Fabulous Fridays: The New World of Douro Wines

I recently bought a lovely bottle of Douro wine. I selected this because Michael and I really enjoy these red wines. Also, I recently read a review of Douro wines in The New York Times. We discovered Douro wines when we were in Portugal in 2007. Ever since our trip, these wines are pretty much a staple in our home. It's a nice, easy wine. We discovered our friend Douro by way of default. Naturally, or naively as it turned out, we thought we would be drinking Port wine all week. But when we stopped for a glass of Port, we really hated it. As an alternative, someone suggested Douro. Lucky for us, it was amazing.

For our most recent tasting, we tried a mighty red bottle of Evel Grande Reserve 2005. It was really well-balanced and elegant. It had plenty of plum and spicy flavors and did go down rather smoothly.

Douro wines from Portugal are a staple at our house.

A warning when going out to eat or drink in Portugal. It is customary for your waiter to immediately (and by this I mean as you're sitting down) put on your table small plates of bread, cheese, meats, olives and butter. FABULOUS!!! But when the bill came, each small plate was listed. The price for this little pre-appetizer came out to about 30 euros, so could be upwards to $45. Michael and I called this a “covert operation”. Enough said.

Douro wines come from the rugged Douro valley, in northern Portugal, known for its very hot and desert-dry conditions in the summer and cold and wet in the winter. The Douro River originates in Spain and flows west until it reached the ocean in Porto. You can purchase Douro wine from Spain as well, which is also very nice.

We bought four bottles on our trip to smuggle home with us (forgetting the aviation laws that no liquids be allowed) but this didn’t matter. Our local wine shop has lots to choice from and they are pretty much inexpensive.

According to Food and Wine magazine, the rise in popularity of this wine is due to changes in the 1980s to Portuguese wine laws, which forbade bottling wine in the Douro region and an partly due to an influx of young, ambitious, talented winemakers. As a result, wine stores in my area are clearing their shelves for more Douro wine.

Drinking this wine really has me in the mood for an return trip to Europe.

One Year and Counting

I'll be returning shortly...We're off spending our first anniversary in Mexico. Adios amigos.

L'Occitane Takes You On A Fragrance Odyssey

My favorite travel destinations are anywhere near the Mediterranean Sea. I’ve been to Italy, France, Greece, Spain and Israel and would one day love to visit Turkey and the beaches of Croatia. There is just something so fresh and alive about these amazing places. I especially love all the rich aromas that permeate every pore of my body and satisfy all my senses. When I found out L’Occitane was going on a fragrant journey to some of my these places I was intrigued. The beauty company, known best for their pampering products, recently added two beautiful fragrances as part of their popular Voyage en Méditerranée (Travel in the Mediterranean) collection and I was immediately swept away.

This fragrant odyssey begins with the Mimosa de l’Estérel, with notes of violet leaves, mimosa and almond accord. At the end of autumn, the Esterel hills, are aglow with hues of gold from the unforgettable scent of the blooming mimosas. Known as the “Winter Sun”, the mimosa’s tiny golden pompom flowers fill the air with its powdery scent. This beautiful smell is light, delicate, feminine and clean.

Mimosa de l'Estérel from L'Occitaneis a light, powdery fragrance

The second fragrance stop of the collection is Labdanum de Séville, with notes of citruses, spices, labdanum, benzoin and vanilla. Labdanum, a redolent resin used in perfumery, grows wild in many Mediterranean countries and can be found in abundance on the rocky, sun-drenched grounds of Andalusia. The opulent, woody and musky scent is beautifully enveloped in this perfume.

Labdanum de Séville from L'Occitane is a spicy, yet citrusy scent

I found both fragrances to be very natural and subtle enough to not overpower the room. Both were optimistic and would make for a fabulous new scent for the fall season. Additionally, both have classic notes like citrus and woods to make these a perfect addition to your fragrance collection. Each scent is different and adds a unique twist to your fragrance wardrobe. Some are perfect for work, while others make a perfect evening option.

Enjoy one of L’Occitane’s seven Mediterranean fragrances and take a brief visit to a sunny destination. Each 2.5 oz. eau de parfum bottle retails for $66, proving that great fragrance doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Available at L'Occitane.