Untamed Wine Estates in Texas Wine Country

Untamed room view

I’ve got a brand new  #TexasWineCountry wine experience review for y’all: Untamed Wine Estates in Hye/Fredericksburg, TX! Opened just over a year ago in May 2021 @untamedwines was launched by married couple Mckenzie Sanvido and Dane Sanvido Owner, General Manager, and Winemaker Dane is from South Africa but has developed his winemaking skills from all over…

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Get Yourself Barred: Air’s Champagne Parlor in NYC

AIRS Me in doorway (close up)

If you follow me on Instagram then you know that back in October I was invited by my girl Kachet Jackson-Henderson {as part of a graciously hosted Alaska Airlines trip for influencers and bloggers} on a trip to New York for the official grand opening of the flagship Nordstrom NYC. Well, while we had plenty of fun…

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Wine Travel Fabulous: JCB Tasting Lounge in Napa

JCB SALON 1 (building)

As a bubbly and wine lover, going to “wine country” anywhere always feels like home for both my heart and palate. And since jaunting to Napa (and Sonoma) several years ago was my very first foray into wine travel, each and every time I visit it’s feel like I’m right where I belong. The sheer number of exquisite wineries,…

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Travel Foodie Finds: NOLA Brunch & Beignets Restaurant San Antonio

NOLA SA outside facade

A restaurant where you can have brunch every single day of the week PLUS delicious, authentic New Orleans-style food where you can byob it, too? Uh, yes please! As you know, I never leave for a destination without digging deeply into some research to find the best and most interesting experiences that a location has to offer….

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Bubbleista Approved Travel Pick: Effervescence Champagne Bar New Orleans

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Bubbly lovers, I’ve gotten your feedback, requests, and questions–and I’m here to let you know I’m listening! That said, in an effort to delight you as requested, I’m going to start sharing more of my #BubbleistaApproved “effervescent picks” of the most fab food & drink spots, places to stay, and things to do that I often discover when I…

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Bubbleista Travels: Hotel Havana a Hidden Gem in San Antonio

Cross over this threshold and you may really feel like you've been transported to Cuba.

Tons of people, Texans in particular, travel to San Antonio annually for vacation to enjoy the ever popular tourist attraction called the Riverwalk, but it’s that very uber touristy nature of the Riverwalk itself that turns this travel experience seeking girl O-F-F. I’ve been to San Antonio many times, and each time my desire to get…

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The Guild: A New Kind of Hotel Experience

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If you’ve been following me on Instagram you know I am fresh off of an epic culinary adventure at the Austin Food and Wine Festival in April {recap coming soon!}. Having attended the event last year, we knew the ropes a bit more which enabled us to do better with planning our trip. That said, last year we stayed…

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10 Palm Springs Hot Spots for Veg-Heads Gourmands & Cocktail Lovers

PSP Workshop Gravlax

I’ll be grabbing a plane headed to Palm Springs in a couple of weeks {woot!} and if you know me you know that I have been doing my due diligence in travel research! As I mentioned in my post about Napa, I am biiiiig on getting the skinny on the destination I’m going to so that I…

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Food & Wine Fabulousness: The Austin Food and Wine Fest

Austin Fest 2

Sooo, am I the only asking if it’s spring yet? We’re barely approaching the halfway mark of February and I’m over this winter weather. I was born a cold-natured person, so winter weather is never my friend. I’m ready to be done with boots, wool scarves, gloves, and wearing a coat on top of a jacket…

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The Fabulous, Farmhouse-Luxe Hotel Vintage House in Napa

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Those who know or have ever traveled with me know that when it comes to trip planning I am a master at researching a location to find the best experiences, locations, restaurants, cocktail bars, and destination options. Planning my recent trip to Napa and Sonoma was no exception, which is exactly how I came across…

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Champagne Jetsetter Chronicles: Super Chic & Stylish Passport Covers Perfect for Summer Travel

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“Summa-time” is on its way and in my book that means it’s time for planning some great summer fun, frolicking and, most of all, some fab travel! One of my “Effervescent Lifestyle Edicts” is #ITravelDifferently. I always take the extra measures to try to ensure that my travel plans will be as fantastic as I can possibly…

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Effervescent Lifestyle Tips: Wardrobe Essentials for What to Wear to Food & Wine Festivals

WHAT TO WEAR TO WINE AND FOOD FESTIVALS

Coachella has come and gone and that means one thing: spring and summer Festival Season is here! Yep, I love, love, l-o-v-e a good fest, and it should come as no surprise that I especially love the ones that are food, champagne, and wine-centric. Quite a few of them will be occurring over the course of the next…

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Effervescent Travels: Gundlach Bundschu Winery

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Hello again wine + travel lovers! My last Effervescent Travels post gave you an insider’s look at, and a review of the wines of, Altra Winery during my trip to Sonoma and Napa last spring and, as promised, I’m back for another edition of “Effervescent Travels” detailing more of my wine country adventures. This time I’m…

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Effervescent Travels: Altra Winery in Napa

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I am feeling a bit wistful. This time last year I was preparing to embark on a marvelous week-long visit to Napa, California and I was absolutely giddy with excitement. It was a girls trip–I was traveling with one of my wine-loving girlfriends, and the plan was to experience as much relaxation and wine country…

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Will Travel For Champagne: A Night of Champagne With The “Nuit du Champagne” Tour

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What do you do when you’re a staunch believer in, and advocate of, the philosophy of convincing more people that they should be drinking more champagne more often? If you’re The Bubbleista you get wine education and certification; host champagne tastings; drink bubbly every week {strictly for learning purposes, of course}; write blog posts about champagne and…

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Travel Tuesday: 5 Must Dos In New Orleans

Dauphine Books

Let me guess: by merely seeing the words “New Orleans” your mind automatically conjured up images of cocktails; colorful beads; music; Bourbon Street; poboys; and gumbo. NOLA is one of my favorites cities in the world and I fall in love with it a little bit more each time I set foot in the city. In fact,…

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February Sneak Peek

hello-february (London Like The City)

February is already upon us–the first month of 2015 has absolutely flown by! Having just launched in January, I can hardly believe that I’ve already been writing on this site for a whole month. January was exciting and taxing and challenging and fun and nerve-wracking and inspirational, all rolled up into 31 days. This month promises to…

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Yeah You Rite: Eating, Drinking and Jazzing Your Way Through New Orleans

Deanies NOLA collage

I just spent 5 full, glorious days in New Orleans…and it was not enough! I’ll be honest though, no matter how many hours, days, or weeks I spend in NOLA, it never seems to be enough time. There’s always one more meal to eat; one more bar to linger in; one more shop to duck into; one more…

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Cocktail Tales: One of The Best Spots in New Orleans to Make Your Drink Dreams Come True

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I have no hesitation in admitting that I am a bit of a cocktail snob. Marachino cherries? I’d prefer Luxardos. Concentrated juice from a plastic lemon? Thanks, but I’ll pass. Weird “cookies and cream” artificially flavored liquor? Uhm, no. Hyped up beverages made by rappers and celebrities? Not in my glass. Although I typically know what I…

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Welcome to The Bubbleista Blog: January sneak peek

Hello Bubbly People

Welcome to 2015 and to the launch of The Bubbleista website and blog! I’m glad you’re here. I know we may be just getting to know each other, so here’s something you should know about me from the jump: I am a big fan of the unconventional—a quick look at my manifesto will reveal that. With…

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