The final countdown is underway and by noon tomorrow (London time, 6am Eastern time), Kate & William will be married!  They’ll depart Westminster Abbey in a fairy-tale carriage for Buckingham Palace for the first of the day’s two parties, The Queen’s Reception followed in the evening by Prince Charles’ party.

Before the celebrating begins, at 1:25pm the Prince and Her Royal Highness the Princess William of Wales will appear on the Palace balcony for their public kiss!

Sounds like the perfect moment to pop a bottle of champagne! And why not a bottle of what’s being served at tomorrow’s events? Pol Roger!

The non-vintage choice of Pol Roger is breaking with tradition and causing quite a stir as it’s their first appearance at a royal wedding. The usual royal champagne of choice is Bollinger. Their 1973 Vintage was served at Charles and Diana’s wedding. But Pol Roger is reasonably priced at $50 a bottle allowing everyone to partake in the new tradition!

Cheers to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!

Easter in Tuscany sounded perfect… and why not use this long weekend to finally visit Cortona, the quintessential hilltown made famous by Frances Mayes’ Under the Tuscan Sun! The medieval tower standing above town on the hillside, the 16th century Medici fortress at the top of town, the steep narrow streets and alleyways you wander as you ascend to the top.

Although we awoke to a snowy morning, it was one of our most memorable and eventful Easters! We started the day with a walk up the winding streets to Santuario di Santa Margherita for mass, by now in what had turned to pouring rain. Along the way I somehow spilled a full bottle of water in my purse… that was fun cleaning it out in the rain on one of the hilltown’s walls. Made it to church on time for the ninety minute mass in what was a very cold church. But who can complain when you’re sitting in an Italian church listening to Italian?

After mass, we headed down to Ristorante Preludio (Via Guelfa 11) for what would be one of the biggest and best meals we’ve ever had! Luwanda, at our hotel Villa Marsilli, reserved us the last table, small and by the front door, for this Italian feast. Sitting in their Renaissance palazzo setting surrounded by local Italians, our fabulous waiter Mirco lead us through this 6 course dinner.

• First: Tomato Puree Soup with Olive Oil and Crostini paired with a Champagne Aperitif
• Second: Tuscan/Umbrian Antipasta including Quiches and Spinach Polenta paired with Pinot Grigio
• Third: Pici Pasta (yummy thick spaghetti like) with Mushrooms and Ravioli stuffed with Pumpkin Butter Creme Sauce
• Fourth: Lamb Crusted with Herbs and Baked Potatoes paired with Vino Nobile de Montepulciano
• Fifth: Pork Medallions wrapped in Bacon & Onion with Baked Stuffed Artichoke
• Sixth: Chocolate Bomb filled with Dark Chocolate & Nutella drizzled with Strawberries and Blood Orange Sauce paired with a Muscato.

By the end of course five, I literally couldn’t eat another bite. Mirco brought over a Grappa digestivo, while it tasted like rubbing alcohol, it amazingly gave me room for dessert  and espresso. It truly was a gastronomic feast!

We rolled back to Villa Marsilli to enjoy the jacuzzi tub and views of the Valdichiana countryside and Lago Trasimeno. The staff at this lovely four star hotel situated just as you enter town is fantastic! Each evening they serve up cocktails, like the “bomb martini,” we enjoyed by the fire.

Cortona is full of history. It was settled before the Etruscans (who Tuscany is named after) around 8th century BC but the Etruscans put it on the map. The area is full of their sites.

While we didn’t enjoy a lot of outdoor cafe time this trip, I can imagine the streets and Piazza Signorelli bustling with people in the warmer months. We enjoyed roaming the streets of cute shops. Via Nazionale, the only flat street in town, is the main thoroughfare. Galleria Il Pozzo (10/12), located in 11th century courtyard excavated well, has great art and treasures. We picked up lovely ceramics at Ceramiche D’Arte (N.A. Vallone, 50) including a Christmas ornament with Cortona’s city symbol.

