WAAM has one of the largest collections of still-flying antique aeroplanes and still-driving antique automobiles in the country. Your ticket to the Wine & Pear Fest also gives you entry into this living history museum.

Hours for the fest are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 18, and noon to 5 p.m. May 19. Highlights include entertainment, live music, wine tasting, great food, fruit exhibits (with samples) and local artisans.

It’s sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hood River, and proceeds benefit its scholarship fund.

Check the website before you make plans, so you can see a listing of all the wineries, restaurants and other exhibitors, and see who’ll be in the winemakers tent. The Western Reserve School of Cooking also plans demonstrations and classes.

(Quiz time: why is northeast Ohio called the Western Reserve? Answer: here!)

(Photo courtesy of Vintage Ohio Wine Festival)

Two California wineries are offering visits to their ancestral homes in Croatia and Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France, to those who cruise with them this year.

Tablas Creek Vineyard wine maker Neil Collins is taking his group to their sister winery, Chateau Beaucastel in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The day is co-hosted by Beaucastels owners, the Perrin family who also co-own Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles California and will included tastings of the estate wines and a lunch prepared by the winery’s Michelin-rated chef.

This will be Tablas Creek’s first wine cruise and it sails for seven days along the French and Italian Riviera onboard the 650-passenger Azamara Club Cruises’ ship Journey. The cruise departs Barcelona on July 18th and pricing starts at $2,196 per person with a private onboard wine program and the complimentary day at Chateau Beaucastel. Chateau Beaucastel is the winery selected by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to produce their first vintage.

Violet Grgich of Napa Valleys Grgich Hills Estate is inviting her cruise guests to join her for a visit of her family’s winery on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. The Grgich wine group sails from Venice onboard Oceania Cruises’ 1200-passenger ship Riviera, which departs on September 7th and disembarks in Barcelona on September 19th . Two days into the cruise is the port of Dubrovnik, the ancestral home of Violet’s father and the winery patriarch Michael Grgich. Michael is turning 90 this year, and came to fame as the winemaker whose wine beat the French in the 1976 Judgment in Paris. The event became the foundation for the movie Bottle Shock.

This excursion will be led by Violet and will include a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Dubrovnik, a Grgich wine-paired lunch at a local restaurant and a visit to the family’s winery Grgic Vina, located approximately an hour north of the city.

The Grgich wine cruise price starts at $5,374 per person including the 12-day cruise, round-trip airfare from 26 US cities, the private onboard wine program and the Croatian winery tour and lunch.

The exclusive travel partner for both Tablas Creek Vineyard and Grgich Hills Estate is Santa Rosa, California-based Food & Wine Trails, the tour division of HMS Travel Group, a 25-year-old company based in Santa Rosa, California.

(Image courtesy of Food & Wine Trails)

All Road Trips Foodies anywhere near Southwest Idaho are invited to attend the first annual “UnWined at the Movies” at The Egyptian Theatre, 700 West Main Street, Boise, Idaho (map).

It takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. March 27, 2013.

With a small number of wineries and a more intimate atmosphere, “UnWined” gives attendees the ultimate face-to-face experience with the winemakers of this region. After sampling Idaho wine and indulging in some good eats from 3 Girls Catering, you can purchase a full glass of your favorite wine on your way into the theatre to watch the featured film, Bottle Shock (what else?).

A group of 20 Viennese winemakers will open the doors to their production facilities for two days of tours and sampling sessions. Running from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day, the tours include cellar inspections and wine tasting masterclasses, and a separate package for everyone who loves wine.

And note: the tours are also a great opportunity to pick up good vintages at farm gate prices — and there’s a free shuttle service between wineries.

(Photo courtesy of Wiener Wein)

Watch boats and barges navigate the Mississippi River while sipping chardonnay or zinfandel from your riverside perch at one of these:

*Grafton Harbor Floating Winery, 215 West Water Street, Grafton, Illinois (map): The Grafton Harbor Signature Collection offers six different wines.

