Elona the Explorer

Author: Elona Karafin

Bringing in a NYC Winter with AVA Grace Wine

This post is sponsored by AVA Grace Vineyards. All opinions are my own.  Did you know? California makes about 90 percent of all American wine. California is a huge state (larger than Germany!). Because of this, California has a diverse climate and a wide range of soils. These unique features of the Western state allow for over 100 varieties of grapes to grow and overall over 526,000 wine grapes are made in California! I have seldom had bad experiences when picking California wines to try, and California is one of my favorite wine regions in the world. I recently came back to New York from a 45 day trip around the Middle East and boy, did I miss drinking wine! My friends invited me to a small winter party and the first thing I did was went to the liquor store to chose a few bottles to pair with our dinner. I was instantly drawn to a beautiful bottle of California Chardonnay from AVA Grace Vineyards. Chardonnay has more acreage than any other wine grape in California with over 100,000 acres in production. It is by far the most popular grape in California. Chardonnay is also the most popular wine consumed in the US – likely due to its great acidity (it is crisp and refreshing). The labeling on the bottle is absolutely stunning: it emphasizes vintage elements and striking gold designs straight out of a Victorian style home! Whoever worked on that marketing did their job well because I pulled out my Vivino App to read more about AVA Grace. AVA’s winemaker, Andrea Beltran, has over 12 years of experience and describes her personal style as “creating fruit-forward wines that show off the grapes natural acidity, aromas, and flavors.” I also love how AVA describes it’s wine by drawing parallels to my second favorite thing (after wine): travel! “With a sense of curiosity and wonderment, you know the journey is more important than the destination. Looking for a spark of wonder every day, you appreciate that all the little things in life are what make it beautiful. AVA Grace is inspired by the beauty of nature, which weaves in and out of everything we create: from our thoughtfully crafted wines to our artistic packaging.” Since I typically prefer reds, I chose an AVA red blend from the shelf. The bottles were a great addition to our get together. Easy, smooth, balanced drinking at a great price. The red blend paired great with prosciutto and the Chardonnay matched well with grilled shrimp. If you are looking for an affordable wine with a bold, lasting taste, I recommend adding AVA Grace to your wine list!

5 Reasons to Tour Italy by Train and Essential Travel Tips

5 Reasons to Tour Italy by Train and Essential Travel Tips Have you ever dreamed of seeing the Italian countryside? Have you ever wanted to visit some of Italy’s most popular cities? What about trying to do both at a relaxing and leisurely pace? Then touring Italy by train is THE way to travel through this extraordinary country! As one of the most popular tourist countries in the world, there are plenty of ways that you can experience the charm of Italy. However, there is only one mode of transportation that is as charming as it is efficient. Taking a rail holiday through big cities, wine country, rolling hills, and even mountainous ranges is honestly one of the best ways to experience Italy. If you’re not convinced, then here are five reasons to tour Italy by train! Reason Number One: Living in Old School Luxury If you’re looking for a way to travel in the ultimate lap of luxury, then you’re off to a good start with taking the railway. From incredible food and wine, to day trips sailing around Italian costal cities. From exploring ancient Roman ruins, to getting to eat in a tiny Mom and Pop Italian restaurant, there is nothing you can’t experience on this kind of holiday. You get the opportunity to pick an itinerary where you not only get privacy, but you get to experience this amazing country in depth. Sure, there are trains that will simply be for a few hours trip, but there are also glamorous overnight cabins for you to relax in! When you choose to take the train, you can basically choose a high-end traveling hotel. You can choose a large, private cabin. You can choose the quality of food and beverage you are served. You even get to take SEVERAL bags onto the train for less than it costs to take ONE bag on a flight. Sit back, relax, and take a holiday that where you can truly spoil yourself with tiny luxuries! Reason Number Two: Taking Your Time In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it takes a lot of dedication to slow down! If you’re looking for a real holiday, where you can actually enjoy the countryside and not just fly over it, then traveling Italy by train is the way to go. Here are a few key points on why taking a rail holidays to Italy are a better use of your time: Planes Aren’t Always Faster. Let’s say you want to travel from Nice to the Amalfi Coast. You book a plane for far too much money, you drive to the airport, you wait hours in line at security and for your plane, you fly, you wait to deplane, you pick up your baggage, you drive to your location, it’s EXHAUSTING. Why not simply take the train for a few hours on a long holiday that allows you to not only stop in Nice and the Amalfi Coast, but many other amazing locations as well! Seeing Italy. Like, REALLY seeing Italy. By taking the railway, you’ll not only get to see the many cities and stops along your route, but you’ll also get to embrace the beautiful countryside and small towns as well. Leisurely looking out your private cabin window, knowing you’re riding in comfort, is a GREAT way to travel! Sleeping, Traveling, All in One! If you choose to get a personal cabin aboard the train, then you won’t have to waste time finding hotels in other locations. Not only that, but you’ll be traveling and sleeping all at the same time! Why wake in a rush to catch a flight, or board a boat, when you can wake rested already on the way to your destination. Train holidays allow you to see the world, slow down, and really take advantage of your travel time. Why spend hours hauling luggage through the airport on a four-hour layover? Spend your time wisely and choose a railway holiday through Italy! Reason Number Three: Eco-Friendly Travel is the Best Kind of Travel Being eco-friendly isn’t just about looking and feeling good when you travel. Not only can you eat healthy local foods while in Italy, but you can actually save the atmosphere from carbon byproducts, as well as reduce the amount of fossil fuels being used. Traveling by train not only allows you to take in the beautiful scenery around you, but you also get to help try and save it! There are many studies that support trains being more environmentally conscious than taking a plane. The winner of the eco-friendly debate is clearly trains and you’ve chosen to help the planet by taking this holiday. So, pack up your travel mug, and all of your other eco-conscious products, and you can start helping the environment while you travel! Reason Number Four: It’s Pre-Planned for You Yes, everyone loves to go on holiday. You work so much that once you finally get the time off, you don’t want to face the stress of planning out every day of your holiday. Not to mention making all of the travel arrangements, site-seeing plans, and so many other things! The number four reason that taking the train though Italy is an amazing holiday is because everything is planned out in advance. That’s right. All you have to do is schedule your trip, upgrade your hotels and tickets if you choose, and pack! This is also only true if you book through the right travel agency. However, if you find the right company you can actively avoid the stress of planning a vacation all together! Here are a few things that should be included in your train through Italy experience: Standard class trail travel (Upgrades available) Handpicked hotel accommodations Overnight rail cabins if necessary City maps, as well as detailed directions Organized wallet with tickets, reservations, and vouchers It should also include a way to upgrade your hotels, cabin choice, add extra nights, or slightly modify the destinations. That’s it! That’s all you have to choose! No searching

