EYW Blog

A Mendoza vineyard. All photos by Sara Helmark

The gorgeous scenery, the endless vineyards, the hefty meat and sweet pastries—Mendoza, Argentina, has much to offer the culinary traveler. In this bustling city with a laid-back vibe, it’s easy to visit for two days and wind up staying a month. The only downside? You might, like me, put on a few kilos while eating your way around this city. Trust me, it’s worth it. Here's what to eat and drink in Mendoza.

Wine & Wineries

Home to beloved Malbec, Mendoza is, of course, one of the biggest wine districts of the world. Just on the outskirts of town, Luján de Cuyo is ground zero for Malbec production; the area became a gold mine...

Wine tasting in Niagara-on-the-Lake

The rolling hills of Napa Valley, the elegant vineyards of France and Italy, the rows of vines in coastal New Zealand—that’s where great wine comes from, right? Well, yes, but you might be surprised to discover that Canada also belongs on that list.

Better known for grub like poutine and maple syrup and sports like hockey, Canada isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you consider world-class wineries to visit. However, it’s home to some exceptional vineyards that have been flying under the radar for years. The cool microclimate of Ontario and other regions of Canada, like the Okanagan Valley and Nova Scotia, are perfect for creating the...

All photos courtesy of Trinchero Napa Valley

“[At a family-owned winery], you can think with your heart—it’s not about meeting a bottom line.” –Mario Monticelli, Napa Valley winemaker

If you're like us, you've always wondered 1) what's it like to live and work in the gorgeous Napa Valley, and 2) what's it like to be the person responsible for creating some of the fabulous wine that comes out of there. We recently had the opportunity to learn both from Mario Monticelli of Trinchero Napa Valley Winery, a beautiful, state-of-the-art winery (and one of the wildly successful Trinchero Family Estates' brands) whose family legacy stretches back to 1948, when two Italian immigrants...

Our contributor takes us to Vinicola Urbana, a wine-producing rooftop vineyard (and breath of fresh air) smack-dab in overcrowded Mexico City.

All photos by Lydia Carey

A pseudo-camouflaged sign sits at the entrance of No. 29 on Mexico City’s posh Avenida Presidente Masaryk. Inside, the security guards will probably ignore you, but all the way to the left-hand side of the lobby sits a woman who will direct you to the elevators, up four floors, and into an empty elevator-bank hallway. You’ll hesitate, confused; walking out what looks like an emergency exit, you turn right and are unexpectedly met by a wave of shamrock-shaped leaves, tiny bundles of grapes hanging daintily beneath...

“You don’t get a true representation of terroir by buying fruit from Ontario and adding a French yeast. A great wine is grown, not made in the winery—that’s the only way to get a true taste of the landscape.” –Emmanuel Maniadakis, owner of Verger Biologique Maniadakis

Tell us about what you do.
I grow certified-organic, biodynamic  apples and pears; I make a certified-organic, biodynamic apple ice wine, a pear ice wine, and a still cider (apple wine) with no manipulation, using natural indigenous yeasts and natural filtration, no sulfates added. It’s the only natural wine in all of North America recognized by Nicolas Joly and his group of natural wine makers in France (le...