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The story of wine is deeply intertwined with the story of all of recorded human history. Follow our timeline to see how wine grapes have taken root in every continent except Antarctica. The Oldest Winery Is Founded In Ancient Armenia What we know of to be the oldest winery is founded in ancient Armenia. The site was discovered in 2007 by UCLA researchers. The Pharaohs Rise To Power In Egypt The pharaohs rise to power in Egypt. They begin making a wine-like substance from red grapes and, due to its resemblance to blood, use it in ceremonies. During this time, the Egyptians come in contact with Jews as well as the Phoenicians. It would be the Phoenicians who would cultivate the wine and begin to spread it around the world. Wine Was Drank At Least 3,700 Years Ago In Northern-Israel…

Traveling to a country with a culture that is unfamiliar to you can be eye-opening, overwhelming, incredible, and sometimes uncomfortable. Your giant backpack, cry for help at the train ticket machine, and map-fumbling don’t exactly help you blend in, either. Here are some tips to look like, and hopefully be, less of a cliché tourist. Observe everything Traveling to a country with a culture that is unfamiliar to you can be overwhelming. Step back and experience the culture you’re surrounded by. Take the time to people-watch, whether you’re sitting in a cafe, wandering in a grocery store or taking public transportation. Understand that every local has a different history and life experience, and you are there to observe without judgement. Prepare, prepare, prepare This is important. Of course, prepare for your trip by budgeting everything and listing out the sights you want…

Port and Vinho Verde may be familiar to you, but have you ever heard of Castelão or Fernão Pires? These are just two of the many grapes that are native to Portugal, and not grown much anywhere else. Today we will introduce some of Portugal’s grapes and growing regions so you can get started on your wine-drinking explorations. What’s on the Label? Somewhere on a bottle of Portuguese wine, you’ll likely see the words “DOC” and “Vinho Regional.” The country is carved up into 14 different regions, whose wines fall under the “Vinho Regional” category. Within these regions, various DOCs (that stands for Denominação de Origem Controlada) have stricter laws and more particular geographic boundaries, which will generally—but not always—translate to higher quality. You’ll also see the word quinta on the label—this is what the Portuguese call a wine estate. Producers also tend…

Do you have a damp, dark basement that would be a great bachelor pad for a zombie? The dark, clammy, creepy atmosphere is perfect for growing mushrooms. The easiest mushrooms to grow at home are white buttons, oysters, portabellos and wine caps. If you love the taste of mushrooms and are considering growing your own, just be sure to pick a variety you like to eat a lot of. Mushrooms don’t grow from seeds like plants. They start as dust-like spores that are released from the gills under their caps. Mushrooms spend most of their life as mycelium, a network of moist fibers that use powerful enzymes to penetrate wood or other organic materials. Mushrooms take in carbon dioxide and oxygen while plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Materials rich in carbon—like wood—break down more slowly and…

When you put in the time and hard work to grow your own food, you want to make sure it tastes good. Not much is better than snacking on strawberries that taste like candy. And nothing is worse than breaking your back in the garden for months, only to bite into a bland tomato come summer. Fortunately, there are steps you can take throughout the growing season to ensure a sweet and flavorful harvest fit for the finest gourmet restaurant. Choose the Right Variety Although the grocery store only offers us a few options, most fruits and vegetables come in hundreds of varieties. One of the greatest joys of gardening is eating food you can’t get anywhere else. Some of these varieties are inherently sweeter and more flavorful than others. You won’t get to know your favorites until you try growing them,…

The past is known through the collective memory. The very notion of identity is connected with what lingers, distinguishes and is remembered. In this context, we invite you to a small trip through the History of Vineyards and the Wine in Portugal: Although wrapped in many doubts and myths, it is thought the vineyard was cultivated by the first time in the valleys of Tejo and Sado, around 2000 years BC, by the Tartessian.. The Phoenician, around the 10th century BC seized the trade of the Tartessian, including the wine. It is thought maybe the Phoenician brought some grape varieties, which they introduced in Lusitânia. In the 7th century BC the Greeks settled in the Iberian Peninsula and developed the viticulture, giving particular attention to the art of making wine. It is believed that in the 6th century BC the Celts,…

