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 |
Mother’s Little Helpers
Mother's Day is coming up on the 13th, and we're here to help! If you're looking for the perfect gift, look no further – our beer and wine tours will make your mother's day.
Dark beers were once known as"mother's milk," because hospitals in Ireland once gave stouts to expectant and nursing mothers to increase their milk supply. In fact, Guinness once ran an entire ad campaign on the premise that dark stouts are good for you, a claim that, happily, has been bolstered by modern science.
Red wine, which (like beer) is packed with flavonoids and resveratrol, will keep mom young and her heart happy, and white wine is associated with better lung function. And both types of wine will lower "bad" cholesterol levels. Around here, we like to call it "Mother's Little Helper."
So if you want to show your appreciation for your mom and help her heart, lungs, and cholesterol levels in the process, don't delay: book a wine or beer tour with us today!
Brooke B., So"mom"lier
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Health, holiday, Tours, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Wineries |
La Jolla Half Marathon – Beer Runner
The La Jolla Half Marathon is this Sunday, and in its honor we're going to tell you a secret. If you're a runner, you probably already know it. If you aren't a runner, this might change your mind.
Here it is. After a long run, there are a very few drinks recommended for recovery during training for a marathon. As hardcore runners and Hash House Harriers have known for generations, one of the shining stars of recovery drinks is… beer.
Thirsty after the run? La Jolla Brew House has just the ticket to quench your thirst!
That's right – after punishing your body after a long run, it turns out that tipping back a beer or two will not only help your body combat inflammation and soreness, it will also pump up your immune system and help your body fight off race-busting colds.
One study, from the Technical University of Munich, recommends up to a liter and a half a day during training – although it cautioned that non-alcoholic beer was probably better because of alcohol's dehydrating effect. Another group of scientists, these from Spain's Granada University, say that alcohol actually makes beer more efficient at rehydrating the body than water alone after exercise.
Lest you think that wine is getting short shrift here, we would like to point out that resveratrol, a component of red wines, can increase endurance by up to 100 percent – in other words, a liberal dose of red wine during training could double your long runs. After a run, to ease those worked muscles, try one of our walking wine tours or winery train tours, both have 1-2 miles of walking on them.
You can't argue with science, so drink up – preferably on our craft beer walking tours or craft beer train tours. Post-run recovery doesn't get much tastier than that!
Brooke B., Beer Runner
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Health, Local Business, Travel, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Wineries |
Earth Day – We Live it!
Since Earth Day debuted on April 22nd,1970, it's gone from fringe to mainstream as people all over the world began to realize that responsible stewardship of the earth is a matter of human survival. But it doesn't need to be difficult. You can celebrate Earth Day with fun and in style. All you need is great local beer and wine, delicious fresh farm-to-table food, and a low-emission way to travel.
It may sound too good to be true, but that's exactly what we've been doing since we started our Green Tours. San Diego Beer and Wine Tours emphasizes local food and drink, which cuts down on fuel emissions and travel time, and is committed to green living, which is why we offer Beer Train Tours and Wine Coaster Train Tours. Our unique tours showcasing San Diego's infamous craft beer scene and burgeoning wine world emphasize delicious foods and delightful drinks, all made close to home and experienced on a train (which gets about 150 miles to the gallon on a full passenger load!)
So come out and see us on Earth Day, or any other day you like. After all, we don't just talk about sustainability once a year – we live it!
Cheers! Brooke B.
http://truecostblog.com/2010/05/27/fuel-efficiency-modes-of-transportation-ranked-by-mpg/
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Local Business, Tours, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Wineries |
How to Save Money and Have Fun Too!
Now that you've done your taxes, you may be asking yourself: How can I save money and have fun too?
According to Travel + Leisure Magazine, San Diego is one of the “greenest” and most eco-conscious cities in the United States, and it's getting greener than ever: public transportation is on the rise. San Diego's transit system has also received top marks for its implementation and availability. With gas prices sky-high and rising every day, hopping on a bus or a train just seems like the natural choice.
Travel + Leisure also dubbed San Diego a “locavore's delight” because it has more farms per capita than any other region in the nation, which makes it easy to sample local delights. San Diego is also a leader in the “farm-to-table” movement, which only uses locally sourced foods to cut down on transportation costs and pollution.
That's why San Diego Beer and Wine Tours is offering Coaster tours to local breweries and urban wineries. It's not just good food, booze, and great company, it's also good for the environment, and you're helping local businesses by trying their delectably fresh and delicious food, wine, and beer.
So "hop" or "graft" onto one of our wine or beer train tours and pull ahead of the curve. It's the best of all possible worlds – you're sampling the best food in the country that's fresh off the farm on one of the highest-rated public transportation systems in the country. It's a win-win all around!
Sources:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Americas-Greenest-Cities-146046975.html
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Embraces-Farm-to-Table-143007105.html
Creative Commons photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlwwycoff/3954032906/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/widnr/6583774277/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmadude/128272330/
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Food and Vine, Local Business, San Diego Wine Country, Tours, Travel, Wine, Wine Train, Wineries |
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.
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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 |
Don’t be an April Fool!
Expensive wines aren't always good wines. Who hasn't had the experience of being seduced by snappy packaging into paying way too much for a bottle of wine that is, quite frankly, mediocre? The same goes for beer. Even here, in the heart of craft beer country, there are great beers… and then there are duds.
This April First, don't be “fooled” by bad beer and wine in a beautiful glass! How do you learn to tell the difference between what's pleasing to the palate and what's just barely palatable? Often, learning which brands are delicious and which to pass on is a matter of trial and error or personal taste, but sometimes people don't know the signs of a corked wine, especially when it's being served to them in a restaurant. Here's a tip – if your wine smells like a lit match, a horse blanket, wet newspaper, or a basement, pour it out or send it back, and get a clean wine glass!
Craft beer is subject to issues of its own. While mass-produced beer is pasteurized, which stabilizes the product and makes it taste homogeneous, craft beer is often “alive,” which means it is still in the process of fermentation and therefore prone to infection (yes, that's what it's called.) If your beer tastes overwhelmingly of corn, butter, sulfur, or just plain skunkiness, toss it out. However, sourness and bitterness is usually intended by the brewer.
Want to know more? Join one of our walking or train tours and learn about wine and beer from our experts. If you don't feel like walking, we’ll pick you up and drive you to sample the superb wines of San Diego Wine Country.
No fooling!
Brooke B., SDBW Resident Writer
Sources: Huffington Post Beer Advocate Rate Beer
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Food and Vine, Health, San Diego Wine Country, Theme Tours, Tours, Travel, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Winemaking, Wineries |
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 |
A Soy Stroganoff Did You Say?
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Company News, Food and Vine, San Diego Wine Country, Wine, Wine Train, Winemaking, Wineries |
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 |