Travel Writing

Most wine region guides list cellar doors and tasting notes. But years working in my father's winery taught me the real story: the February decisions about shoot thinning, the soil composition that shapes regional character, the economics of cellar door margins versus wholesale. That depth—understanding systems, not just surfaces—shapes how I approach every destination.

Six research trips to Japan, progressing from basic phrases to reading restaurant menus and understanding regional food culture. Months in Italy exploring the architectural differences between Tuscan hill towns and Venetian planning. Time in France tracing how terroir shapes both wine and cheese production. I meet local makers and craftspeople, study both natural landscapes and built environments, and return to places multiple times to see how they change across seasons. I travel with others and alone—both shape what I notice and what I write.

I write for readers planning trips and for armchair travellers who want to understand a place. Either way, the approach is the same: immersive research that captures not just what to see, but why it matters—the food systems, design traditions, natural environment, and what makes neighborhoods distinct.