This sounds like the ultimate TravelPlusWine adventure! Fortunately, for those of us who can’t be in wine country at the moment, there’s a way to live vicariously through others.

The Three Thieves is a new hour-long television show featuring three wine entrepreneurs on a quest to discover exciting new wines. It debuts tonight at 8pm on the Cooking Channel.

Winemaker and Three Thieves star Joel Gott ensures this isn’t your average sip-and-swirl television show. Joel and the other two thieves, Roger Scommenga and Charles Bieler, worked hard with the Food Network to create a show that mixes in what’s exciting like scenery, food, people, and wine.

The first episode of Three Thieves takes viewers to Chile. The idea, Gott explains, is to visit and explore, so people see and experience what’s out there in wine regions around the world.

Three Thieves sounds like a great show for travel and wine lovers, so check it out!

Have you ever wanted a live, behind-the-scenes peak at what’s sizzling in the kitchen at a gourmet restaurant?

If so, La Terrasse in Bern, Switzerland should be on your travel and culinary radar. Starting in January, chef secrets will be streamed directly to an iPad at your table!

What’s the idea behind this? Chef Gregor Zimmerman explains, “Guests can now feel that they are a part of the whole cooking experience, and still have an intimate dinner.” You’ll be able to say a quick hello, send your compliments to the chef, or offer constructive criticism right from the comfort of your table.

You’ll also be able to use the iPad to digitally browse the gourmet menu or to take a look at the historical guest book, dating back from 1936. Look carefully and you’ll find comments from Grace Kelly and Fidel Castro!

La Terrasse is part of the luxurious Bellevue Palace, a hotel known for its class, great service, and prime location in Bern’s city center.

(Photo Credit: Bellevue Palace)

The key to a successful wine tasting adventure is to never go hungry while staying hydrated.

Here are a few TravelPlusWine recommendations:

1. Always eat a good meal before wine tasting

Whether you’re wine tasting in the morning or afternoon, it’s important to take the time to eat a healthy and filling lunch.

Wherever you decide to eat, in a restaurant or packing your own picnic, giving wine a rest for an hour or two while feeding your stomach can help make your wine tasting experience a pleasure.

So, keep your wine loot closed if your having a picnic or decline the wine menu in a restaurant!

2. Stay hydrated

Your body will thank you for drinking enough water while wine tasting. My personal (albeit, very unscientific) approach is to drink equal amounts of wine and water. Keep a cooler with bottles of water in the car or limo and after each winery, drink a bottle.

3. Snack Ideas

I’d also recommend packing a bag or cooler with snacks to munch on between wineries. Here are a few of my favorite protein- packed wine tasting snacks:

Yogurt:

Rich in protein and calcium (and delicious), it has become a must-have in my wine tasting cooler. Chobani Greek Yogurt is thick, creamy, fruity and does a great job coating your stomach if it isn’t meal time.

It’s easy to carry, but don’t forget your spoon!

You can also give it to your kids to keep their mouths and stomachs occupied while you’re wine tasting! I’m just sayin’…

Hummus:

This is another source of protein that won’t take up too much room in the cooler. Dip a few veggies or crackers into the container in between wineries.

Nuts:

Don’t be a wine tasting nut with an empty stomach… I go nuts when I’m hungry. I suggest keeping a bag of nuts in your purse, pocket, or car to munch on whenever you feel the need.

Do you have any wine tasting snack tips? What’s your favorite thing to eat?

(Chobani Greek Yogurt was sent as a sample, although the opinions expressed here are uniquely our own)

Love travel? Love wine? Love bacon? Love Napa?

How about a combination of everything? You can find it all at PRESS Restaurant in St. Helena, California.

But check this out… PRESS Restaurant is unique in that it doesn’t just offer bacon on the menu, it actually features a Bacon Bar!

Here’s a look at what you might find at this distinctive bar:

Hobbs artisanal (applewood-smoked) bacon ($3) from San Francisco Bay Area is smoked two full hours longer than usual; applewood smoke gives it balanced salt-sweet flavors, firmer texture, and a more delicate smoke character than most.

Nueske bacon ($5) – an extra-smoky bacon from Wisconsin with a dense, meaty texture – earned the 2009 Gold Award from the Specialty Food Association, and has been acclaimed in Saveur and Cuisine magazines, the New York Times and Chicago Tribune. For the Bacon Bar, PRESS chef Stephen Rogers cuts it extra thick to show off tender leanness; he also adds it to green vegetables for an explosion of savory flavor.

“Candied” bacon ($4) – Hobbs is also the base for the house’s special Candied Bacon, which PRESS processes with raw sugar and Dijon mustard. The contrasting sweet, salty and savory flavors are a bacon lover’s dream.

But, you haven’t seen or tried anything until you check out their long and comprehensive wine list… all 39 pages.

Order by the glass, bottle, or spring for 1.5 liters. The variety and price point is yours to choose from because they literally have it all. Just in case you forget, the PRESS Restaurant wine list is a not-so-subtle reminder… this is Napa.

And yes, Chef Stephen can whip up vegetarian dishes as well.

Next time you find yourself playing wine tourist in Napa, you know where to eat…

Sit back, relax, and literally watch the world and your worries melt away at The Melting Pot. Their new Gaslamp location is the place to go for relaxing, quality conversation with family and friends.

You can’t beat being at the corner of 5th & E St. in downtown San Diego!

The décor is warm, pleasant, and inviting while still managing to be elegantly modern. If you’re on a date and want a more intimate setting, be sure and ask for a booth for two upstairs on the mezzanine.

The menu is designed to satisfy any and all fondue lovers. Their latest Pacific Islands menu has infused sweet, spice, and fruitiness into the fondue experience.

The best way to approach the menu is to ignore the calories and order all four courses. Start with a cheese fondue, then order a salad, choose your meats & cooking style for the third course, and finish off with a decadent chocolate fondue.

Vegetarians can rest assured there’s always a vegetarian entrée and bouillon on every menu. Just keep in mind there’s only one cooking style available per burner.

The wine list is extensive, mainly featuring the bigger labels from around the world.

We appreciate how their list is set up, ranging from light sparkling wines to dry full intensity reds.

If you’re just beginning to appreciate wine, checking out the wine list is a good educational experience.

Definitely consider the Big Night Out tasting menu which pairs three wines with the main courses.

The unique feature of this particular restaurant is the mezzanine bar area with fondue burners! Check out their amazing Happy Hour and Weekly Specials.