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!

Everyone has a favorite, and my favorite winery in Temecula is Doffo Winery.

Yes, there are a few wineries in Temecula that produce excellent wines, but I believe Doffo’s great quality is simply apart from the rest.

I don’t know if they have a secret or not when making wine, but I am convinced their success is mainly due to their traditional way of making wine combined with the love and passion they put into the art of winemaking.

When you visit Doffo Winery don’t expect a souvenir shop, a Spa, or a restaurant attached to their business.

Doffo is all about wine and as a wine lover, that’s all I care. Since it is a small family owned winery, you will be welcomed by family members.

That to me is one of the most valuable aspects at Doffo Winery, the fact that you can actually have a great conversation with the family about their wines. You’ll soon feel like you’re talking to an old friend.

But let’s talk about their wines because this summer they released a few gems worth noting.

Let’s start with the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc.

This is the second year they’ve produce this white and if last year’s vintage was excellent, this year promises to be even better!

The nose is bright and fruity with hints of peaches. However, on the palate it delivers an unexpected but delicious taste of roasted almonds.

It is elegant and very smooth with tones of fresh grapefruit.

Let’s move on to the 2008 Syrah.

Ever since their 2005 Syrah, I have fallen in love with this fine wine from Doffo. Their Syrah was a huge success in 2006 and 2007 because of its superb quality and taste.

The 2008 vintage is no exception. Despite being young (just bottled in June), it is a very developed wine with a respectful character; the sign of a great winemaker. Nonetheless, it will improve considerably if stored for a few years.

This Syrah has vibrant tones of currants and berries. It is not heavy on the tannins, but silky and so smooth to drink, with a nice oaky finish.

Another great wine that is becoming a classic at Doffo is their 2008 Mistura, Portuguese for blend. This wine is 60% Cabernet and 40% Syrah.

The Mistura is a big medium-bodied wine with nice tones of blackberries and delightfully peppery. In a year or two you can better enjoy the wine as it will have developed its character.

The newest wine varietal at Doffo is their 2008 Zinfandel.

I can already foresee this wine becoming one of the stars at Doffo (see photo).

With peppery traits and fruity, this Zinfandel is well balanced. Interestingly, this Zinfandel is a bit sweet but without sacrificing the integrity of its zippy personality.

On the contrary, this quality makes it a bit more flexible allowing you to enjoy it with a meal or on its own.

Among Doffo’s repertoire, don’t miss their Malbec and their Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve. And for those who love dessert wines, try their Late-Harvest Syrah and Port.

If you’re visiting Temecula wine country, make sure you stop at Doffo Winery. They are definitely putting Temecula on the world map of wines.

PS: Once there, ask Don Marcelo or Damian to show you their impressive Ducati motorcycle collection. It will blow you away!

Have you been to Temecula? Tell about your experience and favorite winery.

A thriving wine region combined with a picturesque downtown, art galleries, a prestigious college, and cosmopolitan restaurants make Walla Walla, Washington a must-visit for wine lovers.

“There’s just something about Walla Walla.”

This is an assertion we would hear again and again from the locals during our 4-night stay in Washington Wine Country. We heard first-hand accounts from several people who came to visit the town years back and never left.

And, as we walked around and got to know the town, we realized: There is something about Walla Walla.

Every preconceived notion we had about the place was forgotten the minute we pulled into town.

It’s beautiful and charming. Why didn’t anyone ever tell us about this place?

An Overview

The semi-quaint main street is lined with trees and the occasional sculpture. Most importantly, about a dozen or more vineyards have set up their tasting rooms in downtown and the restaurants are delicious, as in cosmopolitan-food-snob-gourmet-good.

Drive around Walla Walla and you’ll soon come across the intellectual heart of Walla Walla, Whitman College. Giant, lush trees and well-preserved Victorian homes surround the campus.  This, without a doubt, adds to the charm and the je ne sais quoi that only a town like Walla Walla could possibly possess.

Ah, the marks of a great wine region!

The Wine

Today, Washington State has over 600 wineries and is the second largest producer of wine after California.

Main building of L'Ecole 41

Located in the southeastern corner of the state, Walla Walla has seen tremendous growth in the wine industry these past 10 years, producing some of the finest wines in the United States.

The reason for this is not only adequate soil and climate, but also the efforts of entrepreneurs who have put all their love and passion into winemaking.

Leonetti, Woodward Canyon, and L’école 41 were the pioneers, starting their wine production in the 1970s and 1980s.

Walla Walla is known for some great reds including (but not limited to) Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah. Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay make deliciously frequent appearances as well, among other white varietals.

Fine Rosé by Reininger Winery

There’s clearly something for every palate whether you’re red or white, sweet or dry. Don’t even get me started on those crisp, dry, fruity rosés that are pressed to impress.

So many wines, so little time. We promise to write about more great wineries and wines very soon. In the meantime, check out Reininger, Sinclair Estate, DaMa Wines, Foundry Vineyards (great art as well), Basel Cellars, Dusted Valley, Skylite Cellars, and L’école 41. And so many more…

The Restaurants

T. Maccarones is somewhat of an established brand in Walla Walla and they own two of the best places to eat in town.

Olive Marketplace & Café is clearly the place to go for lunch. Enjoy a fresh salad on the outdoor patio as you watch the town go by or order a boxed gourmet sandwich to enjoy with a bottle of wine on-site at your favorite vineyard.

