Wine With Wanda

Perfect Pair: Summer Dining & Concha y Toro Wines from Chile

Concha y Toro winemaker Marcelo Papa makes Chilean wines that pair beautifully with a wide variety of cuisine.

No more stressing about which wine to pair with dinner! From barbecue to sushi, Concha y Toro makes it easy and affordable to find the perfect wine to pair with your meal.

Founded in 1883, Concha y Toro is South America's single largest exporter of fine wines. Their award-winning winemaker, Marcelo Papa, recently hosted a luncheon in NYC that showcased the versatility of Concha y Toro wines alongside a globally-inspired menu prepared by Chef Ruth Van Waerebeek (Concha y Toro's Consulting Chef & Culinary Advisor).

Here are two wines from the impressive Concha y Toro portfolio that are a delicious fit with many of your summer meals.

 




Our lunch included Marques de Casa Concha Sauvignon Blanc ($23) paired with salmon sashimi. Far less grassy than many New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, the crisp acidity of this white wine with hints of citrus make it a perfect match for any fresh seafood and shellfish meal.

For summer barbecues, this beautiful Marques de Casa Concha Carmenère ($26) is my choice with grilled red meats. The balanced tannins of this wine and notes of juicy black plums and dark chocolate, make this voluptuous vino very versatile. We sipped it with a Moroccan inspired chicken tagine and the wine was great with the aromatic spices in the dish. 

 If you're planning a trip to Chile, make time to visit to the Wine Tourist Center of Concha y Toro in Santiago. Stroll the vineyards, visit the famous Casillero del Diablo cellar, and wine & dine at their restaurant! Guided tours are offered in English and Spanish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four Tips for Funding Your Dream Vacation

Embark on a financial plan to make your travel dreams to Paris, or any corner of the globe, a reality!

Travel magazines and Hollywood films that show women eating and loving in faraway places can make us long for our own adventures abroad. But let's face it - it takes money to travel the world and many of us don't have the means to jet set on a whim. However, don't let your finances derail your dream of exploring the world. Travel is one of the most important gifts that we can give ourselves. With a little strategic planning, by this time next year you could be sipping a café au lait in Paris or shaking to samba in Rio.

1. Put Your Piggy Bank to Work
Open a savings account that serves exclusively as the piggy bank for your vacation. Add $25 a week to your vacation account and within a year you'll have $1300 towards your trip.

2. Put That Trip on "Layaway"
Shelling out a few thousand dollars all at once can be pretty daunting but what if you could pay for your dream trip with a small deposit and monthly payments? Gate1 is one of the largest tour operators to offer this option and STG Tours is a boutique agency that also provides this service. A friend of mine recently used the layaway option for her dream trip to Greece and Turkey - the smile on her face when she made the final payment towards her adventure was a sight to behold!

3. Rack Up Miles Without Leaving the Ground
Do you have a favorite airline? Most major carriers offer credit cards that allow you to accumulate miles with your purchases. I used to be confused by people who whipped out their credit cards for even the smallest transaction but now I realize that they were racking up miles. Most cards even give you some bonus miles with your new account. And contact your bank about the credit cards that you already have - you might be missing out on rewards programs that include miles that can be redeemed with various airlines.

4. No Hotel, No Problem
Hotel expenses can add up quickly but renting a home can save you big money. Websites like Airbnb make it easy to find everything from tiny studio apartments to spacious homes. There really is something for every budget. Not only will your rental charge be significantly cheaper than a hotel stay but you'll feel more immersed in the local culture. I did this on my trip to Paris last year and loved it. Travel with a friend and save even more by splitting the expenses. To really save money, you can register with HomeExchange and swap your home with someone else.

Do you have some vacation savings strategies that you would like to share? Let me know!

 

Summer Sip: Frontera Specialties Pedro Jimenez 2013 from Chile

Ooh, the temperature is rising and along with it my craving for chilled wines without too much attitude. Frontera Specialties Pedro Jimenez fits the bill perfectly. Only $8 a bottle, this medium-bodied Chilean beauty is very refreshing and has mucho personality.

