Cellar Tours Blog

10 Iconic Italian Cocktails by Ivano Martignetti Mastroianni’s class, Sean Connery’s style, Humphrey Bogart’s charm- these icons always seemed to look their best at the bar counter, where an elegant barman served impeccable cocktails in Martini glasses or in pure crystal tumblers. A world away from the tacky barmen and plastic glasses that we sometimes have to deal [...]

Kinsale, located in County Cork in the far south of Ireland, is without a doubt one of the most charming villages in the country. It´s got it all:  dramatic natural scenery, a thriving yacht scene, colorful cottages and art studios, a fascinating history complete with pirates and Spanish Armadas, terrific seafood restaurants and lively pubs. Enjoy [...]

It´s sizzling this summer in Europe and a few days on the coast are definitely in order! Some suggestions for luxury coastal hotels  by country: FRANCE Château Eza- Eze: The ultimate French Riviera hideaway. Think lifestyles of the rich and famous, this charming medieval hamlet spills over a clifftop overlooking the Med. The small luxury hotel has [...]

Spanish Cheese From Coast to Coast- Quick Glossary of Cheeses from Spain By Martina Hemm Known for their wine and fanatic adoration of everything ham, Spaniards are equally as enamored with their cheese, and rightly so. Running the gamut from sharp and creamy to firm but mild, the range of Spanish cheeses mirrors the varied [...]

Spain’s turbulent history has resulted in the country being home to over 2500 castles, ranging from Moorish castles to military fortresses built in the “Reconquista”, medieval castles, castles overlooking the sea…. Many of these beautiful  castles are perfectly preserved, others in romantic ruins on atmospheric hilltops.  Here is a perhaps controversial selection of our personal 10 [...]

Love Italian Cooking? Want to dedicate yourself to making Italian recipes from scratch, and need a list of the essential kitchen “musts” for gadgets and ingredients? Here is our essential list, and readers: please send in your tips and advice so we can make the list even more complete! THE ITALIAN PANTRY- CHECK LIST 1. Fresh herbs: basil, [...]

30 of 300: A short glossary of Italian pasta by Martina Hemm Though pasta has only been present in European kitchens for the past 200 years, Italy has long nourished an ancient noodle culture. Arab merchants were the first to carry itria, the predecessor of modern Italian pasta, from the far away Asian continent to the shores of [...]

Bordeaux En Primeur Tasting,  Futures- 2009 Vintage By Lindsay Morriss, Bordeaux correspondent One of the world’s most renowned wine tastings is the Bordeaux Primeurs. This event is not open to the general public, but organized specifically for the wine trade as a venue to gather professionals from around the world to taste the most recent [...]

Parlez-Vous Fromage?? by Martina Hemm Navigating your way through a mélange of French cheeses can be a bit daunting and leave you speechless, not in the least because there are over 1000 varieties to choose from. But before you walk away from your local cheese monger overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of creamy, milky, and smelly goodness [...]

Gualtiero Marchesi…. We could write countless words about Gualiero Marchesi, THE real Maestro of Italian cuisine, but we prefer to quote him directly on how he describes himself: “I think of myself as a fundamentalist in my relationship with food, because the three fundamental principles “simple, good and beautiful” travel together and each one needs each other”. In [...]

Classy St Patrick´s Day Dinner Party Ideas If dying your hair green, wearing “kiss me, I´m Irish” stickers” and  knocking back whiskey shots in Irish pubs just does not appeal this Paddy´s Day, why not celebrate St Patrick´s day this year with a civilized dinner party with good friends and family? Here is how we will spending [...]

The Val d ‘ Orcia, featured today in the NY Times, is quintessential Tuscany and utterly romantic.  Expect dreamy hills studded with cypress trees and ancient farmhouses; a smattering of gorgeous art cities and medieval towns in easy reach (Siena, Pienza, San Quirico D’ Orcia, Montepulciano, Montalcino); world class wine country (Brunello, anyone?); amazing cheese [...]

It´s Friday and you are day dreaming about where do take your next vacation… here are some images of one of our favorite regions on earth, La Rioja, to inspire you Enjoy these shots of Rioja´s vineyards, medieval villages, rivers and mountains… Find out more! Rioja wine region Rioja wineries Rioja wine tours

A Bite of Seville, By Martina Hemm When making a culinary pilgrimage through Spain, Seville is not to be missed. Home to a vibrant flamenco scene and extensive network of tapas bars, Seville is clearly a town of bon vivants. And Sevilleans are not greedy. They are more than happy to share their lust for life [...]