T. Maccarones itself serves amazing Italian food with fresh, local ingredients. I wouldn’t be surprised if people drive all the way from Seattle just to eat dinner here. It’s really that scrumptious.

Or, for the “real deal” just off Main Street, visit Salumiere Cesario, Walla Walla’s Gourmet Grocery.

They feature the only walk-in cheese closet in the Pacific Northwest as well as an amazing assortment of true hand cured meats from around the US, made without added nitrites. Did we mention the best Prosciutto di Parma you’ll ever find outside of Italy?

Places to Stay

When visiting Washington Wine Country, you have two lodging choices: a Bed & Breakfast or hotel.

The Marcus Whitman Hotel is the tallest building in Walla Walla and located at the heart of downtown. You can easily walk to any of the shops or tasting rooms.

However, if you’re looking for romance or charm, the Vine & Roses Bed & Breakfast is just a short 5-minute drive from the main drag.

Not only will you enjoy your luxurious suite with a private Jacuzzi tub and a romantic fireplace, but your can rest assured that your wine has a good home in the temperature controlled cellar.

Read all about our stay at this fine B&B.

Honestly, we have mixed feelings writing about Walla Walla. On the one hand, we yearn to tell the world about this gem on the outer reaches of Washington State. But on the other hand, we like the fact that it’s somewhat of an undiscovered secret.

So shhhh… don’t tell everyone!

Do you have a favorite Walla Walla destination or secret to share? Leave a comment!

The Hotel: Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa

The Location: When we’re visiting wine country, we want to stay somewhere boasting location, location, location.

Located in close proximity to downtown Napa (by car) and a skip away from Highway 29, the Napa Valley Marriott Hotel & Spa is nestled at the southern end of the valley.  Hwy 29, by the way, is main road running through Napa Valley wine country.

A trip to the wineries is quick and easy; simply hop on the highway and drive north. Within minutes, you’ll be awe-struck as you drive past never-ending vineyards, many of which you’ll recognize (Robert Mondavi or St. Supéry, anyone?)!

The Ambience:

We found the Napa Marriott Hotel to be a great place to unwind after an arduous day tasting so many wonderful wines.

California casual and very laid-back means there was nothing pretentious or snobby about the hotel.

It was each to his/her own as couples and families alike quietly relaxed beneath the shady porches as they dissected their day.

Some even connected with other guests to pass along handy Napa wine tasting tips.

There’s a $7 million renovation happening as the Napa Marriott brings their 247 rooms up-to-date.

We stayed in the renovated part of the hotel which was elegantly modern and very comfortable.

The Room:

Our spacious junior suite was a fabulous break from the real world… as if just being in Napa wasn’t already enough.

The suite is comprised of a bathroom (with 2 doors), bedroom, living room area, and a wet bar/kitchenette that has a fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, and sink.

Let’s not forget to mention ample storage space with two large closets… I like to think of it somewhere to store all that wine so it doesn’t sit in your car!

Typical of Marriott hotels, our King-sized cloud in the sky (the bed) gave me the best nights of sleep I had in weeks. The mattress was cushy and the bedding out-of-this-world.

I’ve never been inclined to actually buy what they sell in those hotel catalogs, but I’m seriously contemplating the down comforter and duvet.

Each morning I’d step into the hotel slippers, wrap myself in the plush bathrobe, brew a cup of coffee, and read the paper on the couch before making my way to the Concierge Lounge for breakfast.

Oh, the life!

The Bathroom:

If you really want to know… The bathroom was big (sorry, no Jacuzzi tub to brag about) and the Bath & Body products smelled divine.

If you need to dry your hair, you won’t find one of those sorry-excuse-for-a-hair-dryer things permanently mounted next to the sink. Instead, check in the closet and you’ll find a real hairdryer with real power and a retractable cord (oh so up-to-date!) hanging in its own black bag.  This may not sound like a big deal, but if you have a lot of hair, it’ll make you a happy camper when time is precious in the morning.

The Amenities:

Concierge Lounge: If you can upgrade to get Concierge Lounge access, it’ll be well worth the money by breakfast! Not only is the lounge a great place to relax, they also serve:

• Continental breakfast- Eggs, oatmeal, delicious fruit, and fresh squeezed orange juice are a few of the highlights.

• Wine and appetizers- If you don’t get enough wine visiting the vineyards, they serve wines (from Beaulieu Vineyards when we visited) along with cheeses and a different featured dish each night (one night it was pasta with a chicken marinara sauce).

• Dessert- Stop by before you go to bed for some sweets (chocolate cake both nights during our stay), fresh strawberries, popcorn, or pretzels.

• Always available- Bottled water, sodas, Starbucks coffee, and Tazo tea.

There’s also a pool area, fitness center, and the world-class Spa at Napa Valley Marriott. Check out our video for more…