*Grafton Winery & Brewhaus, 300 West Main Street, Grafton, Illinois (map): Wines and craft beers are prepared on site — the wines from a combination of California-grown grapes and fruits (check out the Apple Crisp).

*Ice House Winery, 202-214 West Main Street, Grafton, Illinois (map): Stop in at Jeni J‘s for a sip of Ice House wine.

*Mary Michelle Winery, 13653 Lodge Boulevard, Grafton, Illinois (map): The tasting room at Père Marquette Lodge is the perfect place to try these wines, made in Carrolton, Illinois.

*Piasa Winery & Pub, 225 West Main Street, Grafton, Illinois (map): Piasa Winery has 15 wines made from locally grown grapes.

*Two Rivers Winery, 211 West Main Street, Grafton, Illinois (map): Kick back on the deck with a view of the river and enjoy a taste of local Illinois wines by Villa Marie Winery of Maryville and Hopewell Winery in Pittsfield.

(Image courtesy of Grafton Harbor Floating Winery)

Wine has had a long tradition in Vienna, Austria. This is reflected not only by the numerous heurige but also several beautiful, old wine cellars. These are drawing in visitors with special offers and guided tours.

Here are some to check out next time you’re in Vienna:

The 500 year-old Villon Wine Cellar is one of the oldest wine cellars in Vienna. A four-storey descent leads 16 meters below the streets in the heart of Vienna. The cellar tour is followed by a tasting of excellent wines, accompanied by stories from the cellar’s history, as well as about Viennese wine and Viennese spring water. These narrated wine tastings are held at fixed times every Friday and Saturday (registration required) or can be individually arranged for groups with a minimum of 10 persons.

The magnificent Wine Cellar in the Palais Coburg was constructed inside historical ruins from the 16th century. The Wine Archive and champagne cellar consist of six different rooms, each with a unique character and specific dedication. 60,000 bottles are stored here in a 755 square-meter area. This collection of precious, rare wines is among the best in the world and has received numerous awards. A wide range of wine cellar tours and tastings are offered at the Palais Coburg.

Some parts of the cellar vaults at the Artner Restaurant on Franziskanerplatz date back to the Middle Ages. The accessible wine cellar in its historical surroundings has been redesigned with a few modern elements and holds 7,000 bottles. The emphasis is on wines from the Carnuntum region in Lower Austria.

Also worth seeing are the Schlumberger Champagne Cellars, the oldest in Austria. More than two million bottles are stored in the 300 year-old cellar of the original Schlumberger building in Vienna Döbling. On the tours through the several kilometers-long cellar labyrinth, visitors can get detailed information about how champagne is made, the Méthode Traditionnelle, and what the shaking of the bottles is all about. One or more glasses of champagne are served afterwards, depending on the type of tour.

Details:

Villon Wine Cellar, Habsburgergasse 4.
Wine tasting for groups of 10 or more persons upon request
Appointments for individual bookings Fri 4 p.m. or Sat 5 p.m. with prior registration.
Registration under info@villon.at or tel. +43-699-19 67 91 29
Tasting and cellar tour: duration approx. 1.5-2 hours
Price: €39 per person

Wine cellar at Palais Coburg, Coburgbastei 4.
Registrations for cellar tours and tastings at weinarchiv@palais-coburg.com or tel. +43-1-518 188 810

Artner on Franziskanerplatz, Franziskanerplatz 5.
Tasting with prior registration: tl. +43-1-503 50 34 pr franziskanerplatz@artner.co.at

Schlumberger Champagne Cellar, Heiligenstädter Strasse 43.
Guided tours only with prior registration at +43-1-368 22 59-909
Mon 10 a.m., Thur. 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. on the hour or with prior registration
Guided tours €7.50 per person incl. 1 glass of champagne, €15 with large tasting (5 kinds)
Closed on holidays unless reservations have been made by phone.

(Photo of Schlumberger Champagne Cellar courtesy of Vienna Tourism)

Since missionaries planted the first grapes here in the early 19th century, through Prohibition to the “modern” era of viticulture that began in the 1960s, Santa Barbara County winemakers have combined traditional, handmade techniques with the latest cutting- edge innovations.

