The First Sip of Wine in the New World

🖋 From the Editor’s Desk (My Laptop)

Wine, Faith, and the Luxury of Place

It started with devotion, not indulgence. In 1597, vines pressed into the soil at
Casa Madero in Parras, Coahuila, so missionaries could pour sacramental wine.

By 1779, those same vines had reached the courtyard of Mission San Juan Capistrano in California.

Faith built the foundation.

Centuries later, we’re drinking the reward.

Today, wine travel in North America has matured into a quiet form of luxury, never loud, always layered.

In Valle de Guadalupe, you don’t just drink, you drift: lavish villa stays at Veya by Banyan Tree, long tables at Fauna, and a glass that feels as much about the chef as the terroir.

In Napa and Sonoma, ritual has its own rhythm. Sunrise over vines, a tasting flight before noon, an afternoon spent at Auberge du Soleil, and dinner where the reservation list is the story, The French Laundry.

Further north, Willamette Valley shows restraint in pinot noir and hospitality alike: the gardens at The Allison Inn & Spa, a cellar blending session, then firelit evenings that feel unhurried.

And in Okanagan, wine leans into landscape; lake reflections at Spirit Ridge and concert dinners under the stars at Mission Hill.

What ties it together is that same line running from Parras to Napa to Okanagan: wine isn’t about the pour, it’s about the place. And for travelers like us, that’s where the true luxury lives.

📩 Drop me an email, and I’ll help you trace your own journey through these wine regions of the New World. The only decision you’ll have to make is red, white… or both.

Latest Luxury Travel News

Thailand is quietly rebooking your fall with free flights.

Starting September (pending final sign-off from the cabinet), Thailand plans to hand out 200,000 round-trip domestic flights to international visitors who book inbound airfare, an elegant nudge that says: Explore beyond the usual suspects. Think Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, maybe even that hidden beach you’ve been slipping into your wish list. T+L

Six airlines are on board, and yes, that free baggage still applies.

Vista Ostuni redefines Puglia’s White City, but you’ve already intuited that.

A 14th-century convent turned minimalist palazzo, this boutique newcomer in Ostuni offers cavernous rooms with 23-ft ceilings, marble-clad baths, and terraces that gaze over olive groves into the Adriatic haze. Spoil yourself at the sun-soaked rooftop infinity pool or wander through artworks by Patricia Urquiola and Sardinian carpet artisans. T+L

Here, even heritage feels fresh. 

Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady just hit the seas.

Picture this: a 1,408‑cabin, adults‑only ship dropping anchor off Halifax with non‑stop pool‑deck beats, open‑air gyms, and over a dozen bars that feel like festival stages. She’s bringing immersive shows, Spanish‑inspired dining at Rojo, and even voyages through Alaska and the Panama Canal. T+L

As Sir Richard puts it, “When you walk on she turns you into the world as it should be.”

Savvy Sprint Test: Wine Without the Guesswork

Imagine touching down in Napa, Valle de Guadalupe, or the Okanagan and finding the hard work already done.

• Tasting reservations at the wineries that never answer emails? Locked.

• A chef’s table where the pairing feels like theater? Already waiting.

• A room at the boutique property that books out six months in advance? Yours.

• And if you whisper “concierge,” we’ll get you those vineyard concert tickets or a private blending session.

We’re testing the idea of a Savvy Wine Sprint: a 2–3 day curated journey through one of North America’s wine regions.

Click to tell us. Your answer helps decide if this becomes the next big Savvy Traveler feature.

📘 The Video Savvy Guide to Wine Travel in North America

It started with a single vine in the desert of Coahuila. Today, it’s a continent-wide pilgrimage.

From Napa’s cabernet slopes to Sonoma’s rustic valleys, from the volcanic soils of Willamette to the shimmering lakes of Okanagan, North America has quietly become one of the world’s great wine maps. And it doesn’t stop there, Valle de Guadalupe’s desert cuisine, Palisade’s western charm, Niagara’s Icewine rituals, and even the red-rock backdrops of Arizona’s Verde Valley add chapters to the story.

This week’s video pulls them all together, the vineyards, the views, the food, the history, into one journey.

🍷 Press play, and trace the luxury of wine across the New World

Global Events | August - September 2025

Extraordinary moments. Unforgettable settings.

🎾 US Open – New York City
📅 Already Underway – September 7
There’s nothing like watching Grand Slam tennis live. You don’t have to be an expert, the energy is electric, the drama is real, and the world’s best are all fighting for the final major of the season.
Want to go? Tell us when and where you’d like to sit, we’ll help you get great seats without losing your mind (or your wallet).

🎤 Coldplay – Wembley Stadium, London
📅 September 3, 4, 7, 8
Still dreaming about their tour? This is it, the last stretch of Coldplay’s massive world tour. 10 final nights at Wembley, and then… who knows? Take the chance to see them where music history is made, and make a little of your own.

🦅 The Eagles – The Sphere, Las Vegas
📅 Sept 5–6, 12–13 • Oct 3–4, 10–11, 31 • Nov 1, 7–8
Want to see the newest entertainment venue on Earth while listening to one of the greatest rock bands of all time? The Eagles take over The Sphere every Friday and Saturday this fall. Classic hits. Mind-blowing visuals. Vegas-level everything.

→ Write us. We’ll handle the rest.

Powered by: