I met Don Mixon of Madrone Mountain Vineyard. His wines are delicious!! He is a boutique producer of artisanal dessert wines in the Applegate Valley of Southern Oregon. Near the California-Oregon border, they make very limited quantities of hand-crafted fortified red and late harvest white wines -and though they do not have a tasting room per say - you can make an appointment and sit down with Don for a tasting at the vineyard. Give him a call if you are passing thru.

Coming this September 2008 he will have a tasting room nestled in Central Point between Rogue Creamery and a chocolate store I did not catch the name of. Can you imagine tasting blue cheese, sweet wine and rich chocolate all within feet of each other? Heaven.

I enjoyed all of these wines immensely- but will let his words tell the story:

The Special Select Late Harvest Gewürztraminer 2005
Tasting notes:
Beeswax, honeysuckle and lychee bouquet. Full, round mouth feel with ripe mango, stone fruits and melon. Bright, fresh acids on the mid-palate balance the substantial sweetness. Rose petal notes on the back palate confirm the varietal character. Finish is long and full of spice – hints of nutmeg, white pepper and the bite of honey.

The Starthistle Cuvee 2007
Tasting Notes
A nose of cream, mint, linden flower and ripe pineapple is followed by classic Riesling flavors of lime, peach and wet stones. The mid-palate hints of something tropical — I think of mango, guava, coconut — while the finish, bright and clean, rolls languidly into leafy notes – black currant bud, fresh-cut hay and thyme. Ethereal and deeply complex, this wine should live long, long. Who will let it?

Mundo Novo 2005, Portuguese for “New World,” is a red dessert wine
Tasting Notes
Inky black, the wine is almost impenetrable to light; some dark purple at the rim; stains on the
glass as the wine swirls; great extraction. On the nose, deeps notes of red and black currant
blend with blueberry and violet, followed by more savage smells – truffle, cedar, thyme and
leather – all wrapped in sweet vanilla

Give Mom a card now - enjoy a day of LUX later!

This year’s creative gift options for Mother’s Day are sure to impress even the most hard-to-please moms.

The Buckingham Hotel, a boutique hotel located in the heart of the NYC cultural district, is the perfect place to send maxed out Moms for a weekend of rest and relaxation.

The Hotel’s perfectly peaceful Mother’s Day Spa Package includes a stay in a luxurious Buckingham suite, a lavish massage, manicure and pedicure at nearby Townhouse Spa, and a bouquet of beautiful flowers.

Starting at $460*, sons and daughters can treat their mothers (or ourselves come to think of it) to this NYC retreat, complete with plenty of pampering.

Townhouse Spa’s quiet, serene setting and traditional luxury with modern flourishes is the perfect match for the Buckingham Hotel’s classic style and beautiful décor.

After Mom is pampered like a VIP, nearby top shopping destinations like Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany, Prada, Gucci, Burberry and Barneys will provide the perfect NYC playground.

The Buckingham Hotel’s Mother’s Day Spa Package is available for bookings before May 10, 2008 and available on reservations through July 31, 2008. *Price excludes taxes and gratuity and is based on a one night stay.

To book this package, visit BuckinghamHotel.com or call toll-free at (888) 511-1900.

Share Your Story, Show Your Support!! Make NOLA desirable again!

American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation encourage all New Orleans residents, and people who care about the city, to start sharing their stories on April 15th via a dedicated website, www.partnersinpreservation.com. American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a special Advisory Committee comprised of local New Orleans dignitaries will review the public’s stories about the nine historic sites, along with each site’s story, background, and monetary needs, and determine how $400,000 in preservation grants will be awarded. The sites being awarded American Express Partners in Preservation grants will be announced to the public on May 13th 2008.

So do it now! Submit your photos and musings!