When you want something a little different than Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, this blend of primarily Pedro Jimenez (an heritage grape varietal that had fallen into obscurity) with a touch of Moscatel and Sauvignon Blanc is a great option. Juicy and crisp with a pleasing minerality, this sip is perfect as an aperitif or with seafood, sushi - even fish and chips!

Sparkling & Sweet Summer Sip: Mionetto 'IL' UGO Elderflower Cocktail

My talent for mixology is pretty limited, so a ready-to-drink cocktail that doesn't require me to slice, muddle, or strain is a genie in a wine bottle - as long as you pick the correct one. I was recently sent a sample of Mionetto 'IL' UGO Elderflower Cocktail ($12) and when I saw the Mionetto name I had high expectations - they make some of the most consistently delicious Prosecco on the market.

Inspired by a cocktail from the Alto Adige region of Italy, 'IL' UGO blends semi-sparkling frizzante white wine with elderflower blossom and wildflowers. The presentation is pretty and summery - a translucent bottle with a butterfly design encases the straw yellow liquid. The aroma is lovely - peach and citrus. And, the sweeter taste is perfect for this time of year - peach, pear, and citrus flavors really shine through in each spritzy sip. At only 8% alcohol, this is an indulgence that doesn't overwhelm. Serve chilled over ice and if you're feeling fancy garnish it with a sprig of mint. Easy, sparkly, delicious!

Simple Summer Pleasures: Chilled Tea & Crisp Linen

I'm officially out of hibernation and ready to enjoy the simple pleasures that the summer season offers - spending time with friends & family, great food & drink, and basking in the sun. On my must-do list this summer is at least one Central Park picnic complete with delicious iced tea and a lovely linen dress!


Since being introduced to Palais desThés, I've become a huge fan and spent many a cold winter day warming up with their superb teas from around the globe. Now that the temperature is rising, iced tea is my refreshing non-alcoholic drink of choice and Palais desThés XL Iced Tea Bags make it easy to prepare. You don't even need to boil the water! Just dunk the tea bag in a pitcher of room temperature water (the muslin tea bag has an extra long cord), wait 30 minutes to one hour, and voilà - the tea is perfectly steeped! You can then place it in the fridge to chill. Each bag makes 16 oz. of tea. Palais des Thés XL Iced Tea Bags are available in four flavorful blends: Thé du Hammam (green tea with berries), Thé des Sources (green tea with mint & bergamot), Thé des Alizés (fruity green tea with peach), and Oolong 7 Agrumes (oolong with citrus). The blends are so flavorful that no sugar is really needed - a delicious and healthy way to stay hydrated. They are sold in packages of six XL bags for $12.50 or a selection containing all four blends for $29 (16 tea bags).

And, while I'm sipping my iced tea in Central Park, this is the dress I want to wear - flowy, crisp & cool white linen from Eileen Fisher. Yes, I've always thought Eileen Fisher was a perhaps a tad dowdy but this dress is very flirty and pretty. Available at Nordstrom - $338, XS-XL. I saw quite a few lovely items on the Eileen Fisher website - am I getting older or are they getting hipper? I think the answer is both!

Luxe Lips: SOTHYS Lipsticks from France

Ooh la la, SOTHYS Rouge Intense & Rouge Doux Lipsticks = luxury for your lips! And, each chic shade name is inspired by a Métro stop in Paris. $29 each.

Each day I  join millions of women around the world in performing the lipstick ritual. We open the tube, apply the color, and voila - we feel just a little more ready to face the world. Lipstick doesn't take much effort but this little luxury can make a huge difference in how we feel and look. I never travel without it.




The latest addition to my extensive lipstick portfolio is SOTHYS. A French spa brand that was founded in 1946, SOTHYS has recently added makeup to their collection of skin & body products. Infused with ingredients like mango & shea butters, SOTHYS hydrating lipsticks add nourishment along with color. For a subtle look with a satin-finish, try one of the 10 shades of SOTHYS Rouge Doux like Rose Muette and Prune Luxembourg. SOTHYS Rouge Intense has a creamier texture and more pigmented color - the 10 shades include Rose Orange Picpus and Rouge Monceau. The SOTHYS makeup collection also features foundations, concealer, mascara, and more - everything you need to create the effortless chic look that is so very French!


L'Institut SOTHYS in NYC offers a variety of facial and body treatments. A great way to de-stress and get pampered in the Big Apple!

If you are in New York City, you can purchase SOTHYS makeup and skincare at their very posh spa, L'Institut SOTHYS, at 37 West 57th Street. Also available at SOTHYS partner spa locations.

 

Eating & Sipping La Dolce Vita: Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Italian Wines

A perfect match - Colavita Valpolicella Ripasso 2011 paired with Prime Sirloin of Beef, Fricassee of Spring Vegetables & Smoked Almond Purée prepared with Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Delicious! 

You're probably familiar with Colavita - their award-winning extra virgin olive oil is widely available and recognized as the #1 Italian brand in the US. I've been buying Colavita for years because I love the flavor and feel reassured by the words on the side of the bottle - "obtained exclusively from olives harvested and pressed in Italy." Believe it or not, there are many impostor olive oils on the market with Italian names that are not actually made in Italy from Italian olives. Colavita is the real deal!

Giovanni Colavita carries on the family tradition.

Recently, I attended a fantastic dinner at the Scott Conant Culinary Suite in New York City hosted by Giovanni Colavita, CEO of Colavita's US Importing Company and the third generation of the Colavita family to carry on the tradition of producing high quality olive oil. Their business has expanded tremendously since the early days and Colavita now also produces Australian, Spanish, Greek, Argentinian, and Californian extra virgin olive oils. And, Colavita has now partnered with Terlato Wines to produce super-premium Italian wines.

“Vita is Italian for life. Not just life, but life lived well, full of passion for good food, good company and great wine. At Colavita, we believe in crafting wines worth exploring and sharing.” Giovanni Colavita

Yes, Colavita now makes wine! So, your next meal at home can truly be an Italian affair featuring delicious food prepared with Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil and paired with their wines. There are four Colavita wine varietals available - Pinot Grigio ($15), Pinot Noir ($15), Verdicchio di Matelica ($15), and Valpolicella Ripasso ($23). All of the wines are fermented in stainless steel and well-balanced with a smooth finish. I especially liked the Valpolicella - a beautiful blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Corvinone grapes that tastes of juicy wild berries with a hint of spice.

From start to finish, Colavita oils & wines make it easy and affordable to dine in an authentic and flavorful Italian fashion. Mangia!

 

My Italian Wish List

The Monday Blues did not stand a chance when I found myself surrounded by delicious Italian food, wine & design, and more than a few very handsome Italian men!. No, I wasn't actually in Italia but I spent a fabulous afternoon with my friends at the Italian Trade Commission in NYC to celebrate Festa Della Repubblica (Italian National Day.) The festivities included the Le Eccellenze Italiane Exhibition - a display of Italy's finest. A trip to Italy remains number one on my wish list but why not add a great dress and a Piaggio Vespa to the mix?

Italian Wish List Item 1: Fly in Style from NYC to Milan on Emirates

Duomo di Milano

Did you know that the very posh Emirates Airlines flies from New York City to Milan? Their First Class cabins have private suites and Business Class boasts lie-flat beds. If you're going to jet set to Italy's fashion capital, one should go in style!

Italian Wish List Item 2: A Sexy Little Black Dress from Designer Gigliola Curiel

Of course, while in Milan I would I have to do a little shopping and I think this sexy little black dress by designer Gigliola Cuirel is perfection. Gigliola hails from a Milanese fashion dynasty and is continuing the tradition started by her grandmother and mother.

 Italian Wish List Item 3: A Snazzy Piaggio Vespa

My Italian friend Raffaelle absolutely adores his Piaggio Vespa and uses it everyday to get around New York City. Sleek, stylish, and fast, the Piaggio Vespa makes commuting an adventure. Of course, I would opt for a very racy red model - it will look great with my little black dress!