Lauren Mowery

Wine and food from the Republic of Georgia have captured the attention of Americans in a way that seemed unimaginable a little over thirty years ago when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. While the wines are far from mainstream, they've played a pivotal role in the growth of "orange" wines, known as amber to Georgians. Though the Soviets controlled the country for over six decades, it preserved its 8,000 years of wine production through state run wineries and backyard vineyards. Like most t...

Slovenian wine is on the rise. For a tiny nation of just over 7,800 square miles, the wines that break out of this nearly landlocked country deliver a big impact. Most bottles alighting on U.S. shores follow a similar ethos: minimal intervention, small production, showcasing indigenous and international varieties, and accessible in taste and price point.
Located at the crossroads of mountains and sea, Slovenia features diverse landscapes spanning the Julian Alps, lakes, forests, and coastal a...

Perhaps surprisingly for a city in the American South, where Vitis vinifera suffers in the summer heat and humidity, Charleston has cultivated a long relationship with wine. Founded by English colonists in 1670, Charleston (‘Charles Town’) evolved into a key East Coast port through which volumes of Madeira flowed.
In the early 1800s, social clubs dedicated to fortified wine popped up. During the American Civil War, the South Carolina Jockey Club, a racing organisation, hid its valuable Madeir...

The Loutrel welcomes travelers to the heart of historic Charleston. The hotel is centrally located on State Street, not far from Rainbow Row, so we found it easy to get a feel for the charm of downtown Charleston upon arrival.
A striking six-panel oil painting by artist Linda Fantuzzo greeted us upon arrival. Reception offers travelers a welcome drink from the silver bar cart while checking in. The Loutrel’s signature cocktail draws inspiration from Southern botanicals.
The Veranda Lounge bri...

Our journey in search of rare wines, Venetian villages and heroes in mythology.
July 10, 2023
Highlights
After the decade-long Trojan War, Odysseus and his crew sailed home to the Ionian Island of Ithaca. According to Homer’s ancient Greek epic The Odyssey, they encountered a race of one-eyed giants, only to find themselves trapped in a cave serving as snack food for the Cyclops, Polyphemus. To escape, Odysseus served Polyphemus wine until he fell asleep drunk, then blinded him with a sharpen...

Considered remote even by mainland Australians, Tasmania’s isolation is part of its appeal. For rich doomsday preppers, “Tassie” has become the latest hillside bunker Plan B. For adventurous gourmands, however, this heart-shaped island offers serious enticement to compensate for the long flight. Capital city Hobart’s flourishing dining scene, urban wineries, countryside cellars doors and whisky distilleries are worth all the hassle alone. But the island’s relaxed pace has also drawn-in travel...

Whether you fly in business or economy, wine options on flights come down typically to “red or white.” And if you’re a wine-loving frequent flier, you know that airlines face unique challenges that can explain why bottles on a plane so often disappoint.
Selecting wines for an airline program is a monumental task, and each carrier employs a different methodology. For Singapore Air, Jeannie Cho Lee MW, author Oz Clarke and Michael Hill Smith a wine consultant, wine judge and writer, blind-taste...

As the winter cruise season launches, bookings for spring and summer sails across Europe steadily rise. From renovated barges and nimble yachts to mega-ships, wine lovers are spoiled with options.
“Wine has been an enormous growth area for cruises, and the lines are adding programs all the time,” says Chris Gray Faust, managing editor at Cruise Critic. “Examples include the wine-focused theme river cruises run by European line AmaWaterways, the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) courses ru...

Whether you fantasize about fresh powder, challenging moguls or half-pipes, ski and snowboard season doesn’t mean you have to give up great wine. Ski towns and resorts in the U.S. have come a long way with their wine lists, and if you’ve ever hit the mountains in Europe, you know that slope-side sips and après-ski are as important as the sport itself. Here are eight destinations that incorporate local wines and great drinks.
Aspen, Colorado
This legendary destination has a split personality. ...

Halloween is around the corner, so what better time to prepare for a zombie infiltration than now? You’ve formulated your escape plan. You’ve stockpiled supplies like food and candles, but what about wine? Does a deep cellar figure into your preparation plan when hiding out from zombies? It’s a good bet that a great bottle of rosé with that canned tuna may be the only bright spot while waiting out the undead uprising.

However, it could be years before society rebuilds itself, and wines age at...

From the crest of a hill at Bodegas Martín Códax winery, the fog hovers thick and silvery, ebbing and flowing over the ragged coastline. The setting could be confused for the firths of eastern Scotland, but for the miles of patchwork vineyards and prevalence of sparkling Albariño. This moody landscape belongs to Spain’s Galicia.
Exposed to the Atlantic, Galicia lies in the northwest corner of Iberia. A succession of finger-like inlets, or rias, known formally as the Rías Baixas, forms the coa...

You’ve likely heard of Austin’s fondness for barbecue, beer and music. That’s all true, but there’s more to it. The city is transforming into a haven for wine lovers, thanks to an influx of discerning young professionals and organizations like the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas and the just-launched ATX Somm Society. And with appreciation for local, natural and small-production, the wine scene is in line with the city’s eclectic vibe.
Drink
Start the day on South Congress Avenue, or SoCo, a ...

Long known for counterculture politics, the outdoors and a robust craft beer scene, Eugene may not seem like a destination for wine lovers. But this is a city of contrasts, one which proves that not all wine regions look alike.
Surrounded by pine forest and cattle farms, Nike-clad University of Oregon students drink macchiatos at coffee houses, next-generation hippies sell cannabidiol (CBD)-infused products on the main drag and wine lovers hop on bikes to ride to nearby wineries. Located at t...

A network of inns, restaurants and farm markets in Lebanon has become so much more—keeping family recipes alive, healing post-war wounds and building a thriving food truck business for refugees.
Photo: The Recipe Hunters
Driven by an ethos of economically empowering women and small farmers while uniting the country through nourishment, Lebanese food and travel writer Kamal Mouzawak defines his growing organization, Souk El Tayeb, by its slogan, "Make food, not war."
The idea for Souk El Tayeb...