding, sailboats on the horizon and of course the ubiquitous seagull sailing the evening skies.

If you can't make the Long Boat Key beach trek work, or you just desire something a little more lively, head north up Gulf of Mexico Drive through Bradenton Beach, through Cortez onto Anna Maria Island and find one of my favorite beachside restaurants, The Sandbar at 100 Spring Street, Anna Maria, FL 34216, (941) 778-0444 http://www.sandbar-restaurant.com/ here you can enjoy ocean side dining with live music and if you guess the correct sunset time you can get that free bottle of Champagne to enjoy.

5. Sangria on the Esplanade in Barcelona

While admittedly its not a bottle of wine directly, on a hot summer day or anytime you are in Spain, one of the must haves is a pitcher of sangria to share amongst friends.

After a day of enjoying a city full of unique and majestic architecture including that Barcelona showcase for Antoni Gaudi, nothing relaxes the senses more than the sweet and citrus refreshment from a tall glass of sangria. Advising you specifically where to enjoy this refreshment, would be like telling you where to sit on a beach to see the ocean. Its present everywhere in Barcelona.

However, to continue your unique Barcelona experience, a nice table along the Esplanade will treat you to not only a fine beverage but some of the best people watching in the world. With street performers of nearly every variety, tourists and locals enjoying a relaxing moment, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

6. Hotel Washington, Washington D.C., USA

One can argue there is nothing more alluring than proximity or possession of power. That certainly is one of the allures of the capital of the United States of America. In Washington, D.C. you can see such attractions as the White House, love or hate its occupant, it certainly plays a significant role in world history. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America, arguably the two most important documents in American history are on display just blocks away from the White House. Not to mention the amazing contents of the Smithsonian museums of history, art, air and space, native American history as well as the monuments to the great leaders of the country and the working houses of government located in the Capital Building.

After a grueling day of history and culture, one may want to simply relax and enjoy a chance to get away from the energy and bustle of the city. One of the great places to enjoy this is about 11 floors above the street overlooking the White House, the US Treasury Department and the National Mall. The outdoor terrace at the dining room on the top floor of the Hotel Washington is where you need to be. The terrace faces southwest and affords spectacular views of greenery, monuments and the Potomac river. While the ceiling fans provide a calming breeze, your bottle of wine and a majestic sunset will revive your spirit enough to get you back out to explore the capital city by night.

http://www.hotelwashington.com/dining.php

7. Franz Joseph, New Zealand

Hundreds of thousands of tons of snow and ice compact and move at over a foot a day putting on display one of the greatest shows on earth. The Franz Joseph Glacier is an awesome example of a fast moving and dynamic glacier descending into a rainforest ecosystem. In fact it is one of three glaciers in the world which descend into a rainforest. The options for enjoying the glacier are many from helicopter hikes, to single engine plane fly-over’s, to half day hikes on the glacier. However my personal preference is the day long 12 hour hike on the glacier. On this hike you get to enjoy in an intimate way the massive scale and awe inspiring power of the glacier. Seeing the automobile sized boulders carved from the granite walls of the canyon to peering down the seeming endless crevasses which wait to swallow anything that falls down it and hold it in its memory for hundreds of years, gives you sense of our relationship to mother earth. Seeing up close how we impact the environment and the environment impacts us will change you at your core.

Along this journey are your guide and 10 of your newest friends. As with most profound experiences, when shared with others bonds are formed between the individuals that are certain to last. One way to seal that experience and the newfound friendships is to retire after your glacier excursion to an inviting bottle of New Zealand’s finest grapes.

In such an atmosphere of natural beauty, one place where I have found to embrace that spirit both in its architecture and in its friendly and outgoing patrons is the Monsoon Bar at the Rainforest Retreat in Franz Joseph. This restaurant/bar serves up a wide range of food and beverages to meet every taste. For the budget traveler there is the house wines sold by the carafe or for perhaps the bigger spender (or wine snob.. your choice!) there are the bottles of the native New Zealand grape. Sharing a bottle here with your new glacier friends while feasting on a venison pot pie across the pool table while listening to your favorite tunes or simply relaxing in the overstuffed leather chairs in front of a roaring fire. This place earns a top spot to consume a bottle of wine.

http://www.rainforestretreat.co.nz/franz-josef-retreat-monsoon.html

8. Mendocino, CA

In the world of wine, there are several major regions in the world that produce some of the finest wines there are to offer. Two of these are the Sonoma and Napa Valley regions in California, USA. These regions lie a short and VERY scenic 2 hour and 30 minute drive south of Mendocinio, CA. However the spectacular wines are not confined to those regions.

