Red Truck Wines from Sonoma, California this month introduces their new Mini-Barrel. How cute is this little thing!

This ‘ingenious trademark- and patent-pending barrel design complete with rings, a wood grain look and burned-in imagery’ feels like its straight from the winery to your home. The 3L barrel holds the equivalent of 4 750ml bottles of Red Truck’s Red Wine, a blend of Syrah, Petit Sirah, Cabarnet Franc and Merlot. In 2008, Food & Wine magazine named the wine’s 2005 vintage one of the “Best American Wines $15 and under.”

And this large format is considered to be more environmentally friendly than glass due to lighter weight and lower carbon footprint.

Available in March in Sam’s Club stores across the U.S. (one good reason to visit Sam’s) then nationally later in 2009.

I’ve loved this wine’s personality and brand since it came out in 2002 and now another reason to pick them up… Red Truck, White Truck or Pink Truck.

Cheers to Red Truck Wines!

Coming this fall to Britain and the U.S…. Sting, the ex Police man and British rocker, announced he’ll be producing 30,000 bottles of Chianti a year from his Tuscan estate, Il Palagio, near Figline Valdarno.

Sting began bottling this new wine in 2007 … based on the Sangiovese grape with a touch of Cabernet and Merlot… and it should be on shelves in September.

What inspired the effort? His profound concern for the environment. He says, “I always use traditional methods – no pesticides. I am a farmer who looks after the land to nourish it and not to plunder it.”

Sting and his wife Trudie Styler, purchased the 16th century villa, south of Florence, in 1997. The 860 acres already an organic farm produce honey, olive oil, fruit, vegetables and Tuscan salami.

The future plans to bring a Chianti DOC and a Tuscan red.

The wine will also be available at a shop on the property that Sting will inaugurate by June.

You can see Sting on his Tuscan Estate on “Songs from the Labryinth – The Making of the Album.”

Update 14 Oct 2010: also see Sting Opens his Tuscan Farm Shop

Isn’t that one of the buzz words of this recession? Well here’s a way to get it.

Last weekend I rediscovered a travel site from a few years back. Hadn’t been on in a while but quickly remembered how cool it is!
Luxury Link, founded in 1997, calls itself the ‘world’s premier online luxury travel resource.’ It showcases ‘more than 1000 extraordinary hotels and resorts, cruises, tours and villas in more than 60 countries’ with access to exclusive offers and many via auction.

I decided to make a bid on a package in Santorini, Greece… and I won! Check it out…only made 2 bids and saved 60% for an amazing package at Vendema Resort built around a 400 year old winery on this beautiful island!

Package includes 5 nights in a stunning Dorian Apartment with welcome drinks, wine & fruit in room, champagne breakfast daily for 2, 3 hr private island tour on day of your choice, 2 olive oil massages, wine tasting for 2 on evening of your choice, rose petal turndown, shuttle to private beach w/ beach services, taxes and service charges. Only $1,800 for retail value of $4,353.

Gave credit card details, they sent confirmation I won, now I just call the resort directly to book.

I’ll share details after we visit in May!