Enobytes

I loathe flying.  I really do. I don’t like standing in airport lines, battling with airport security and putting up with surly service. This is why I became a licensed pilot—no lines, no hassles. More importantly, I like the freedom of getting in a small plane and flying wherever I want to go. But my [...]

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At the recent London International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC), everyone was keen to know the result of the Best in Class for the Syrah/Shiraz category. A red Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie or Cornas? A Hunter, Barossa or Heathcote Shiraz? Perhaps a Paso Robles or Columbia Valley Syrah? Or something from Chile’s ever-widening diversity of new sub-regions? [...]

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It was bound to happen. We fell in love with Spain. Traveling across its vast and spirited landscape, we experienced its diversity of all things wine and food—from the traditional and rustic to the conventional and avant-garde—encountering the creations of Spain´s most innovative winemakers and chefs. WE HEADED EAST on N-122 towards medieval Peñafiel, a [...]

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For a Friday morning we got out of bed pretty early and got down to the bar for a couple of double espressos made like they should always be made – strong  but not bitter and hot enough to stay that way for more than a minute.  Northwest baristas should spend some time in Spain [...]

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Time changes and jet lag made sleeping a challenge.  I found myself awake at dawn so I went for a walk. The entire hotel was smoke free so it was a good excuse for a walk. My little trip put things into perspective only to reaffirm the hotel location is not conducive for travelers without [...]

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As we left Portland for our first trip to Spain we had travelitis from the start to boarding the plane. Our flight was a huge bargain when I booked a Travelzoo Top Twenty Alert, $536rt from Seattle to Madrid. We were shocked as the date loomed closer and the reality of a British Airways strike [...]

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