Tag Archives: WINE BEER COCKTAILS

A Day in Tuscany: Organic Winery and Local Food at Il Vecchio Maneggio

Tuscany agriturismo entrance featured image

I’m taking you along on my adventure through Tuscany, a place famous for its picture-perfect landscapes and deep history. But there’s a twist – we’re going eco-friendly. We’ll also see why their food and wine just taste different (in a good way!) and learn why picking organic and local stuff isn’t just a trend—it’s a choice that’s better for us and the planet. Spending the day at Il Vecchio Maneggio is more than just eating and drinking; it’s about making decisions that help keep our earth healthy.

Winelover lane at Old Oaks Winery- featured image

Exploring the Charms of Old Oaks Winery in the Quad Cities

Old Oak Winery is a beautiful spot on 400 acres of rolling hills. We just moved here, so we don’t know much about the wine region, Self-described as the Napa Valley winery of the Midwest, the winery prides itself on an array of wines blended with grapes from their own vineyard as well as from Napa Valley. Actually, I had no idea they even had a vibrant wine region here in Illinois. With that said, it turned out to be a great place to learn about Midwest wine and grab something good to eat as well.

Lavender Crest Winery red velvet- featured image

Tasting Notes: The Story of Lavender Crest Winery in the Quad Cities

Lavender Crest Winery in Colona, Illinois, is a good spot to savor lunch and a glass of wine. However, following my visit, I’m left pondering the winery’s legitimacy. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the wine flight I ordered—it was pretty good. And we discovered a bottle that suited both our palates. The problem occurred when our server seemed less versed in the wines and couldn’t answer any of our questions. She took our order, handed it to the bartender, and left us to our own devices. Having had such a delightful time at Old Oaks Winery in Milan last week, we decided to explore another local winery.