Caipirinha (kai-pir-in-ya)

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So if you are a lover of our blog you may recognize this drink because we have featured it before, but this article is pretty cool about the history of Brazil’s Caipirinha. Shout out to Travel Planner Brittany for sending me this cool article that I can share with all of our followers. Happy thirsty Thursday everyone, check out this article and let the flavors of Brazil inspire your next destination!

Article: https://www.gadventures.com/blog/caipirinha-brief-history-brazils-famous-cocktail/#.V-qtTcBX040.facebook

Intersted in trying this beloved cocktail? Want to know more about Brazil? It’s time to call us here at Ambassador Travel Ltd.

 

Ambassador Travel Ltd. | 920.236.7777| ambassadortravelltd.com

 

Calling All Wine Lovers

Ok wine lovers I have a special treat for you today. We are sharing an article by CNN on the 11 undiscovered wine regions. If you are looking for a lovely libation spot that isn’t overrun with tourists this is the list for you. Of course we all know if you want good wine we could head to Tuscany, Napa or Champagne, but some of the worlds best wine comes from places around the globe you may have never even heard of–including a local favorite–Door County Wisconsin. So, take your time, peruse the article and call us today to make your next vacation all about the Vino.

Inle Lake region, Myanmar

Aythaya Wine Estate is one of the only two wineries in Myanmar.

Myanmar possesses only two wine estates, both located near Inle Lake, famous for its Intha fisherman who row standing up with one leg while manipulating their conical fishing nets.
A 30-minute drive from the lake into the Shan mountains is the Aythaya wine estate, opened in 1999.
Wine tasting takes place in the Sunset Wine Garden restaurant, where the sun drops over the vineyards for an otherworldly feel.
The Red Mountain Estate opened in 2002, and is the only other winery in Myanmar.
Its 400,000 plants were imported from France and Spain after experiments to determine which would grow best in the hilly region.

Kakheti, Georgia

Located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, Georgia is not known for succulent peaches, but for its grape varieties.
Georgia, the country (not the US state) is one of the world’s oldest winemaking regions.
Archaeologists have found evidence of wine production from 6,000 BC, which has earned it a place on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Kakheti is Georgia’s most famous wine region: highlights include sipping wine at Pheasant’s Tears  in the quaint hilltop town of Sighnaghi.
Rather than producing wine in wooden barrels or steel containers, Georgian-grown grapes ferment in clay jars known as qvevri.
The resulting sweet taste is pleasing and distinct from the usual palate of Western wines.

Brda, Slovenia

The 72-square-kilometer (28 mile) wine region of Brda sits along the Italian border and has been described as a “mini Tuscany” — even the cuisine is influenced by Italy.
An hour’s drive from Ljubljana, most of the vineyards are small, family-run operations, and almost all offer some combination of wine tastings, tours, meals, accommodation and wine sales.
Best way to experience Brda?
A slow, multi-course meal on a terrace overlooking the vineyards.

Douro Valley, Portugal

Douro might be the world's most beautiful wine regions.

Northern Portugal is home to the Douro region and is the birthplace of port wine.
There has been wine production in the region for more than 2,000 years.
The new Six Senses hotel — the group’s first in Europe — presents a renovated 19th-century manor house set high on a hill overlooking the Douro Valley and the river below.
Its highlights include panoramic views while lounging in the pool, or leisurely strolls through the property’s organic garden.

Okanagan Wine Region, Canada

Situated in British Columbia and a 4-hour drive from bustling Vancouver, the Okanagan Wine Region is the perfect place to do a bike tour through a vineyard.
The Fairview Trail Network is a 6.2 mile loop that begins at Tinhorn Creek Winery, where it’s possible to bike through the vineyards and Fairview Townsite, a former Gold Rush town.
Afterwards, enjoy wine tasting at a number of vineyards with a view of lovely rolling hills.

Finger Lakes Region, New York

The Finger Lakes Region of New York State is a 9,000 square mile picturesque landscape of waterfalls, gorges, rolling hills, and miles of shoreline encompassing 11 glacial lakes and one Great Lake.
Visitors can try one of the four wine trails in the Finger Lakes region: the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, Seneca Lake Wine Trail, Keuka Lake Wine Trail, or Canandaigua Wine Trail.
White wines are the main draw, as the Finger Lakes has burst onto the scene with its tasty Rieslings.
The region has more than 100 wineries and is the largest wine-producing region in the US east of California.

Franschhoek, South Africa

Leeu House, an exclusive boutique hotel,  is a new addition to South Africa's Franschhoek wine region.

Located 45 minutes from Cape Town, Franschhoek is gearing up to be South Africa’s next great wine destination.
The valley was originally known as Olifantshoek (Elephant’s Corner) after the huge herds that roamed the area, and is now a premier vino destination in the Cape Winelands.
The new Leeu House is an exclusive boutique hotel with six of the rooms opening to private gardens, and guests can enjoy a complimentary tasting of the Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines.
The Franschhoek Wine Tram offers a hop-on hop-off tour that passes by pretty vineyards with stops at several wineries.

