In 2025, my travel adventures took me to Lafayette, Paso Robles, El Dorado County, Amador County, New York, Concord, Livermore, Santa Maria, and Morgan Hill. I traveled both virtually and in person. Enjoy my 2025 travel year-in-review as I continue to broaden my horizons by exploring new places.
My travel plans were more limited because, in January, my husband and I had to help a relative move after the Pacific Palisades fire. In July, I lost my mother, which also affected many of my travel plans. While these events added challenges, they gave me a renewed appreciation for the journeys I was still able to take.
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Travel 2025 Year in Review – In-Person Travel
In 2025, I set out to explore a mix of destinations both by car and by plane, tying together my love for travel and wine. I drove to Paso Robles, Ojai, and Santa Maria, while my flights took me to Lafayette, Louisiana; Dorado County; Amador County; New York City; Concord; Livermore; and Morgan Hill. Each place offered distinct, memorable experiences and, in many cases, introduced me to great wine discoveries.
Concord
The most meaningful trip in 2025 was to Concord, CA, for the Port Chicago Weekend. This solemn event honors the men lost in the Port Chicago explosion in 1944. Most people are unaware of this WWII disaster or of the 50 men who stood up to their superiors. The men insisted they would not work under hazardous conditions. Those men were court-martialed.
This incident marks the beginning of the civil rights movement and desegregation, especially in the Navy. Their exoneration in 2024 further reflects the changing attitude toward past mistakes. Its significance to the families of those sailors is immense. Seeing their faces at the memorial set against the waters of the bay shows how far we have come in mending historic injustices.
New York City
My yearly trip to New York City included a visit to the Guggenheim Museum with CityPASS. The Guggenheim is one of many museums covered by the pass. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, it’s one of my favorite museums to visit in the Big Apple. It was particularly interesting because the exhibit, “Harmony and Dissonance: Ophism in Paris, 1910-1930,” showcased a vibrant and lively abstract art movement from the early 1900s. What I found especially intriguing was that many of the artworks on display depicted circular objects. These paintings seemed to align with the museum’s circular design concept. It was almost as if the building were one with many works of art.
Lafayette
I took two trips to Lafayette, Louisiana. One was a pre-conference trip as President and co-chair of the IFWTWA conference. The second was for the conference itself. Some highlights were TOBASCO, located on Avery Island. The property is magnificent, and I glimpsed an alligator for the first time. Of course, that was not my last encounter with a gator. Taking a high-speed swamp tour on an airboat through the bayous was another experience that captured the area’s beauty.
Learning the two-step is a must while in Lafayette because dancing is a big pastime. Finally, one highlight was meeting Fire Captain Coby. The winner of the Great American Recipe and having his own line of Cajun seasoning, it was a hoot visiting the fire station for a lunch prepared by the captain himself.
Paso Robles
My trip to Paso Robles this year focused on discovering art in many forms. From admiring the art and architecture at the San Simeon Hearst Castle, learning about pasta-making and winemaking, to immersing myself in the artistic light displays at Sensorio, each activity tied back to experiencing the region’s creativity from a fresh angle.
Santa Maria
Traveling to Santa Maria to explore the wine history at Jim Clendenon’s Au Bon Climat co-op, known as ABC, located on the Bien Nacido Vineyard. Every day, the winemakers gather for lunch, and our group of LA Wine Writers had the opportunity to join them. The wine kept flowing down the table, bottle after bottle. I won’t specify exactly how many we sampled, but it was more than 10. A highlight of our visit was an in-depth tasting with Michael Brughelli of Brughelli Wines. He now specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both excellent examples of their varietals.
Ojai
Visiting Ojai Mountain Winery feels like being on top of the world. The winery is a peaceful oasis atop Sulphur Mountain. The sweeping panoramic view surrounds you, and tasting the high-elevation wines makes the visit even more memorable.
El Dorado
Speaking of high-elevation wines, a trip to El Dorado should include tastings at many high-altitude wineries. These are known for their alpine style, featuring fresh balance and Sierra Spice. The Sierra Spice comes from snowmelt water, local trees, and flora like pines and evergreens. These elements add brightness and acidity to the wines.