The region is known especially for its outstanding chardonnay, pinot noir and syrah, but also produces superior riesling, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, viognier and many other varietals in more than 80 vineyards. The majority are small operations run by individuals or families.

In Santa Barbara County, Santa Ynez Valley is one of three distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), also known as wine appellations-the other two are Santa Maria Valley and Santa (Sta.) Rita Hills-together comprising more than 21,000 acres of vineyards producing more than a million cases of wine annually. The region’s east-west orientation of the coastal mountains forms valleys opening directly to the Pacific Ocean. This unique topography allows the flow of fog and sea breezes to shape distinct microclimates, perfect for the cultivation of classic grape varietals resulting in world-class wines.

Area wineries welcome visitors year-round either at the winery or in tasting rooms located throughout the valley. It is easy and fun to do self-directed wine tours or enjoy guided tours in jeeps, vans, limousines or private sedans provided by local companies.

And, yes, just in case you were wondering, “Sideways” was filmed almost entirely on-location throughout Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley. The Fox Searchlight feature film premiered in Fall 2004 and won numerous awards including an Oscar and two Golden Globes. The tale of two middle-aged men and the women they meet on a week-long wine tasting adventure brought world-wide recognition to the area. Visitors can personally experience real-life scenes from the movie with specialty maps and tour packages.

It has been designated an American Viticultural Area, making it one of the country’s more significant wine growing regions. This is a piece of the United States making a name for itself slowly, but surely.

Your Own Itinerary: Take some time with friends or family to travel the vineyards at your own pace. Stay in Boise at one of the beautiful B&B’s and take day trips to any of the picturesque vineyards, including award winning choices such as Bitner Vineyards, 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards or Snake River Winery.

Group Tastings: During the summer and harvest season there are many opportunities to visit the vineyards for concerts, tastings, and seasonal celebrations. You can sign up for a tour with one of Idaho’s wine tour companies, like Idaho Winery Tours.

Expert Advice: Most of Idaho’s wineries are small and bottles haven’t yet made it to shelves outside of local liquor stores. So, stock up while you are there and take some home to share.

(Image courtesy of Idaho Winery Tours)

1. Hill Country, TX
The Texas Wine Trail boasts more than 30 wineries.

2. Bloomington, IN
Local winery Creekbend uses hybrid vines that can withstand hot Midwestern summers and cold winters. They offer daily tastings, weekend production tours, and tours by appointment.

3. Truro, MA
This Cape Cod hamlet is the home to Truro Vineyards, a family-run operiation growing Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Merlot grapes on a five-acre property.

4. Botetourt County, VA
This county in the Blue Ridge Mountain region boasts thre family-run wineries, Fincastle Vineyard and Winery, Blue Ridge Vineyard, and Virginia Mountain Vineyards.

5. North Fork, Long Island, NY
It may not be the Hamptons, but the North Fork has its own charms: namely, the almost 30 wineries scattered about. Try Shinn Estate, where sustainablitiy is the name of the game.

6. Arkansas River Valley, AR
Wine has been flowing out of the valley since the 1880s. Wiederkehr Wine Cellars even has a in its original 1880 cellar.

7. Cleveland, OH
The farmland around the city of Cleveland is able to grow European classics like the cabernet franc and pinot noir grapes because of the long, dry fall weather, which gives grapes time to fully ripen.

8. Yakima Valley, WA
Almost half of the wine produced in the state of Washington begins with Yakima grapes! The Yakima Valley Association of Growers and Wineries can help you set up a tour of several vineyards for your group.

9. Traverse City, MI
This Northern Michigan wine region is becoming known for its pinot blancs. Nearby Leelenau Penninsula is home to more than 20 wineries.

10. Brandywine Valley, PA
The 50-mile Brandywine Valley Wine Trail comprises eight wineries — and is only about a 30 minute drive from Philadelphia.

(Photo courtesy of Texas Hill Country Wineries)