People may think of Thailand as a food-focused destination, or a place for great nightlife or even a wellness center and somewhere to go and be pampered.
06.12.2023 - 16:03 / forbes.com / Dominique Crenn
Skipping the buzz—and the calories – has gotten much more enjoyable. Even in the past six months, the non-alcoholic wine space has improved dramatically, with new offerings showing surprising complexity. My list this year includes a couple of debuts and some old favorites. I’ve noted how these beverages were made – some start with fermented grapes – actual wine—then use complex chemistry to remove the alcohol. These might hew closer to a traditional wine to many palates. Then there are beverages that use a mixture of teas, juices, spices or other elements to give the experience of wine – mouthfeel, complex nose and palate. These alternatives are generally not meant to emulate a particular varietal, but rather give the drinker a pleasing adult beverage to enjoy in situations where you’d normally drink wine. Here are this year’s top picks.
Saint Viviana Sauvignon Blanc ($22.99): The N/A experts at The Zero Proof spent years developing this wine, and its sibling Cabernet Sauvignon. Sourced from Washington State, Saint Viviana Sauvignon Blanc is bright and tart without being too sour, offering a palate of grapefruit and melon, with a nose that’s a little bit citrusy and a little bit floral. Very food friendly – think chicken and seafood – even oysters and caviar.
Proxies Holiday Collection ($98 for four bottles): No one in the zero-proof space, and likely few in the alcoholic space, has worked as closely as Proxies has with James Beard award-winning chefs to craft beverages. Celebrated chefs Sean Brock, Dominique Crenn, Beverly Kim & Johnny Clark, and sommelier Miguel de Leon each guided Proxies in building wine-alternative beverages with specific characteristics. These bottles were offered as a limited release, but the company has brought all four back for a special holiday set. The set includes Sean Brock’s Audrey, a red inspired by the chef’s grandmother’s elderberry wine; Pétanque, a high-acid white developed with Crenn to pair with her seafood-forward menus; Amuse, a sparkling rosé crafted with Kim and Clark, the wife-and-husband team behind two of Chicago’s most acclaimed restaurants; and Vinta, an orange style created with award-winning sommelier de Leon.
Joyus Cabernet Sauvignon ($28.99): The accolades keep pouring in for this brand crafting de-alcoholized wines– at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, all four of their wines took home awards. For winter, I’m a fan of their sole red—aged in new American oak, it’s toasty and redolent of vanilla, with notes of dark berries.
Baby Bloom Box, French Bloom Organic French Bubbly ($59): This elegant de-alcoholized sparkler has introduced a stylish box set of two half-bottles just in time for the holidays. Developed by Maggie
People may think of Thailand as a food-focused destination, or a place for great nightlife or even a wellness center and somewhere to go and be pampered.
With the new year just around the corner, these new hotels should be on the travel radar. For some, bucket list travel may be the best holiday present of all. Others enjoy the anticipation of planning the trip together, especially if you can redeem hard-earned loyalty points to make the trip more affordable. A handful will be lucky enough to win a free vacation trip, but for everyone else, these are some of the newest hotels worth exploring in 2024.
Whether you haven't kicked off your Christmas shopping yet, lack inspiration, or simply haven't had a moment to ponder it, fret not. Keep reading for some great Parisian gift ideas crafted by some of the city's most talented creators that are guaranteed to bring some of that seasonal festive cheer to your loved ones and create a reminiscent feeling of travel to the French capital until their next visit.
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I recently put caviar on an extra-toasty Cheez-It, and I’m obsessed. I took my inspiration from Alexis Cervasio, proprietor at hip Boston market EBO & Co. and proponent of putting caviar on everything,
Europe is home to 63 of the top 100 city destinations in the world, according to a new ranking.
The holiday season is just around the corner, and that means you probably need to secure a few great gifts for the incredible women in your life. Whether you're shopping for your mom, your wife, your sister, or any other fellow traveler you know and love, you'll want to give them something meaningful that they don’t already have but know they'll appreciate.
Food is love, and it is also the perfect gift for a host, a gourmand, a home cook, or anyone who appreciates a truly special culinary experience, and a lovely bottle of something special (alcoholic or non-) to pair it with. Look no further. With these 20+ “global entries,” you are certain to find a delicious gift inspired by great cuisines and chefs from around the globe.
From soft knits to plaid PJs, one of these cosy gifts is perfect for the traveler in your life. Our pick of winter-warming accessories are perfect for those traveling to cooler destinations, to use in-transit or in-flight. In fact, these presents will not only keep them warm, but will also keep you close to their hearts.
Europe’s airports are regularly ranked from best to worst to help travellers make informed choices.
Closets organized by seasons, labeled containers in the pantry, shoes laid out by style and color—we all have that friend or loved one who can’t help but organize every element of their life. If you happen to be shopping for such a person this holiday season, there’s no doubt that they’re just as tidy when they travel. Thankfully, there are plenty of accessories to help them maintain their propensity for orderliness while on the move. From a thoughtfully designed toiletry bag to premium TSA-approved containers, these are the best gifts for organized travelers.
Every day, the Historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington crafts 150 pounds of its famous soft peanut brittle. It’s salty, sweet, and divine, but what sets the secret recipe apart is its texture—instead of being pull-your-crowns off sticky, this beloved brittle is delicate and melts in your mouth. The iconic historic hotel also sells a chocolate version.