Ideas for a romantic brunch to celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day- Brunch at home can be even romantic than dinner out, and is a wonderful idea for this Valentine`s weekend. But what to make? What wines  to serve? How to make it the perfect Valentine`s Day Brunch? Begin the late morning with crèpes, rolled with strawberries and freshly [...]

Tara Stevens, Barcelona based travel writer,  shares her experience with us on a recent stay at the hot new Mandarin Oriental in Barcelona: Didn’t get to sample the Spa unfortunately, had a peak around it though and looks pretty fab. Very dark and sultry. Did have a swim in the pool – good size for a [...]

Madrid’s Best Tapas Bars Everybody in Madrid has their Tapas bar- their secret neighborhood hideaway. Whether for a morning coffee, a midday snack, or a late night bottle among friends, madrileños live their lives in their favorite haunts. Here are just ten of our favorite tapas bars in Madrid, to give you a taste. But when [...]

by Simona Piccinelli, Italy specialist At the very last minute, last week I decided to spend a few days in Rome with my friends, to visit the amazing exhibition Bacon and Caravaggio at the Galleria Borghese , waiting for the great Caravaggio exhibition at Scuderie del Quirinale to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the great artist’s [...]

Notable eating in 2009- some of my favorite food experiences in Italy by Simona Piccinelli, Italy specialist Here is a compilation of the best dishes I tasted last year- a mix of high-end/creative/traditional/affordable/homey/expensive Italian cuisine: 1. Cuttle fish ink tempura style deep fried scallops with zucchini and clam sauce at Madonnina del Pescatore in the beautiful Marche region. 2. [...]

It’s January, it’s cold and miserable and  you don’t feel like cooking tonight… PIZZA night! A pizza always hits the spot, but what to drink with it? Turn a simple Pizza night into a food and wine adventure with these fun pizza/wine pairing suggestions: Margherita Pizza Wine Pairing: Robust red from Puglia like Neprica (Tormaresca) **** Pizza Bianca (White [...]

10 New Year’s Resolutions for Wine Lovers- dos and don’ts. 1. Don’t drink bad wine- life is too short. 2. Place more importance on food and wine pairing. 3. Try a new grape varietal every month. 4.  Drink bubbly throughout the year, not only on New Year’s eve! And along with Champagne, why not Franciacorta and Cava too? 5. Don’t [...]

Simona Piccinelli, our Italian food and wine specialist has put together a fabulous suggested week-long itinerary for gourmets wanting to eat their way through Northern  Italy’s best restaurants.  Pour a glass of Italian wine, grab a notebook and read on…. DAY 1- Fly into Milan, pick up car and drive east to the Franciacorta wine region. [...]

The annual Georgina Campbell Awards are here for 2010! Discover fabulous places to dine and stay in Ireland… The 2010 Award Winners are: Hotel of the Year - The BrookLodge & Wells Spa – Macreddin, Co Wicklow Restaurant of the Year – Campagne – Kilkenny Chef of the Year – Eamonn O’Reilly – One Pico, Dublin Pub of the [...]

Top Food and Wine Movies for the Holidays Sick of the classic Christmas movies?. Can’t handle “A Christmas Carol” or “It’s a Wonderful life” one more year? Love food and wine? Here is our list of the best ever foodie movies: 1. Chocolat, delicious flick in romanticized French hamlet, with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. 2. Like Water [...]

by Simona Piccinelli, Italy specialist Is there any better way to celebrate New Year’s Eve than with bubbly? We certainly  don’t think so! So here is our selection of our favorite sparkling wines of the year- the perfect match for every mood, enjoy: Speaking of sparkling wines, champagne is of course the king of bubbles and apart from [...]

To all our friends,family, suppliers and clients, all of us at Cellar Tours wish you a very happy holiday season!! Enjoy the parties and upcoming wine dinners and tastings, and please ALWAYS have a designated driver.

Enjoy some of our photos of Asturias, in Northern “Green” Spain, one of our FAVORITE places to disconnect, eat well and relax.  Stunning nature, sea and mountains, delicious local cuisine, super friendly locals- what more could one ask for?

Merano Wine & Culinaria Award by Simona Piccinelli, Italian wine specialist For the very first time, Mr Helmut Köcher -  President of  Gourmet International – presented the “Terroir 2009″ award during the 18th edition of the International Wine Festival & Culinaria in Merano, Italy. The prize rewards the wines that best express the connection with their terroir. 17 wines  [...]

By Simona Piccinelli, Italian wine specialist The 18th edition of the Merano International Wine Festival & Culinaria last month, crowned Merano as “the Italian capital of gastronomic excellence“. The Kurhaus – where the wine tastings took place -  opened its doors to wine lovers, gourmet and trade on Saturday November 7th, for 3 days. In spite [...]