Eagle Saloon (Central Business District)
Franz Building (Central City)
Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (Garden District)
New Orleans Healing Center (Faubourg Marigny)
Odyssey House Louisiana (Esplanade Ridge)
Passebon Cottage (Tremé)
St. Alphonsus Art & Cultural Center (Lower Garden District)
St. Augustine Parish Hall (Tremé)

More information about each of these sites can be found at www.partnersinpreservation.com
St. James A.M.E. Church (Mid-City National Register District)

Launched in 2006, the Partners in Preservation program is a philanthropic initiative in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has pledged $5.5 million over a five-year period toward preserving historic sites in the United States. In September 2006, American Express allocated preservation grants to sites in the San Francisco Bay Area. And in 2007, Chicagoland historic sites were the focus of the Partners in Preservation program.

Do our readers realize the importance/value of using a travel agent?
Besides the fact that they may be able to save money in the long run?

The last American Airline fiasco points that out.

The people who had used travel agents for their tickets were immediately assisted.
One call to the agent and the options opened up.
Those that did not may have lost out in money and time trying to salvage their flights.

Last year I found myself at LAX with no one to turn to. I had bought my ticket to Lima online via AMEX with LAN Peru. I had also bought by flight to LAX with United - independent of the Lima leg.

So when the United flight was delayed by low fog at SFO - I missed my connection.
And do you know United could not help me. They had delivered me to LA as promised - just late. They did offer me a hotel discount and that was of comfort.

But at LAX the international airlines actually rent the check-in desks for several hours at a time. By the time I arrived at check-in - the LAN Peru desks were closed for all intensive purposes. There was no one. Nada. I ended up on my cell phone for 90 minutes and still no help.

Eventually I was helped by American Airlines - the most helpful guy Eric- and only because I remembered they were a partner of Lan Peru. I did not even have a ticket with AA - but Eric helped me.

So after 4 hours of traversing the entire airport with my luggage, I continued on to Lima a full 24 hours later.

BUT - if I had worked with a travel agent - one call and all would have been in the competent hands of an individual with all resources at their command and the responsibility.

Share your agent support or agent-less experience!

Hey Divas - its that time of year again! We have been profiling MEN from all over the world!

An annual tantalizing tradition where we throw off the she shackles and look at the world from a manly perspective. We aren’t afraid to belly up to the bar of beaus and ask the men of the world where they like to eat, play and just hang out.

It’s one of our most popular issues!

Do you know a man or two who would love to be interviewed? Let us know by replying to this post!

Check out last years candidates:

Outdoor Adventurers
Charming Sophisticates
Partying Playboys
Ultimate Insiders

Not just for singles - any guy who is in the know and has something to share!

In a move that will significantly reduce its impact on the environment, concessioner Xanterra Parks & Resorts will provide shampoos, lotions and other amenities in biodegradable containers as well as bars of sustainable soaps in rooms in the national and state park lodges the company operates. More than 1 million bottles will be kept out of the waste stream each year as a result of the new program.

Xanterra will be the first national park concessioner to offer sustainable amenities. The sustainable amenity program will be implemented in June in the company’s operations in Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Crater Lake, Yellowstone, Zion and Death Valley National Parks as well as seven Ohio State Park Resorts. In Yellowstone National Park alone, where Xanterra operates nine lodges with more than 2,000 rooms, the program will eliminate more than 280,000 bottles from waste stream.

Xanterra will purchase the “Green from NATÜRA” line from RoomService Amenities. The collection features 100 percent biodegradable plastic-free bottles made from a corn starch derivative. The eco-friendly soap wrappers and accessory cartons are made from natural recycled paper and printed with soy-based inks. The shower cap is made from Plastarch Material (PSM), a biodegradable resin made from corn starch, which is also the basis for the bottles. The vegetable-based, all-natural soaps contain no animal fat or byproducts using a process that is cruelty-free to animals. Soaps are shaped in a ring instead of a traditional bar shape to eliminate soap waste.

“As an operator of lodges in some of the most beautiful places on earth, we feel it is imperative that we provide our guests with memorable experiences while minimizing the environmental impact of tourism operations,” said Andy Todd, president and CEO of Xanterra Parks & Resorts. “Hotel room amenities like shampoo and soap have become an expected part of the guest experience, but those little bottles and packages can wreak havoc on nature. We are delighted that we can offer this solution to our guests.”

