Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your browser.

9 Tips to Help You Stretch Your Travel Dollars

  1. Pack light -- you'll have much more flexibility regarding transportation and accommodations. After all, it's not easy to change rooms if you have 12 heavy suitcases.
  2. Book early -- you can save a lot of money by booking months in advance.
  3. Last-minute deals -- the opposite of booking early, sometimes you can get a huge discount by taking a last minute deal. Travel operators don't like to have empty seats.
  4. Hostels -- they can be very affordable places to stay in most major cities (be sure to check for restrictions).
  5. Walking -- save money on taxis and keep fit. You might discover a hip bistro or bed-and-breakfast.
  6. Camping -- take a tent and enjoy some destinations that don't have hotels.
  7. Group travel -- Share the costs with others and get group discounts at many attractions.
  8. Budget -- before you go on your trip, write a budget for all costs and stick to it.
  9. Discount cards and vouchers -- save money by getting discounts, freebies and two-for-ones.

Call or email me for our latest travel deals!

Back to top^

Wine 101: Vintage Wine

Vintage cars, vintage clothing and vintage wine. We hear the term a lot, but just what does "vintage" mean?

In wine-making, a vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown in a single, specified year. The year indicated on the wine label is the vintage, or the year the grapes were harvested. In the United States, a wine label may only list the vintage if a high percentage of the wine comes from grapes harvested that year.

It's important to note that different countries have different standards. For example, in Chile and South Africa, the requirement is 75 percent same-year content for vintage-dated wine. In Australia, New Zealand and the member states of the European Union, the requirement is 85 percent. In the United States the requirement is 85%, unless the wine is designated with an AVA, (e.g., Russian River Valley), in which case it is 95%.

The reason a vintage wine is better than non-vintage wines is because the weather conditions for producing the wine were optimal. Weather conditions that produce ideal vintages require a warm spring, with no freezes, and mild temperatures during bud-break; then a steady, moderate climate must be maintained throughout the growing season (about six months), especially at the time of flowering. Ideal conditions will be warm days and cool nights with a little rain to keep the vines irrigated. A long, slow growing season is necessary if the grapes are to ripen and mature. Most importantly, the weeks leading up to harvest must be free of rain and without any deviant climate changes.

The opposite of a vintage wine is a non-vintage wine, which is usually a blend from the produce of two or more years. This is a common practice for winemakers seeking a consistent style of wine year after year.

It is not uncommon to hear the term vintage used incorrectly to declare a wine that is perceived to be particularly old or of a particularly high quality, such as a vintage Port.

Interested in a wine tour? Email me for info!

Back to top^

Personal Chicken Pot Pie

Cold weather is here and it's time for "comfort food." A traditional favorite is chicken pot pie. Serving this dish in individual serving bowls gives this old favorite a new twist.

Ingredients

  • 2 (12.5 oz) cans chicken breast
  • 1 package frozen veggies
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 can cream of celery soup
  • 2 tbsp. garlic herb seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Frozen puff pastry

Directions

  1. Cook all ingredients (except pastry) covered in a skillet until hot and blended.
  2. Fill cups with mixture and cover each with a square of the puff pastry. Pinch edges of dough lightly onto bowl edges. Bake on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.

Wine Pairing

  • Chateau du Basty Beaujolais Villages 2006

Ask me about our 5-day cooking tour!

Back to top^

In this issue

Forward this email

Do you know someone who might be interested in receiving this monthly newsletter?

Forward

Unsubscribe

You're receiving this newsletter because you signed up for the SunTime Tropical Newsletter.

Unsubscribe

Contact Us

1100 Bayview Drive #100
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 563-5888

Email

Quotes

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
-- Bill Vaughan

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.
-- Henry Ford

Eliminate physical clutter. More importantly, eliminate spiritual clutter.
-- D.H. Mondfleur

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
-- Albert Einstein

Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will.
-- Jawaharial Nehru

Curiosity is a willing, a proud, an eager confession of ignorance.
-- S. Leonard Rubinstein

 

This eNewsletter contains information, facts and opinions from various individuals and organizations. This eNewsletter is provided on an "as-is" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. I/We are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Consult with your doctor, fitness consultant, attorney, accountant, or other professional advisor when necessary. © 2009 eNewsletterSolutions.

 

Quick and Easy Order Form

Setup only $25 (includes banner creation and template setup).
No contracts.
No cancellation fees.
No monthly fees -- just pay-as-you go.
Free technical support.
Postcards: Only $9.75 + .02 cents/email (for each campaign).
Newsletters: Only $34.75 + .02 cents/email (for each campaign).

Note: You will be redirected to a "setup" page after payment.