M-O-O-N, that spells “fun”

Werewolves, take note! The biggest and brightest moon of the year will be making an appearance for Cinco de Mayo.

The full moon has had a dangerous reputation for centuries. Women have “moon babies,” people lose their minds, and emergency rooms fill up with people suffering from strange and exotic injuries, or at least that's how the old wives' tales go. Tales of crazy behavior and the moon's phases are so inextricably intertwined that they spawned the word “lunatic,” which comes from the Latin word luna, meaning, of course, moon.

We don't think any of this is a bad thing. In fact, we think that this is a great time to go a little crazy! Come howl at the supermoon with us and we'll show you the best places to let your lunatic flag fly: Join us for the Cinco de Mayo weekend festivities!

Brooke B., Moonbat

Posted in Beer, Breweries, bus tours, Food and Vine, Happy Hour, holiday, Uncategorized, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Wineries |

Pair your Easter Dinner with Local Craft Beers

Tired of wine? Neither are we. But here's a different way to enjoy Easter dinner: pairing it with craft beers. Since San Diego is a beer aficionado's dream, we didn't need to look too far to find local brews to sample with your food. Here are a few suggestions:

Eggs or egg based dishes – Weissbier or wheat beer works well with eggs' characteristic flavors. Try pairing with Wahoo Wheat Beer from Ballast Point or Windansea Wheat Hefeweizen from Karl Strauss.

Ham – darker ales or lagers pair well with the smoky sweetness of Easter ham by offsetting the saltiness and amplifying other flavors. Try San Diego Dark Session Ale from Alesmith Brewing Company or Ugly, an American-style black ale from Alpine Beer Company. 

Lamb – Trappist ales or Abbey ales work well with the more delicate and lean flavor of lamb (Abbey-style means the ale was not brewed by an authorized monastery.) Try your lamb with Angel's Share Abbey ale or Red Poppy sour beer, both from The Lost Abbey.

Rabbit – Not a popular food in this country, but it's tender and juicy and definitely qualifies as Easter fare. If you dig the taste of rabbit stew, you'll like it even more paired with a golden or red ale. Try it with the classic Red Trolley Ale from Karl Strauss, or Tongue Buckler Imperial Red Ale from Ballast Point. 

Chocolate – If you didn't stew the Easter bunny, eat the chocolate he brings you the right way, paired with a dark roasty stout. Try your chocolate with Green Flash's excellent Double Stout, or forgo eating the chocolate and just drink a Cherry Chocolate Stout from the Stone Brewing Company instead.

And if you don't feel like cooking, we've got just the ticket. Join us on an Easter Dinner or Brunch Tour. Mention SpringFling2012 for $5 off through May 1, 2012.

“Hoppy” Easter from San Diego Beer and Wine Tours! 

Kegworks.com   HomeBrewTalk.com   DiscoverSD.com   SanDiegoMagazine.com   Alesmith.com  StoneBrew.com  AlpineBeerCo.com  KarlStrauss.com  BallastPoint.com  LostAbbey.com

Posted in Beer, Breweries, holiday, Recipes, Tours, Uncategorized, Walking Tours, Wine |

E-Z Taxes – Just Add Wine!

Are you in the RED or in the BLACK?

Every year, at about this time, I hear a sizeable, collaborative groan from the general populous regarding Tax Time.

Doing your taxes doesn’t have to get you down - Just add Wine. 

You may not create the best return, but you’ll have fun!

And if a refund isn’t in your future…don’t worry, be happy:

Throughout the month of April, we’re offering our annual tax time special of $10.40 off any tour* (includes Paso Robles Weekend!)

It's E-Z!  Just mention 1040 to get your discount.

Cheers!

Shira Bliss

*Choose your Tasty Adventure:  

Beer & Wine Train Tours; Walking Tours; Bus Tours; Dinner Parties 

Posted in Beer, Breweries, holiday, Local Business, San Diego Wine Country, Tours, Uncategorized, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Wineries |

Cuddle up by the fire and bring out the soup (and an IPA!)

It's a great day to make soup. Here's a tasty recipe that's easy and full of delicious minerals!

Yellow Lentil Soup

Boil lentils in 3x the water. Turn off stove and let sit 2 hrs. Drain and rinse.

Make broth by simmering veggies of choice with water, kombu (dried seaweed), dried mushrooms, garlic, onions, bayleaf, dried herbs such as thyme.

Cook the lentils with the broth.

Add sweet potato chunks last half hour of cooking.

When done add salt, pepper and little curry powder and WeOlive olive oil. Cook for another 10 mins.

Serve with warm crusty rye bread and butter and an IPA (my current fav is Lagunitas Hop Stoopid).