Situated on a jetty of land sticking out into the Pacific Ocean just off of US Hwy 1, Mendocino has everything a romantic seaside village should have. Spectacular scenery, quaint small town shopping, relaxing in a luxurious bed and breakfast and of course the wineries by the dozen are just but the start of what make this a worthwhile destination to relax with a bottle of wine. Take a walk around town and you will find manicured lawns and spectacular gardens. Just a short walk in any direction through town will take you to the bluffs that overlook the foaming shores of the Pacific Ocean. As village with a bent towards tourism and wine tasting, the natural tendency is to have the restaurants to pair up against any wine you could find. As a coastal village, the seafood creations will not leave you wanting anything!

In this part of California, you can’t spit a grape seed without hitting a vintner bottling his wine in the eye. Just some of the wineries that are local to Mendocino can be found at http://www.mendocino.com/winemap.html. Needless to say you won’t be short of places to find a glass of whatever varietal you desire. If you are looking for some of the bigger name Napa and Sonoma wine labels, you can either hop in a car and take a drive or simply drive to the local store and pick up a bottle to meet your needs.

9. On a boat anywhere anytime

In my book, one of the top places in the world to enjoy a bottle of wine is on a boat. Any boat. Anytime. Anywhere. There is something primitively relaxing about floating on the water exploring as our oldest ancestors did combined with the enjoyment of one of the oldest beverages known to man. Humans have been exploring the water since before our ability to create and use tools and wine has been found brewed as early as 8500 B.C. Combining these two ancient pursuits seems to tie you to history and a continuum beyond yourself allowing your daily worries and stresses to disappear in the magnitude of time.

Now, since I can enjoy a bottle of wine on a bottle of wine anywhere, I’ll try and enumerate some of the boat trips I’ve had that have some great memories of wine associated with them.

· Boating down the Katherine Gorge in Katherine River, Australia

The Katherine Gorge in the Australian outback, just three hours south of Darwin, is a stunning little brother replica of the Grand Canyon. Consisting of a series of gorges, the Katherine (or Nitmiluk) Gorge system is a very calm and restful place to explore. You’ll see crocodiles, aboriginal art, stunning sandstone cliffs and the crystal waters of the Nitmiluk Gorge system. Enjoy all of this on a leisurely, flat water cruise while sipping all the wine you can enjoy.

· Sailing the coast of Granada

The coast of the Grenada located in the Windward Islands chain of the Caribbean islands is home to some fantastic sailing. Finding a good bottle of wine at a reasonable price can be a challenge. But if you can find one, locate your nearest charter sailboat and get out and enjoy the favorable winds. With the wind in your hair and a glass in your hand, you’ll feel separated from reality and suspended in a Caribbean paradise you will not want to leave.

· Pontooning the lakes of Michigan, USA

One of the best kept secrets of the United States is the state of Michigan. Some will say its cold, some will say its boring. I will tell you that it has everything you could want except mountains. There has to be a lake at least every 10 miles in this state. Thus you are never far from water or from anyone who has a boat for that matter. The summers here are gorgeous with warm evening breezes and calm star filled skies!

· On a river cruise down the Rhine river, Germany

The Rhine River Valley, another great wine region of the world, and there is a river that runs right dead through it allowing for another wine lovers boating excursion. One of the great pleasures of backpacking Europe has been the escape of the Rhine River boat cruise that is afforded from the Eurail pass if you are taking advantage of that. With that pass you are entitield to “50% discount on boats on the river Rhine between Constance and Schaffhausen operated by urh. www.urh.ch.” ** from www.eurail.com. I recommend taking the Rhine riverboat cruise from Rudesheim to Koblenz. Before you get on the boat, stop and purchase some local Rhine River wine, cheese and perhaps a little sausage and baguette. It makes a great accompaniment to the view of castles, vineyards and rolling countryside.

10. Munich, Germany

One of the great pleasures of Germany, would be Germany during the Christmas holiday season. The mercury dips down in the thermometer, the sweaters come out and so do the mulled wines. In Germany, the mulled wine is called Gluehwein. Its not a bottle of wine exactly, but a beautiful way to enjoy wine on cold winters day.

In my book as a man who enjoys sports, there is perhaps no better way to enjoy the Gluehwein than in the Bavarian capital of Munich. If you are American reading this post, you probably don’t understand the European love of football (that’s soccer for us). One GREAT way to enjoy the sport is to catch a match of the home team, FC Bayern Munchin (http://www.fcbayern.t-home.de/en/index.php). Sitting in the stands with a piping hot cup of Gluehwein and watching close to 70,000 fans go crazy for their team of footballers is truly a unique and special way to connect with the locals.