Tag: wine

Konichiwa AXN Japan!

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Konichiwa Japan!

This photo(35)month I started my new job as the LA Correspondent for Japan’s popular entertainment show AXN Avenue. Think of it as a Japanese version of E! or LXTV, where we spotlight the coolest celebrity hotspots in Los Angeles.

My first shoot was at Erewhon Natural Foods Market (pronounced like Air-juan). This place is a natural food gem, with a tea bar and specialty juice selection that puts all the trendy juice cleanse places in LA to shame! For those looking to toxify themselves, they also are the only place in LA that carries the amazing Chateau Miraval rose that is made on Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s property in France. Erewhon is also home to Rita Flora, who puts together the most amazing bouquets. I am lucky enough to be on the receiving end of one of those bouquets. I’m looking forward to when I get another… hopefully in the near future… hint hint

 

It was a great shoot. And I got to polish up on the few words I know in Japanese, which include Konichiwa, Sayanora, Ouishii, and Kawaii.

I’ll be shooting a few segments each month. Follow me on twitter @AndreaFeczko to get more updates!

 

Top 3 Wine Tastings in Napa

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For some, Disneyland is the happiest place on Earth. For me, it’s anywhere with excellent food and wine, which is why I make the pilgrimage to Napa twice a year to find happiness. In a bottle. Please don’t judge me.

After years of research, here are the best wine tastings in Napa Valley.

BEST WINE IN NAPA VALLEY

Ehlers Estate: To quote my video below, “Ehlers rose is better than a lot of my ex-boyfriends.” I did go through a date only-male-models-or-ex-professional-athletes phase so this is saying a lot… or maybe it’s not. Anyways, not only is the wine absolutely fantastic, but 100% of the proceeds go to cardiovascular research. The owner was saved by a cardiovascular surgeon, and so from the heart label to the names of the wines (120/80 Cabernet is especially divine- and named after perfect blood pressure) to the profit margins, Ehlers is all about heart. And I can cheers to that!

Fotor0529110157BEST AMBIANCE IN NAPA VALLEY

Von Strasser: Just a hop, skip, and a jump down the road from Ehlers, this place is the definition of picturesque. I swear I didn’t copy that from a brochure. It’s essentially two tables on a patio and you feel like you are at someone’s house, enjoying their award-winning vintages. They have literally the best Gruner Veltiner in the world. It’s super small so reservations are a necessity, but considering it’s also super hidden, it’s usually open. Oh, and that’s my niece making a pillow out of the Von Strasser dog.

THE MOST CHARMING SOMMELIER IN NAPA VALLEY

Jason at Signorello: I can appreciate someone who takes risks in the name of entertainment, and so I give you Jason. He was bizarre, made strange noises that were not English, and over poured. And that made him my new best friend. The wine was okay, but I would make the drive to Signorello just to have an ab workout in the form of laughter from him. (That’s the best workout IMO.) You definitely want to check out the video below to see what I’m talking about.

Check out the wineries for yourself in my video: