Cheryl's Travel Blueprint

🍷 Episode Show Notes Sip & Tell: Wine, Travel & Connection with Maria “The Wine Blonde” Valetta Wine doesn’t have to feel intimidating—and this episode proves it. 🍇✈️ In this conversation, Cheryl sits down with Maria Valetta, better known as Maria The Wine Blonde, to talk about wine as a gateway to travel, culture, connection, and unforgettable experiences. Maria is a certified sommelier, global traveler, Vegas food-and-wine insider, published author, and wine educator known for making wine approachable, fun, and unintimidating. Together, we sip, swirl, and explore how wine can help us slow down, connect more deeply, and quite literally travel the world through a glass. During the episode, we taste wines from Master the World, a woman-owned company offering curated blind-tasting kits that allow you to explore global wine regions without committing to full bottles—perfect for learning, experimenting, and entertaining at home. 🥂 What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to taste wine confidently (look, sniff, swirl, sip—no snobbery required)How to tell if a wine is “off” and what to do at a restaurantWhy dry Riesling deserves a second lookCommon food & wine pairing myths—debunkedWhy sauce matters more than protein when pairing wineHow to talk to a sommelier without feeling awkwardMaria’s favorite wine regions around the worldUnderrated wine destinations most travelers overlookWhy wine is one of the most powerful connectors of people, place, and memory🌍 Wine Regions Discussed Douro Valley, PortugalBordeaux & Saint-Émilion, FranceRioja & Galicia, SpainPiemonte (Barolo & Barbaresco), ItalyWalla Walla Valley, WashingtonGreece (Assyrtiko & indigenous varietals)England (emerging sparkling wine regions)🍇 Connect with Maria Follow Maria for wine education, travel inspiration, and effortless entertaining tips: 👉 Instagram: @mariathewineblonde 🧭 Companion Blog: Discover Lesser-Known Wine Regions Love uncovering places beyond the usual wine routes? Cheryl’s companion blog dives into lesser-known wine regions around the world—perfect for travelers looking for authentic, uncrowded, experience-driven destinations: 👉 https://nostalgictravelco.com/multigenerational-family-vacation-blog/ ✈️ Ready to Plan Your Own Wine or Culinary Adventure? If this episode has you dreaming of vineyard views, tapas crawls, and immersive food-and-wine travel, Nostalgic Travel would love to help you craft a journey that’s as meaningful as it is delicious. 🍷 Drink what you love. 🌍 Travel with intention. 💬 Share this episode with a fellow wine or travel lover—and don’t forget to subscribe. Cheers! 🥂