Visitors must explore Placerville, the historic mining town and gateway to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Check out its haunted past in some of the buildings. You might even encounter a ghost or two.
Amador County
Another town whose history was shaped by the Gold Rush that I visited is Sutter’s Creek. It’s a charming town with several wineries. The nearby town of Plymouth boasts one of the best restaurants I’ve ever visited. Taste Restaurant and Wine Bar’s Chef Micah’s skill shines through. Every dish is superb. You should definitely try the Mushroom Cigar.
Livermore
I have visited Livermore wineries before. This trip, I wanted to explore new wineries in the Livermore Valley. Since my last visit, Livermore has named Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc as its signature grapes. Cabernet Franc is one of my all-time favorite wines, making it the perfect place for tasting. I visited Omega Road, Cuda Ridge, Rosa Fierro Cellars, Retzlaff Vineyards, and Rodrigue Molyneaux Winery.
At the same time, I revisited a significant winery for California’s wine history: Concannon. The winery has the Cabernet Sauvignon mother vine. After prohibition, this vine represented most of the clones in California. The winery is now owned by a local family but continues to uphold the objectives the Concannons championed for years.
Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill is one of the gems among agricultural towns that intersect with the tech industry. Just south of San Jose and at the southern end of Silicon Valley, you don’t expect the charming, laid-back vibe you’ll encounter when visiting Morgan Hill. I was pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the food, including local agricultural produce, cuisine, and the wines I sampled. Morgan Hill is home to one of California’s oldest wineries, Guglielmo, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. At Guglielmo, I discovered a new grape variety, Grignolino, grown in the Piedmont region, known for its light-colored wines and rosés.
2025 Travel In Review – In-Person Tastings, Luncheons, and Events
I attended in-person wine tastings, luncheons, and events in Los Angeles. Several of these events focused on Germany and Catalonia, Spain. I also had luncheons with wineries, and the highlight was a Coravin tasting, where we learned the story of Coravin and the latest versions of this fantastic product, a must for every wine enthusiast.
Among my favorites from my LA Wine Writers luncheons are Priest Ranch and Trujillo Wines, both in Napa. Other in-person tastings took me to the Beaujolais Region of France, the Yamhill-Carlton AVA in the Willamette Valley, to taste wines from Willakenzie Estate Winery,
2025 Travel Year In Review – Virtual Travel
Switching gears to virtual experiences, I joined Zoom webinars and wine tastings that allowed me to explore destinations across the United States.
By co-hosting the IFWTWA (International Food Wine Travel Writers Association) webinars, I discovered many new destinations. Join me as I highlight the cities, countries, and wineries I explored.
Two Zoom Wine Tastings that stood out this year. The first was with the Louisiana winery Landry Vineyards. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the wine and learning about the hybrid grapes Blanc Du Bois and Lenore.
The second is an old favorite I wanted an update on: the latest releases from Bells Up Winery, owned by Dave and Sara Specter in the Willamette Valley. Knowing that music plays a vital role in Dave’s winemaking, I gained a better understanding of how he creates his Pinot Noir blends.
Think of a musical composition defined by sharps and flats. Now consider how your palate perceives a wine—starting at the front of your mouth, moving to the mid-palate, and ending at the finish. Dave selects his blends based on how each Pinot Noir clone reacts in your mouth. We explored the 2022 vintage of Pinot Noirs. They were all excellent, but my overall favorite was the Bells Up Maestro. I also had the chance to taste the Joy Estate Seyval Blanc Brut. This sparkling wine was fresh and perfect for celebrations.
Visit Flanders
Of all the webinars I attended this year, Flanders stood out. I have visited Belgium several times, visiting Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp, and other cities. Partaking in the webinar refreshed my memories of my visits to this country, as I enjoyed the Art Nouveau buildings and the quaint charm of its cities and towns.
Plans for 2026
Looking ahead, I am eager to continue this spirit of discovery in 2026. As my plans develop, I hope to visit Ottawa, Canada, Yosemite, and, of course, the Central Coast for more wine-tasting adventures, building on the places and themes explored in 2025.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year as we welcome 2026.
Note: As is common in the travel and wine industry, this writer received hosted wine samples. While it has not influenced this review, the writer believes in full disclosure.
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