Xanterra has long been recognized as an environmental leader in the hospitality industry. For example, the company received the “Sustainable Hotel of the Year” award at the HotelWorld Global Hospitality and Design Award Ceremony and Expo last month for its environmental achievements at Zion Lodge in Zion National Park. Additionally, Xanterra will soon complete construction on one of largest renewable energy systems in the U.S. - a one-megawatt solar photovoltaic system in Death Valley National Park. Other initiatives in the last few years include committing to – and achieving the goal of – an absolute reduction target in greenhouse gas emissions, developing U.S. Green Building Council LEED-certified sustainable buildings in two national parks, banning the sales of fish species that are harvested in environmentally harmful ways, certifying environmental management systems to the ISO 14001 international standard, recycling grease onsite into biodiesel for use in fleet vehicles and helping to pioneer the development of a mobile propane bottle recycling unit.

For a complete list of Xanterra accomplishments and certifications, go here

Hey Diva community! I am heading to Austin this weekend - just before the SXSW explosion. Any advice on what to do is welcome.
I have gotten many emails that I will share here. I have everything booked!
Flying 2 for 1 price with American Airlines using my American Express Free Companion Program for the first time. Yea baby!
Staying at the beautiful Barton Creek Resort - a 2 nite package that I bid on at a Make a Wish fundraiser last year.
Renting a car off of Priceline for $11 a day (should I have bid $9-10?).
Going with a good friend and fellow DIVA who exudes positivity!
And inviting all Austin Divas to come join us on Saturday at the resort -for drinks and sharing travel stories!

Valentines Day is not only a time to remember to express and share your love for others, but also a time to love and honor yourself. An experience with Babes is priceless…and can far outlast the effects of chocolate, flowers or a fancy dinner.

Sign up by February 20th to receive a special Valentines Day Discount: 10% off the Backcountry Ski/Ride/Snowshoe/Yoga Retreat March 1-3, Breckenridge, CO. No skiing experience required.

Sign up with a friend and recieve an additional 5 % off your trip.

Offer expires: 2/20/08

For more details visit www.babesinthebackcountry.com or call 970-453-4060. Tell them Tango Diva sent ya!

Sacramento Hostel is now offering half-price weekend stays in shared-room accommodations, through March 1, 2008. Guests who stay Friday and Saturday nights receive 50% off their two-night stay, when they book in advance at the Winter Weekends special rate. To reserve, call (916) 443-1691 and request the Winter Weekends special.

The Winter Weekends special applies to shared, dorm-style accommodations (private rooms are not available at this rate). Shared rooms accommodate four to nine people, and are normally priced at $23-$26 per night for adults and $10 per night for children age 12 and under (plus tax).

All guests have access to a fully equipped kitchen and dining room, two guest lounges, recreation room, patio with barbecue, veranda, and garden. Amenities include DSL Internet facilities and free WiFi, on-site laundry and parking, and discounts on nearby museums, dining, and shopping.

The Sacramento Hostel is housed in a restored Gold-Rush era mansion with vaulted ceilings, antique wood paneling and stained glass, hand-painted ceilings and chandeliers, and decorative marble-tiled fireplaces. The hostel is located in downtown Sacramento, within easy walking distance of the state Capitol and Old Sacramento.

The Winter Weekends special rate applies only to stays of two consecutive nights falling on Friday and Saturday nights. The Winter Weekends special rate does not apply to private room accommodations, and is not available for groups of 10 or more people.

The Sacramento Hostel is owned and operated by the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting intercultural understanding, environmental stewardship, and world peace through travel.

Contact information for publication:
Sacramento Hostel
925 H Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-1691
hisac@norcalhostels.org

Hey Divas! We want to know! Where are you going? Are you going solo? Share here in the blog - or even better - add your planned destinations to your MY TANGO MAP. Your world travels map is just one of the benefits you receive when you join. Its the best way to connect to over 7,000 traveling DIVAS who can share insights on your future destinations.

So just where are you going to go?

Happy New Year! 

Patti