As the largest island in the Mediterranean with 25,711 sq. kms (9,927 sq. miles), Sicily has always been an important cultural crossroads of western Europe. Much of Sicily’s unique appeal and rich character is thanks to influence from Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek, Norman, Arab, Albanian and Aragonese people living, conquering, and journeying through its land.

This incredible diversity can be seen and tasted in the delicious local food and wine found throughout Sicily. With so much to discover, we’ve narrowed down the top natural wine tours and producers to visit while traveling in Sicily. …

One of the most important aspects of understanding orange wines is that they are in fact a wide-ranging category of macerated white wines, not one singular style of wine.

Just as all white wines don’t appear or taste the same, and just as reds vary greatly from light to full-bodied, “orange” wines are not created equally.

Rather, these amber, gold, copper, or sometimes pink-hued (and all shades in between) wines are unique and indicative of their winemaking approach, grape, terroir, and aging method.

They are not limited to a handful of select countries or famous producers. In fact today, many…

Working remotely, or becoming a nomadic entrepreneur may not be for everyone — however, a sabbatical should be.

What is a sabbatical?

“ Noun: a break or change from a normal routine (as of employment)” Miriam-Webster.com

A break from the daily grind can be for as little as 2 weeks or span more than 2 years. The length is not crucial — leaving your comfort zone is.

Timing is everything, so let’s look at the best possible times to pursue a sabbatical.

Windows of Opportunity To Take A Sabbatical

1. Job Transition — carve out time after leaving one job and before starting your next one.
2. Company Sponsored…

You Are What (And Who) You Listen To

Few things have a greater impact on human emotion than sound. Beginning in the womb and continuing throughout adulthood, most of us live enveloped in a world of noise, music, and of course speech.

Over time, some sounds become so familiar that they go virtually unnoticed, merely existing as the background noise of our daily lives. Others, however, call out to us so profoundly, that they cannot be ignored.

Sound Is Personal

For better or for worse, these inescapable audio waves can scare us, amuse us, and even make us question our lives. The outcome is ultimately different for everyone. …

Now, perhaps more than ever, we need each other. We need the support of individuals and communities to keep moving forward together — despite the stark reality tearing us apart.

The events of 2020 have made it vividly clear that we are all, in fact, global citizens. We’ve seen that the action or inaction of segments of our population can impact those thousands of miles away — in unimaginable ways. Not only are we responsible for proactively protecting our collective health and safety, but also for improving each other’s lives, in any way we can.

While many aspects of daily…

When I embarked on my Italian wine journey nearly three years ago, I could have never imagined having to face a worldwide health crisis here in Italy, or anywhere, for that matter.

Rather than recount grave tales of the current quarantine situation, I wanted to share what I’ve only now realized my fellow Italian citizens have taught me.

Life Is Unpredictable

It’s been said a million times before, but now, more than ever, we need to remember that we cannot predict or control every aspect of our lives. As an American, this is something I’ve found very hard to accept. …

Drink Great Wine, No Matter Where You Live.

It’s not always easy to find small production, natural, biodynamic wines in your local wine shop. This is especially true if you don’t live in a large city or primary wine market. Luckily, with the help of the internet, natural wine delivery is now a reality.

I’ve tracked down the best online shops that specialize in small production, handcrafted wines from around the world, especially Europe.

Most of the recommended wine shops sell solely natural wines, except for some larger stores where you can simply use their filters to locate the natural wine selections.

Nearly all of the online wine…

No matter what country you’re in, shopping for natural wine can be a daunting task.

Every country has different labeling laws (& languages), and wine shops categorize wines in a myriad of ways. Many people default to seeking out the certified organic logo, as their only guiding light.

Unfortunately, government-issued organic logos are a very limited indicator of a natural/low-intervention wine. Depending on where you live, organic logos can even be misleading, as qualifications vary greatly by country and region.

Complicating it more, many natural producers have chosen not (or cannot afford) to obtain government certifications, despite the fact that…