Two other fabulous restaurants we enjoyed during our weekend…

• La Locanda (Piazza di Pescheria, 3): Yummy Spinach & Bean and an amazing Ribollita Soup. In nice weather there is a balony overlooking the main piazza.
• La Grotta (Piazza Baldelli, 3 ): Dine on delicious homemade pasta in the stony grotto like rooms. We loved the Spinach & Ricotta Balls and Eggplant Parmigiana.

Visit the gallery for all the photos from our trip. It was a true Italian Easter Under the Tuscan Snow!

But what is organic wine? and which one do you chose? It’s a complicated topic because wine production has two parts…in the vineyard and in the winery.

Organic at its core means only natural ingredients are used…no synthetic chemical use (fertilizers, pesticides, additives). Organic involves standards on growing, storage, processing, packaging and shipping. And organic requirements are different from country to country.

As wine production has two parts… the vineyard (grape growing) and the winery (fermentation, bottling)… there are two ways for wine to be organic. A wine can be “made with organic grapes” which means organic practices were used in the farming and growing process like Bonterra Organic Vineyards wines. This is the most common. Or a wine can be “organic wine” like Frey Vineyards which uses organic growing practices AND the winery process is free of additives and preservatives, like sulphur dioxide used to preserve the wine (i.e. contains sulphites). This issue of wine preservation is what makes ‘organic wine’ so tricky as currently the only effective preservatives that allow wine to last for a long period of time are ‘non-organic.’

My view? Organic growing is a great place to start!  That’s what we get when we buy organic in fruits and vegetables. And if you can make a good wine without sulfites, that’s even better. Although I haven’t tried one. I need to pick up a bottle of Frey and see how they’re tasting these days.

Tried any organic wines you’d like to share? Whole Foods has many options. Bordeaux has a list of options on their site.

Pick one up and Cheers to Earth Day!

I love the warmer weather in Paris, especially at night, as there are so many things to do. Here are my MUST GOs for a fun night out:

Sunset Cruise

• What could be more romantic than a cruise down the river Seine at sunset? At the end of Île de la Cité (isle with Notre Dame) is Pont Neuf (also a spectacular pedestrian bridge) where you can catch a variety of tour boats for a one hour ride along the Seine. Check sunset time for the evening and schedule your boat trip accordingly. Show up a bit early to grab a bottle of wine from the vendor before you board, grab a seat outside, pop the cork and drink in the views. Les Vedettes du Pont Neuf and Bateaux Parisiens are great options.

Dinner & Jazz

When in Paris, live jazz one evening is a must! Jazz has been a staple in here since the 1920s.

• Left Bank: Start with dinner in the Latin Quarter (5th Arrondissement). I love walking through this little district and finding a place for dinner. While a bit touristy in parts, every cuisine is on offer from French to Italian to Mexican. There’s always a great vibe to enjoy … perfect spot for dinner outside! Then head over to the St-Germain des Prés (6th Arrondissement) for live jazz at L’Arbuci (25 rue de Buci).
• Right Bank: First stop is a fine meal in the Bastille Quarter (11th Arrondissement) at Brasserie Bofinger (5-7 rue de la Bastille), Paris’ oldest brasserie since 1864. The classic French brasserie serves up classic bistro dishes. We took my Mom here for her 60th birthday. Then headed over to Les Halles (1st Arrondissement), for a fun night of live Jazz at Au Duc des Lombards (42 rue des Lombards) in this quaint club with velvet seats and great acoustics.

Cocktails in Style

• Ritz Paris is THE luxury hotel in Paris. While we may not all be able to enjoy a stay, we can enjoy a cocktail! My girlfriend and I had a great time one night all dressed up after dinner in The Ritz Bar, the place for a trendy Parisian night. Across the foyer is The Bar Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway’s favorite bar, now restored to its original appearance with rich wood panelling and leather arm-chairs. Enjoy a famous original cocktail from barman Colin Field.

* Up for a show…there’s always Moulin Rouge.

For more to do in Paris visit my April in Paris post.

Vive la Paris!

‘This is a feeling’…says the song. And while fabulous in spring, any month in Paris is my favorite!

Rather than rehashing the standard ‘top sites to visit’ list every travel book gives you (my go to book is DK Eyewitness Travel Top 10 Paris), I’ll share with you my Paris MUST GOs. These are the spots I love to visit again and again.

