Sherman's Travel

Even without snow and ice in the forecast, December and January temperatures have a way of keeping otherwise outgoing people indoors. So if skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing aren’t exactly your cup of hot cocoa, you might be scratching your head wondering what to do with a few spare vacation days or a long weekend this winter. One idea is to hit the road with a wine tote, journal, and a designated driver. In the United States, star-studded California tends to be the biggest magnet for oenophiles, but the East Coast has dozens of its own wine trails too, many of which are a short drive from New York, Philadelphia, or Baltimore. Plus, by visiting some of these small wineries in the off-season, you’ll avoid the crowds that can choke parking lots on warmer spring and summer weekends. Read more

When you think of Mexico, wine production probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. For that, you might blame King Philip II of Spain. When Mexico’s first colonizers began shipping back inexpensive, good quality vintages to the Old World in the 16th century, Spanish vintners protested the competition. Thus, the king outlawed winemaking in the colonies, except for religious purposes, a ban which lasted 200 years. Interestingly enough, it was the Spanish who reignited interest in viticulture when refugees fleeing Franco’s reign brought their Rioja-sipping habits to Mexico.

Today, most Mexican winemakers still come from a European background. The owners of La Redonda Vineyards in the state of Queretaro, about two hours northeast of Mexico City, are no exception. Manager Claudio Bortoluz’s grandfather came to Mexico from Italy after World War II when the Mexican government was recruiting knowledgeable oenologists to oversee developing vineyards. Eventually, he made his way to Queretaro in the early 1970s. Although the family has been growing grapes at La Redonda for well over three decades, it was only in the past seven years that they began producing wine on the property.

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There’s a reason we love to visit the wine country: The closer you are to the source of what’s swirling in your glass, it seems, the more you appreciate that cabernet or chardonnay. But if driving from tasting room to tasting room isn’t quite your style, consider sampling wine Chilean-style, perhaps with lunch in a hundred-year-old estancia or in a sunny garden with cheese made onsite. Even better, Chile’s long, thin profile means that you can go from wine tasting to sitting on the beach, scaling the Andes, or exploring colonial-era cities in a single day.

Chile’s wine country stretches for hundreds of miles, but producers in the central part of the country are less remote and offer easy access to Santiago’s modern airport and Valparaiso’s hill-strewn landscape. Steeped in the kind of gritty chic that arrives with the leading edge of a comeback, this seaport city is now filled with brightly painted frescos on nearly every surface, funky galleries and shops and tiny food-centric restaurants. Quirky funiculars ferry passengers up and down the urban Matterhorns that divide the city into San Francisco-like neighborhoods studded with mansions built by 19th-century industrialists.

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Hubby wants to play golf, wifey wants a romantic vacation in Italy. A brand-new resort in Puglia, the Borgo Egnazia, has the answer to this dilemma. The gorgeous, sprawling property is offering ShermansTravel readers a golf package with some very special add-ons, like a romantic dinner for two and a private wine tasting. Overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the Borgo Egnazia entertains in a five-star manner with the par-72 golf course, beach club and 4 pools all the while guests relax in the modern yet soothing interiors and lavish Egnathia Spa.

THE VALUE: With rates starting at $377 per night for a deluxe room, all of the add-ons of this package equal savings of 30%. The exclusive golf package for ShermansTravel readers includes:

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Mention Sonoma County, California to anyone and chances are they’ll immediately conjure up images of charming vineyards set amid gently rolling hills in the countryside – sheer bliss for wine enthusiasts and romantics. But, why daydream about this alluring destination when you can experience it first-hand without losing your shirt. All Seasons Vacation Suites is offering ShermansTravel.com readers a sensational exclusive wine tour deal for just $399! That’s a savings of over $150!

Valid until April 30, this ultimate wine-lover package includes the following:

•    A one-night stay in a traditional two-bedroom cottage
•    One complimentary bottle of Dry Valley Camellia Cellars First Kiss Wine
•    An escorted two-hour wine tasting tour for two in a vintage American Hot Rod

To make reservations, call 877-727-8182 or e-mail info@allseasonsvacationsuites.com and be sure to mention ShermansTravel.com.

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If you’re feeling the need, the need for speed, book a room at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn with their ‘Speed Meets Spa’ hotel package. 

The package not only lets you take advantage of the Sonoma Spa by including two 60-minute spa treatments, but also includes two days of “School of Racing” at the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School. 

Set against the backdrop of the gorgeous Sonoma, and neighboring Napa, Valley, the Sonoma Mission Inn is the ultimate wine country destination oasis with spa, golf, a Michelin award winning restaurant, and happens to be blessed with the natural mineral hot springs of the Sonoma Valley. Once off the racetrack, slow your heartbeat at the spa, then enjoy a delicious, complimentary meal at Sante Restaurant, which has been reviewed by both Conde Nast Traveller and Gourmet Magazine and has been a recipient of both a prestigious Michelin Star and the AAA Four-Diamond award.

And a trip to wine country wouldn’t be complete without, well, wine. A bottle of Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine will be waiting for you upon check-in, and wine tasting for two at the Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves will be arranged during your stay. 

***Jan. 31 update: The ‘Speed Meets Spa’ package is no longer available.