Tenerife, Canary Islands

With its rich volcanic soil, Tenerife, the largest island in the Canaries, produces tasty red and white wines.
The island offers grape varieties that were wiped out from mainland Europe during the Phylloxera epidemic in the mid-1800s.
It also has many vineyards for wine tasting including Bodega Monje  in the North of the island, and Bodega Frontos  in the southern part.
The red Listan Negra is similar to a hearty Spanish wine while the white Listan Bianco is a dry, crisp wine that complements the island’s fresh seafood and shellfish.

Marche, Italy

Percorino is the prominent grape in Offida, home to traditional estates like Ciu Ciu.

Perched in central Italy, Marche offers a beautiful landscape next to the Adriatic Sea, minus the heavy tourism of neighboring Tuscany or Umbria.
Every year, about 18 million bottles of its famous wine, Verdicchio, are sold globally.
In the small town of Offida, Pecorino is the most important grape.
Estates like Ciù Ciù have thrived and maintained a sense of local tradition.

Healdsburg, California

Instead of following in the footsteps of the oft-mentioned Napa Valley vacation, one alternative is to visit northern California’s emerging wine scene in Healdsburg.
Located one hour north of San Francisco, Healdsburg celebrated 40 years of the Wine Road organization last year, where 200 wineries are dotted along the Alexander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys.
The aim behind the Road’s establishment was that decades ago, Napa was the only place to have tastings in the region and Californians wanted some variety.
Guests can join the husband and wife team, Herald and Kirsten Jones, that lead the Wine Country Walking Tours in downtown Healdsburg and taste some of the area’s wines.
They lead the tour with a fun twist on wine tasting while visiting several tasting rooms like Williamson Wines and Stephen & Walker.

Door County, Wisconsin

The “Cape Cod of the Midwest” is the affectionate term given to the wholesome, tranquil lakeside destination of Door County, Wisconsin.
The Midwestern locale has eight wineries that are part of the Door County Wine Trail.
One of the oldest in Wisconsin, Door Peninsula Winery, opened in 1974 and is one of the largest producers in the state.
The area is known for its fruit wines, particularly with locally grown tart cherries.
The Orchard Country Winery produces a number of estate wines from grapes, cherries, apples and other fruits that they grow on their 100-acre farm near Fish Creek.
Ambassador Travel Ltd. | 920.236.7777| ambassadortravelltd.com

Miami Vice

202873-612x450-miamivice_new.jpgWe have explored tons of drinks named after cities on our Thirsty Thursday blog, like the  Long Island Iced Tea, Champagne and Manhattan, but today we are bringing you a new one– the Miami Vice. This deliciously chilly cocktail will get you in the mood to relax on the sunny shores of the Florida coast and maybe fight crime.

What you’ll need: ice, rum, pina colada mix and strawberry daquiri mix. Blend ice, rum and pina colada mix and pour in glass. Mix daquiri mix with ice and top glass. Simple and delicious.

So how did this delicious cocktail get it’s name? The Miami Vice is named after the 80s crime series with the same name. Is this making you nostalgic for putting away criminals all while wearing dress shoes without socks? If so I think it’s time to que up the dvd player and check out some rerunds all while sipping this delicious beverage!

 

Ambassador Travel | 920.236.7777 | ambassadortravelltd.com

When Life Hands you Lemons

shutterstock_84128584.jpgIf you haven’t booked your warm weather vacation yet, now is the time. Need a little inspiration? Keep reading! Today’s Thirsty Thursday will feature everyone’s favorite– the margarita. A traditional margarita is made with tequila, triple sec and lime or lemon juice. The rim is often trimmed with salt. The drink can either be shaken with ice and strained into a glass with ice. This type of margarita is known as on the rocks. It can be blended, often called a frozen margarita and lastly it can be without ice and this style is known as straight up. Margaritas are served in many different style of glasses, but traditionally they are served in what is known as a eponymous margarita glass, which just so happens to look like an upside down sombrero. Ole!

Now that we know how to make this deliciously refreshing cocktail, lets learn a little bit about it’s history. Of course like every drink there are several claims to fame. Some say it was invented in Acapulco, Mexico, Houston or Galveston Texas and a handful of other Mexican cities. I am just going to go over two of the most widely accepted origins of our vacation favorite. One account claims that in 1938 bartender Carlos Herrera created the drink at he Rancho La Gloria between Tijuana and Rosario Mexico. It was said that he made the drink for dancer Marjorie King who had sever allergies to almost all liquor except for tequila. This drink then made its way up to wpid-photo-20140618203227.jpgSan Diego and La Jolla through friends of Herrera.

A second account claims the drink wasn’t invented until October of 1941. Don Carlos Orozco bartender at the Hussong’s Cantina in Ensenada Mexico was experimenting with many different cocktails. One night Margarita Henkel the daughter of the German ambassador came into the cantina. Orozco had her try one of his newest creations and since she was the first to try his concoction he named it after her.

Regardless of what story you believe the most important thing is that the margarita was invented and we get to have them whenever we want. And sure you could make one at home or go to your favorite Mexican restaurant, but we all know a margarita tastes so much better when you’re lying on the beach under the warm Mexican sun.

Looking to book that Mexican getaway now? I know you are, so give us a call 920.236.7777 or visit our website ambassadortravelltd.com to schedule an appointment with one of our Mexico/Caribbean experts.