-Shira Bliss, Lentil Lover

Posted in Uncategorized |

Urban Wineries: Great wine, small package

By Paul Anthony Vild, Co-founder San Diego Beer & Wine Tours

I don’t want to take anything away from vineyards. It is nice to get out there and experience the romance of being right next to the vines, meeting the winemaker and seeing the operations, and of course the tastings. In this article, though, I want to talk about urban wineries (also known as boutique wineries) and the difference between those and the vineyard wineries.

I don’t own a vineyard. However, if I did, I would be toiling over the vines and nurturing them (or stressing the vines just right) and doing everything I know to produce the best quality grapes for that particular varietal. I would be, however, subject to Mother Nature, the sun and precipitation, et cetera. Now, if I don’t get the greatest results from literally the fruits of my labor, I am not going to toss those grapes aside nor am I going to sell them at a cut rate and pay for new grapes, no: I am going to use those grapes for my wine, although yes, I may blend them, and if I am good I will still have a great wine, though I may have an uphill battle if it is a particularly hard vintage.

Urban wineries offer a lot in a small package. They don’t have the acreage, the vines, the views, but they do offer some advantages. The size of the winery typically means that the operations and the winemaker are right there on hand, perhaps even pouring the tastings. More importantly, however, the wine maker has the choice of a whole region or even the state or country or even countries to choose from for the grapes. This means that they can pick and choose from a larger pool of grape, and be more discerning in finding that value grape where budget meets quality.

Urban Winery on Cedros – Carruth Cellars
 

I am a member of a few wine clubs, and the majority of my memberships are with urban wineries. Check out our Wine Train Tour to the urban wineries of San Diego!

Cheers!

Paul Anthony

Posted in Local Business, San Diego Wine Country, Uncategorized, Wine, Wine Train, Winemaking, Wineries |

12 Signs Wine: Introducing wine for your zodiac sign

“Hey Baby, what’s your sign?” is more than just a pick up line these days.  According to the San Diego based company 12 Signs Wine, there is also a wine for every sign!

For the first vintage the wines are categorized by Fire, Earth, Air, and Water.  Read below to find out which wine is paired with your sign.

Fire Signs include Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. These naturally outgoing signs need a wine that makes a statement as big as they do!  The Leo, Aries, and Sagittarius wine is a bold, fruit forward Old Vine Zinfandel with a little bit of spice.  We believe that these signs work well with a spicy and feisty wine because they are the most energetic and dynamic signs of the zodiac.  
Earth Signs include Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. These signs are grounded, earthy, and practical. They make reliable, trustworthy friends who love the pleasures of good food and fine wine.  And like a reliable Cabernet Sauvignon, they only get better with age.  This Cabernet Sauvignon is earthy, well structured, and sensual.  Perfect for Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.
Air Signs include Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. We decided to pair these signs with a white wine since air is the lightest element. Air is also the symbol for intelligence and communication so we created an extra "bright" and "vibrant" Chardonnay that is "well balanced" for all the Libras out there. These social signs are extremely flexible in their ideas which fits with Chardonnay because not only is this varietal "perfect to share," it is also one of the most versatile grape varietals grown.  
Water Signs include Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Water rules the emotions and these signs are gifted with intense emotions and a creative sensitivity. They are extremely intuitive and naturally aware of what is happening underneath the surface around them. The Pinot Noir grape has a very thin skin, which makes it very sensitive to its environment, much like a water sign. Additionally, the Pinot Noir is classically considered the wine of love and an aphrodisiac, which works well for the sentimental signs of Cancer, Pisces, and Scorpio.

About 12 Signs Wine:  12 Signs Wine is currently sold online at 12signswine.com and at select retailers in the San Diego area, such as Finch’s Wine Bar, Sea Rocket Bistro, Vin de Syrah, Boney’s Bayside Market, West Cedar Market, and Splash.
12 Signs was created by San Diego local, Marie Fox.  All wine was sourced from boutique vineyards of California, such as Alexander Valley and Santa Maria Valley. Find out more about all the unique wines and your zodiac match at 12signswine.com.

We are very proud of our tour director Stephen Ansley who assisted in the creation of the wine brand 12 Signs Wine, providing expert wine-related advice by evaluating dozens of wine samples, ultimately becoming a member of the team responsible for creating the four varieties of wines during the blending session.

Posted in Food and Vine, Health, Local Business, San Diego Wine Country, Uncategorized, Wine, Winemaking, Wineries |

Spiritual Spirits

Orange poppies and purple iceplants are popping along the freeways, flocks of wild parrots are screeching like monkeys, and butterflies are happily fluttering around under a flawless blue sky – spring has arrived in southern California!