* Montmartre: (18th Arrondissement) This highest point in the city is home to the beautiful Sacré-Coeur basilica and is a great neighborhood full of history for spending a leisurely afternoon.

• Place du Tetre: After enjoying the sweeping city views from the basilica’s steps, stroll over to the old village square, Place du Tetre. The once Bohemian neighborhood of poets and painters like Renior, Picasso and van Gogh in the late 19th and early 20th century, today is full of local painters and artists displaying and selling their work. Cafes line the square offering a great spot for wine, a cheese plate and watching people go by. Down rue Norvius at rue Poulbot is Le Tire Bouchon, a must stop for the live piano music, ambience and crepe or aperitif (don’t forget to tack up your business card).
• Moulin de la Galette: In the mid-18th century, Montmartre was a French wine region that rivaled Bordeaux and Burgundy with over 50,000 acres of vineyards. Over 30 windmills stood to press grapes and grind wheat. Moulin de la Galatte on rue Lepic is one of two windmills still standing. Today only 2,000 vines remain producing 1,000 bottles annually.
• Pigalle: At the bottom of Montmartre you’ll be in Pigalle, a fun place for the evening. Once home to Paris’ cabaret and dance halls including the famous Moulin Rouge (means red windmill and is as old as the Eiffel Tower from 1889) where you can still enjoy an evening of entertainment.

* Marais: I love spending an afternoon in the Marais (3rd and 4th Arrondissement or district), especially a Sunday when most areas of Paris are closed. Stroll around Paris’ oldest square, Place des Vosges, aristocratic houses and art galleries. Enjoy coffee or an aperitif at a café in the arcade. Then head down rue des Francs Bourgeois browsing the shops and scenery. Stop for lunch or early dinner at the awesome bistro Le Gaillac (24 rue Francs Bourgeois) for a leek salad, baked ham with a side of lentils and a nice glass of French red wine.

* Louvre & Opéra: (1st and 9th Arrondissement) This is the center of many people’s visits to Paris as its home of the Louvre and has lots to offer.

• Opéra de Paris Garnier: You can’t miss this beautiful structure at the end of Avenue de l’Opéra. If you don’t go for a performance, pop in for the interior beauty. I love sitting at one of the many cafes across the street (Café de la Paix in the Inter-Continental or Le Relais Paris Opéra) and watching the world go by.
• Musée du Louvre: If you’re planning a trip to the Louvre, quick tip…there’s a ticket machine unknown to most, and you don’t have to wait in the potentially l-o-n-g ticket lines! It’s located in the Carrousel du Louvre (the shopping area underground)…enter off rue de Rivoli (across the street from Hotel du Louvre) and you’ll find it on the landing after the first 2 sets of escalators down. Café Marly, in the Richelieu wing of the Louvre, is great anytime of day for a bite or drink. My favorite spot is under the arcade overlooking the glass pyramid.
• Tuileries Gardens: Especially gorgeous in spring and summer, it’s the quintessential park for a stroll. Late summer features a carnival with the giant ferris wheel (take a ride for great views of the city). Any time of year get yourself a Nutella filled crepe at the booth as you enter the gardens off of Place de la Concorde.
• Place de la Madeleine: The 52 Corinthian column la Madeleine church sits in the middle of rue Royale. Stop for a REAL French toast breakfast at Ladurée and their famous macaroons (corner of rue Royale and rue St. Honoré; if there is a long line, it’s usually for pastries so walk right to the front for a table). The flower market surrounds the church Tuesday through Saturday and visit the high end specialty food shops Hediard (founded in 1854) and Fauchon (THE Parisian grocer) across the street.
• Avenue de l’Opéra is also has my favorite hotel, Hotel du Louvre. A bit of a splurge but a lovely Parisian spot! One of our stays was on the top floor with two balconies overlooking the Louvre, rue de Rivoli and Arc de Triomphe in the distance. A great spot to grab dinner across the street is Café Ruc. And up the street is the French department store / grocery Monoprix, where I love to by cute outfits for all my friend’s kids.

Tomorrow An Evening on the Town and a photo tour of the city.