Taking a Virtual Around the World Trip and Wine Tour

My commute sometimes consists of a ferry ride across the Puget Sound, and there is something about being on the water that is inspiring.  As I was walking along the dock one glorious, sunny evening, I decided I should add “a trip around the world” to my bucket list. I have the travel bug often, and dream of the days when I can travel to exotic beaches and far away places.

And that it when it hit me – I could take my trip now, a “virtual” trip.  And better yet, I could incorporate wine, and learn about different wine regions and countries.

I called my brother, Seth, since he has a vast knowledge of the different wine regions,and he was game for joining the adventure.  We mapped out our dream wine tour, starting in the “Old World” and ending in the “New World”.  We decided the best route would be to start in England (inspired by the Olympics) and then go through the Mediterranean onto Australia and South America before heading to Canada and then back to the U.S.

To be honest, I am not a huge fan of cold weather, so my goal is for us to visit the warmer regions during the winter.  That way, I can dream of sunshine and beaches while it is raining outside.

Another great thing about going around the world – all the food!  I very much enjoy eating, so I am going to try and pair wines with the food of each destination. I would not consider myself a chef, but a mere cook, so my family better get ready for some interesting, fun and adventurous meals.

There are some challenges to our trip around the world though – not all wines from other countries are available in the U.S.  So, for those countries, Seth and I will probably just write about that region.  And of course, I will make the appropriate dishes and try to find a comparable wine to enjoy with my meal.

I am also going to be heading down to Northern California in early February, so my hope is that my travels through the U.S. will intersect with my real trip to Napa. If that happens to be a touch ambitious, then I will just have to take a quick break from my trip and head for my Napa vacation =  Winery tour, anyone?

Here is an outline of our trip:

1. England
2. France
3. Spain
4. Island of Sardinia
5. Island of Corsica
6. Italy
7. Germany
8. Balkans
9. Greece
10. Turkey
11. Israel
12. Russia
13. Georgia
14. South Africa
15. Australia
16. New Zealand
17. Chile
18. Argentina
19. Peru
20. Uruguay
21. Ontario
22. British Columbia
23. USA

This is going to be a full trip!  I would love to hear any recommendations, your favorite wines or favorite foods from these regions.  I also hope you all enjoy coming along with me!  The more the merrier!

Cheers!  er…Bon Voyage!