March 21^st is a day known as the Vernal Equinox, when day and night are roughly the same length. In the northern hemisphere, the equinox heralds the official beginning of spring.In ancient Rome, March was a very important time; it was the month of Bacchus, the god of grapes and wine. In ancient Greece, the same god was known as Dionysus. These twin gods were known as the “Liberators,” who freed careworn people from their sorrows and helped them laugh, dance, and be happy.

drawn by RaeRay-Shira Bliss’ daughter

A few hundred years later, European monks subsisted on beer as a way to stay strong during their Lenten fasts. Some of these abbeys, such as Chimay, are still producing and selling beer, as well as keeping it part of their yearly religious tradition.

thanks to http://www.chimay.com

So when you join one of our wine or beer tours, it's not simply a fun way to learn about San Diego's best beer and wine – it's also a way to be a part of spiritual and cultural traditions that span centuries!

Sources:
http://www.novaroma.org/nr/Liberalia
http://www.musesrealm.net/rome/festivals.html

Brooke Binkowski
Resident Journalist for San Diego Beer & Wine Tours

Posted in Beer, Breweries, Health, holiday, Uncategorized |

Catch the Luck of the Irish!

	Saint Patrick's Day is on its way, and it's bringing a brand-new BEER TRAIN TOUR with it! Come celebrate the luck of the Irish with us as we sample the best brews San Diego has to offer. And in keeping with St. Patty’s Day, Go GREEN by traveling with us on this exciting beer tour by train!
	Saint Patrick's Day commemorates the life of one of Ireland's patron saints. Here in the States, St. Patrick's Day is a party for two kinds of people –Irish and those who wish they were — and celebrated with green clothing, green beer, and traditional Irish food and music. Side Note: Our founder Shira Bliss was born on St. Patrick’s Day in Belfast Northern Ireland!

The party doesn't stop at the border. Just a few miles south, Mexico celebrates its own version of Saint Patrick's Day.  After Ireland's potato famine forced many Irish out of their home country, many went to the United States, joining the U.S. Army with the understanding that they would receive American citizenship for their service.

Some of those Irish soldiers were sent to fight in the Mexican-American war. Eventually, the soldiers balked at the idea of shooting Mexican soldiers, many of whom were the only friendly faces on the lonely and windblown border outposts. They defected to Mexico, where the soldiers of the Batallón de San Patricio fought against their former employers.

The United States rounded up and hanged most of these defectors, but Mexico still considers them heroes. To this day, you can find streets and towns named San Patricio and Obregon (O'Brien) and a Mexican flag flies in Galway, Ireland, to celebrate the enduring friendship between the two countries.

No matter what side of the border you're from, celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, or any day with us, and tip back a pint on our Beer Train Tour*.

Sláinte!

Brooke Binkowski
Resident Journalist for San Diego Beer & Wine Tours

*Beer Train Tours run daily, year round, rain or shine.

Posted in Beer, Breweries, Company News, holiday, Theme Tours, Tours, Travel, Uncategorized |

Leap into Fun!

Ask us about our Saint Patrick's Day tours!

Leap into something new, turn your routine on its ear, and have fun doing it! That isn't just a suggestion – it's part of a long and storied tradition.

Leap years, as you probably know, occur only in years divisible by four (or, in the case of a brand-new century, by 400.) The extra day that gets added onto the end of February helps synchronize the Gregorian calendar with the solar year, keeping important dates, such as the spring equinox, from drifting off into other seasons.

Since it is out of the ordinary, the Leap Year is also the subject of colorful folklore. In the British Isles, back when gender roles were much stricter, February 29 th was traditionally the only day that women could propose marriage to men; if he turned her down he had to pay a substantial amount of money, either to the would-be bride or to the Crown. It all started, according to tradition, in Ireland sometime around the 5 th century, when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick that women had to wait far too long for men to propose – and thus, “The Ladies' Privilege” was born.

Whether or not the story of St. Bridey's Complaint is true is anybody's guess. What is indisputable is that February 29 th is associated with good luck (babies born on this day are thought to be exceptionally blessed) and a happy break in the routine.

So, whether you need a romantic setting to pop the question, a decadent way to celebrate your singlehood, or just a way to enjoy yourself on a lucky day, this is the perfect time to shake up your schedule in the best way possible: by booking one of our popular tours and savoring delicious wine, beer, and tasty food with us. And if you miss the quadrennial, don't despair – there are plenty more tours coming up!

Cheers!

Brooke Binkowski

Resident Journalist

Posted in Beer, Breweries, Food and Vine, Happy Hour, Health, holiday, Theme Tours, Tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Walking Tours, Wine |

A Taste of Little Italy

Posted in Beer, Breweries, Food and Vine, Happy Hour, Local Business, Tours, Uncategorized, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Winemaking, Wineries |