Instead of heading to big chains or restaurants that tourists flock to, get the real experience. Eat like a local and discover the local culture through food. Read on to find Portugal Farm Experiences 5 best tips to do just that. Thus, have a delicious, and authentic experience. Tip #1: Do Your Research While sometimes going with the flow when traveling is your best bet, doing your research can help when figuring out what to eat. Learn about the local delicacies in the place you are traveling to. Read up on what’s in season or about traditional dishes. Tip #2: Shop like a local Although it is easy to eat out every day while traveling, it can get old fast, and not to mention expensive! Instead, head to the local supermarkets. Walk up and down the aisles. Check out the food sold…

The corporate world is quickly catching on to the needs and values of the growing millennial workforce. In order to attract, engage, and retain employees of this generation, Forbes.com says that businesses must be aware of their desire to be involved with philanthropic causes. This means that orgs, like yours, already have an entire generation of customers eager to support your mission. What is important now is to make sure that they are aware of who you are, what you do, and how they can get involved. Here are our tips on how to do just that. 1. Be present on social media Because millennials rely heavily on peer recommendations, user-generated content is one of the biggest influencers on their purchasing decisions. This means that your activity will garner more interest, credibility, and customers if there is buzz about it online. One way…

  More than a century ago, the Futurist movement sought to disrupt the very foundations of social life through “courage, audacity, and revolt” with their pledge to “sing the love of danger, the habit of energy and fearlessness.” Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Futurists turned their attention to food, in an attempt to shift our most fundamental perceptions of eating. In one of the most controversial passages of a wholly controversial book, Marinetti’s Futurist Cookbook outlined the rules for a perfect meal. Some of these include: The invention of appetizing food sculptures, whose original harmony of form and color feeds the eyes and excites the imagination before it tempts the lips. The abolition of the knife and fork for eating food sculptures, which can give prelabial tactile pleasure. The use of the art of perfumes to enhance tasting. These and other rules would be used…

Buzzwords like ‘sustainability’ and ‘sustainable tourism’ are becoming more and more common. But they can be opaque to the average person. If you need clarity, you’re not alone. Thankfully, the concept of sustainability is straight to the point. In short, it all centers around sustaining resources or avoiding the depletion of resources — whether environmental, economic, or cultural. That said, sustainability can be practiced across many sectors. There is sustainable fashion — where clothing is made in a way that is kind to the environment and its workers. There is sustainable development — where communities in need are given infrastructure in a way that doesn’t erode their natural resources. And then there is sustainable tourism. Definition of Sustainable Tourism Sustainable tourism is a way of traveling and exploring a destination while respecting its culture, environment, and people. Common sense says that this is…

  Agritourism, or farm-based tourism, is already a staple for many farmers in the Lower 48 but is relatively new in Alaska. But with a growing number of farms across Southcentral Alaska, including on the Kenai Peninsula, some are capitalizing on public curiosity about what it’s like to milk a goat or harvest peonies. That comes with a range of benefits and costs, said Margaret Adsit, the owner of Alaska Farm Tours, a tour company based in Palmer. In a presentation hosted by the Kenai Soil and Water Conservation District on Thursday, she explained that setting up a farm for regular tours can take a variety of forms and levels of complexity. Some farms host events like weddings, while others are as simple as having people walk through and pick their own produce. “It’s any time you’re trying to bring…

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is one of Europe’s most beautiful and cosmopolitan cities. Set over a series of hills near the mouth of the River Tagus, it’s a place inextricably linked with the sea. Intrepid navigators embarked from here in the 15th and 16th centuries to sail unknown waters and chart new lands, and the legacy of this golden Age of Discovery underpins much of the city’s culture and heritage. Lisbon is a colorful and vibrant destination. Renowned for its warm and sunny disposition, the city is blessed with a wealth of historic monuments, world-class museums, and a host of other fabulous things to do. You can explore the narrow streets of the old quarter, stroll the riverbank promenade, or wander through verdant parks and gardens. In fact, enjoy Lisbon like the locals do, at an easy and unhurried pace,…