Best Stop-offs on Your Canadian Road Trip

Road trips can be the biggest, most exhilarating adventure of your life, but one of the best parts about them is heading off the beaten track, discovering new places and trying things you would never otherwise have found. Here are some of the things you’ll find in Canada it’s worth pulling over and cutting your engine for to stretch those legs and take in the world around you.

 

Avoid Taking Hours To Get Ready – Here’s The Secret

Lots of people fall into the trap of taking hours and hours to get ready, whether this is for a formal event or even just nipping out to run some errands. Wanting to look your best is fantastic, but if it’s going to take you hours each day, you could be missing out on things that are more important. 

5 Safety Tips For Your Next Road Trip

A road trip is an amazing way to explore a new country, and the journey becomes as much a part of the experience as the destination. It’s also a cheaper option so if you’re trying to travel on a budget, it’s ideal. But you should be fine as long as you follow these simple safety tips. 

Six Online Security Tips For Bloggers

If you want to be a successful blogger, it’s important to take your online security seriously. Any online presence can be a target, and if you want your blog to be a business, you need to feel confident that you’re protected against hacks and other online problems. Here’s how to stay safe online as a blogger.

Drink Your Way Around The World

There are too many drinks, too many countries, and not enough time, but if you fancy challenging yourself to a drinking game that can last a lifetime and one you will really enjoy, then here’s an excellent place to start. All over the world, there are places famous for inventing certain drinks, and these are usually the best places to try these drinks. While you’ve probably tried them elsewhere, there’s nothing like a local drink and having it where it originated. Ever tried wine in France and loved it and then brought it home to find it tasted horrible? You’re not the only one. So, with so many to choose from, where do you start? Image by Νικόλαος Αντωνόπουλος from Pixabay  Italy – Campari Campari, the bright red, sharp, bitter orange aperitif, is the base of many delicious cocktails, such as a Negroni or Campari and soda.  South Africa – Wine While there is wine everywhere, South Africa has some of the most excellent wines in the world. It is three times the size of California and is home to an array of different landscapes, making it a perfect wine-producing country. Do some research before you go by having a look at https://www.nakedwinery.com/Wine-Facts to make sure you get the best out of it.  France – Absinthe At around 80% alcohol content, Absinthe is one of the most alcoholic drinks in the world. Some even say the french liquor is mind-altering and hallucinogenic, so much so that it’s illegal in some parts of the world.  Japan – Sake When in Japan, make sure you enjoy a glass of Sake, a world-famous alcoholic drink made of fermented rice. Widely considered as one of the oldest beverages in the world, Sake is a huge part of Japanese culture and history and can be served either hot or cold. The USA – Bourbon American Bourbon is arguably the best. Made from corn and obtaining its distinctive flavor from being aged in wooden barrels, you can enjoy it served straight or on the rocks depending on taste. Mexico – Tequila Until you travel to Mexico, you won’t appreciate just how good tequila can be.  Spain – Sangria Sangria is basically a wine punch loaded with delicious fruit, but there is no real traditional recipe, as each place serves its own variation of a delicious Sangria. Perhaps it’s worth doing a sangria tour of Spain?  Greece – Ouzo Ouzo is the national drink of Greece, and rightly so for its potent, fiery, taste. The anise-flavored liquor is enjoyed straight and strong, so avoid using ouzo in a cocktail. Russia – Vodka Russia. Vodka. That’s it, really. Jamaica – Rum With more than 50 million liters of rum produced, each year, Jamaica boasts the widest variety of rum out of anywhere else in the world. Ireland – Guinness Guinness is one of the most consumed beers worldwide, but it never tastes better than in the country itself, so get yourself over there and, even better, head to the Guinness Factory and enjoy a pint there.