Hi Reader,

This month took me from California wine country to vetting new partners and planning fall trips in France and Italy, and I came away with a few things worth sharing. Starting with a plate of Santa Maria tri-tip, pinquito beans, and cornbread at Paso Robles Inn.

If you haven’t had this combo, add it to your must-eat list. It’s my favorite BBQ in the country because, well, it’s from my home state and simply delicious. It’s California’s Central Coast in a bite, and you won’t find it anywhere else.

Where Cowboys Sip Cabernet

Do you know Paso? It’s a Central Coast town where the wine is the entry point but not the whole story, by a long shot. The Paso Robles tourism board invited me to talk to local partners about where wine country travel is headed and I loved being a part of their world for a quick moment.

I’ve watched this town grow while keeping all its charm, and there’s always something new. Right now, everybody’s buzzing about The AVA Hotel. The restaurant inside, EMRE, is run by Chef Julien Asseo, a Paso kid who came home after running the two-Michelin-starred Guy Savoy in Las Vegas. Grace & Rose was also highly rec’d by all the locals. I didn’t get to try this trip, but am definitely heading there on my next trip (which is to the Farmers & Makers event in September, FYI).

Oh, and Big Sur has finally reopened all the way along the coast, and, well, Paso is just inland from the route. So if you’ve been thinking about a California road trip, this is the place and the moment.

The French Wine Trip That Isn’t Provence

Parade recently asked me to weigh in on Bordeaux versus Provence, and I loved the question because so few Americans have Bordeaux on their radar. What surprises people most is the range. Everyone thinks it’s just wine country, but, like Paso, that’s just the start.

You can do oysters on the Atlantic at the Bay of Arcachon in the morning, a vineyard lunch in Saint-Emilion by afternoon, and a Michelin-starred dinner on the Garonne at night.

The key is to use the city as a home base. It’s vibrant, it’s two hours from Paris on the TGV, and it’s quietly become one of our most-requested wine regions for summer 2026. That shift kind of says it all.

Why September Might Be Italy’s Best Month

Boating along Lake Garda with the light going golden. Hopping among tiny Piedmont villages with a glass of Nebbiolo. Sailing through the Gulf of Naples to Ischia. All September and many of my favorite memories in Italy.

You kind of get to have it both ways in the early fall. Up north, it’s full harvest time for olive oil, wine grapes, mushrooms, and, if you’re lucky, the first truffles. Our clients love booking somewhere like Casa di Langa in Piedmont and mixing visits to mom-and-pop producers with show stopping meals like Piazza Duomo.

Down south, it’s the Amalfi Coast without the crowds and the heat. Like, say, hiking the Path of the Gods and having our guide introduce you to his farmer friends, who will absolutely invite you in for a tasting or a meal. If Italy this fall has been on your mind, now’s the time.

What I’m Watching: Tucci in Italy

Speaking of Italy, FYI, season two of Tucci in Italy just dropped on Disney+ and Hulu, and it so delivers. Five episodes cover five regions, including Naples, Sicily, Le Marche, Sardinia, and Veneto. If you’re even a little curious about Italy right now, this will push you over the edge.

START PLANNING YOUR TRIP →