SONOMA COUNTY, Calif., Oct. 23, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Affairs of the Vine is going to South America for an unbelievable 12 days of wining and dining! We will visit top wineries in Chile and Argentina, touring, tasting and dining. We invite you to experience this Adventure in Wine with us.
To follow our sensory journey as we sniff, swirl, sip and savor the flavorful wines and culinary offerings, visit http://www.affairsofthevine.com/adventures.html and click on Taste South America with Affairs of the Vine.
We will post our new experiences every 48-72 hours so keep checking back for updates.
We are so excited to taste the wines, study the influence of `terroir' and climate, and to understand the viticulture and winemaking techniques utilized. To fully enjoy wines and understand them, there is nothing like reaching out and touching the vineyards and the cellars.
Lisa Strout, Affairs of the Vine Food Editor, is very excited about our gastronomic journey. "South American cuisine is a blend between the traditional foods of the indigenous peoples and the influences of the European immigrants. I am anxious to try some of the meals the wineries are preparing for us," Lisa states. "I know we'll experience some of the best examples of the latest cuisine from this corner of South America.
"I'm looking forward to what the locals eat too. In Argentina, the parrillada is ubiquitous; a dish of different cuts of beef -- including parts of the cow we aren't used to eating -- intestines and udder; the dish is sometimes served with chimichurri, a sauce made of herbs and spices. In Chili, seafood is king, but not just what shows up on our dinner plates. No, no Chilean sea bass or salmon for me. I'm anxious to try the conger eel and large barnacles. When in Santiago...
"I'll be happy to share with you my observations about the food and dining habits we experience. Now, if I could just share the weight I'm bound to gain."
We also look forward to getting to know the people and the culture. We want to learn all that there is to know in the short time that we'll be there. Do you think that there's time to learn to tango?
This fabulous exploration has been organized by Billington Imports.