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Visiting Bulgaria: Sofia, Bankya, Rila Monastery, Plovdiv and So Much Cheese
My Bulgaria trip through Sofia, Bankya, Rila Monastery and Plovdiv, with Bulgarian food, local wine, ancient ruins, Shopska salad and plenty of cheese.
The Best Places to Visit in Greece: Thessaloniki, Parga and Meteora
The best places to visit in Greece beyond the islands, including Parga, Thessaloniki and Meteora, with beaches, Greek food, wine, ancient ruins and where to stay.
I Drank the Same Wine in Bulgaria and America, So Why Did I Only Get a Hangover at Home?
I drank the exact same wine in Bulgaria and Pennsylvania but only felt hungover at home. Here’s what food, timing, hydration, inflammation, and alcohol science explains.
A Sommelier’s Maine Trip to Portland and Kennebunk
A short Maine trip from Philly with Portland wine shops, serious gyms, Central Provisions, White Barn Inn, and the little travel chaos that made it ours.
Dinner at White Barn Inn in Kennebunk, Maine
A review of dinner at White Barn Inn in Kennebunk, Maine, with Chef Cornelia Sühr, caviar, truffles, wine, cocktails, and a stunning birthday dessert.
A Sommelier’s Journey Through Alentejo Part 2
In 2018, I traveled through Portugal’s Alentejo wine region, visiting historic wineries, ancient talha cellars. This is part 2 of the story of how Alentejo reshaped how I understand wine, sustainability, and time.
A Sommelier’s Journey Through Alentejo Part 1
In 2018, I traveled through Portugal’s Alentejo wine region, visiting historic wineries, ancient talha cellars. This is part 1 of the story of how Alentejo reshaped how I understand wine, sustainability, and time.
A Sommelier’s Trip to Champagne in Winter
A winter journey through Champagne with bare vines, chalk cellars, Château Dehu, Billecart-Salmon, and Desautels-Curiet seen without the crowds or gloss.
Why We Need Vacations: The Art of Stepping Away
I started writing this on a beach with my husband and family, which probably makes me biased. Then I looked into what taking a vacation actually does for us, and now I have research to go with my opinion.
Lost Cities and Found Feelings: Why Abandoned Places Stay With Us
An empty doorway can send me down a surprisingly long rabbit hole. Petra, Pripyat and Bodie each have a different story, and the people connected to them make these old places even more compelling.
Why We Romanticize Ruins: The Beauty of What’s Broken
Why does a missing roof make an old building feel so compelling? Garden follies, Romantic painters, ivy and conservation offer a few wonderfully strange answers.
Around the World in Seven Hours: China’s Hypersonic Dream Takes Flight
A hypersonic plane under development in China could fly around the world in seven hours. Explore the physics, ambition, and deeper questions behind this radical leap in aerospace technology.
The Country Paying You to Move There, But There’s a Catch
From Italy to Japan, nations are paying people to move there. But what’s behind the offers? A look at incentives, red tape, and reinvention abroad.
Why So Many People Are Moving to Portugal, And What It’s Really Like
Portugal’s charm is luring dreamers and digital nomads alike. Explore the beauty, challenges, and quiet truth behind starting over abroad.
A Sommelier’s Guide to Visiting Valle de Guadalupe: Where to Sip, Stay, and Feast in Baja’s Wine Country
Discover the best of Valle de Guadalupe with a sommelier’s guide to Baja’s wine country top wineries, stunning stays, and unforgettable food.
Why Airplane Wine Tastes Different (And What to Order Instead)
Wine tastes different at 35,000 feet, here’s why, what to sip instead, and how to hack your next in-flight drink for better flavor.
10 Little-Known Facts About Airports and Flying (That’ll Blow Your Mind at 30,000 Feet)
Think you know airports? From hidden rooms to bizarre runways, these 10 surprising airport facts will change how you see flying and give you serious travel-trivia bragging rights.
Ever Felt an Airplane Hangover? Here’s Why Flying Wrecks You, And How to Recover Fast
Flying can leave you dizzy, dehydrated, and foggy even without alcohol. Learn why air travel hits your body so hard and the best ways to recover fast.
A Sommelier’s Perfect Finger Lakes Trip: Wineries, Waterfalls, and Unforgettable Bites
Explore the Finger Lakes with a sommelier’s guide to top wineries, hidden eats, and scenic waterfalls, plus tips, sips, and wine wisdom.