I love fun wines and the personality behind them, so I was excited to try MERF Wines Cabernet Sauvignon a few weeks ago. All too often I feel like wine is either stuffy and boring or kitchy product designed to draw you in with a label but ultimately lacking the quality product to make you want more. I've been a fan though of Columbia Valley wines from Washington State since they generally have a fantastic quality to them that is almost a part of the lifestyle. David "Merf" Merfeld's product continues this so we wanted to get to know him a bit more. Here's his thoughts on travel, food, and why he switched from brewing to winemaking.

A Champagne toast seems to be the icon of welcoming in the New Year or really just celebrating pretty much anything. There is a sort of excitement when you pop open that bottle of bubbly and so it's no wonder that it has been the drink of choice when it comes to a celebration. However, much of what we consider in the United States as "Champagne" is really just "Sparkling Wine" and to complicate things further that's not the only bubbly wine out there for us to enjoy. Let's take a look at some different types of bubbly wines that you can enjoy during your New Years celebration!

Despite the fact that wine is almost exclusively marketed towards women in the United States, I know you guys enjoy a great wine. There's no time like the holidays to start celebrating this amazing gift of the gods and so I've decided to curate a collection of 25 different wines (and some spirits as well). We're going to feature a new wine or spirit each day, so make sure to check back daily and follow on Facebook between 3-5pm PT each day for a new selection.

Sideways is one of the greatest Guys Weekend movies as far as I'm concerned. It's raw and fun - without being stupid and silly like tends to be the the case all too often. Most of all though, it highlighted one of the most fabulous parts of the country - the Santa Ynez Valley, including Santa Barbara and Solvang. This is an absolutely gorgeous part of California that is located just far enough away from Los Angeles to be a different world... but still close enough for a quick getaway. Let's take a look at how you can walk in the footsteps of Miles (Paul Giamonte) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church).

When it comes to mancation in Australia, Melbourne is surely a great choice of destination for all those men who are looking forward to have some fun with their friends. Melbourne has an urban setting, luxury hotels offering upscale amenities, great outdoor activity opportunities and even unique golf settings. Here are some top ideas for your next mancation in Melbourne.

Despite the fact that I love all things wine and enjoy visiting new wineries for a tasting, at home I'm honestly not much of a drinker. As a result, no matter how much I LOVED that bottle of wine at the wine tasting, it's likely that it will be weeks or even months after I come home that it will be opened. Even once opened, sadly there are too many bottles that have gone to waste. I know that I'm not alone in this challenge though, so I thought it might be time to share some wine wisdom. Hopefully this helps save precious wine from being wasted!

One of my favorite parts about traveling is experiencing new foods. There's an unspoken sense of truth and honesty that comes only by experiencing what a different culture loves to eat and drink. That's true when you travel overseas... but it's also true even while traveling through this country as I did a few weeks ago during a road trip through North Dakota.

The phrase "It changed my life" might be an exaggeration in some instances, but Columbia Crest's Crowdsourced Cabernet program has made a big impact on my life over the past year. Prior to this experience I had a very limited appreciation for wine and the complexities that went into producing it. Through the "Crowdsourced Cabernet" project though, I've gained a huge new appreciation for wine generally and red wines specifically. Now I am thrilled to announce that the vintage that we've helped create is available now to enjoy! I opened my first bottle earlier this week and I must say... we did a great job!

North Dakota is a natural wonderland filled with tons of great natural as well as urban adventures to discover. After a long day exploring history sites and museums, I can't think of much better than relaxing a pint of local craft beer. Luckily, I can do that in North Dakota! It's no surprise that as one of the top wheat producers that they are experiencing a boom in micro-breweries as well. Along with small-scale wineries and a handful of distilleries, this is a region that you won't want to miss.

Last fall I was privileged to be invited to tour Columbia Crest winery and help out with the mixing process for the 2014 Crowdsourced Cabernet™ Sauvignon while checking on the recently harvested 2015 crop. Well... now it's almost ready. The community has created what I'm sure is one of the finest wines ever developed through harnessing the collective brain power of thousands of people across the country. While the wine will be available in June - you can pre-order it starting today, through Feb 29.

You may think you've got time since Valentine's Day is still a couple months away but Christmas can be romantic occasion too, as can New Years Eve! One thing that I'm always a fan of us doing a plate with assorted cheeses and other items along with a favorite bottle of wine. The folks over at Whole Foods Market agreed to share some of their knowledge and hooked us up with three amazing cheese and three bottles of wine.

So do you like wine?  I think most adults enjoy a glass or two of fine vino at dinners or social events.  Its a nice way to unwind and relax from the day's stresses add a little music and now its a party.  What if you could do a little run at a great destination and then enjoy a great Wine+Music Festival?  Well next month on 21 Nov 2015 you have the opportunity to do just that!  

Columbia Crest winery has been in operation for just over 30 years and in that time it has helped transform the Columbia River area of Washington State into one of the top wine producers in the world. It's a little strange maybe that when you think of the West Coast and wine, it's typically California and specifically Napa, Sonoma, or even Santa Barbara area. No one told these guys though, but through scientific research winemakers here discovered that the soils and environmental conditions had world class potential.

Last year, Columbia Crest opened it's doors and invite the community to help create their new vintage, the 2014 Crowdsourced Cabernet. This year, they are taking it to the next level with a contest to hire a "Crowdsourced Cabernet E.C.O.". Honestly, this is pretty big thing for what otherwise is an extremely conservative industry.

Now there is no excuse that you cant find the "perfect wine" since with this opportunity you'll be serving as the ambassador for the online crowdsourcing community as we all work together to create the 2015 Crowdsourced Cabernet!

Come on guys - Most of you will probably be drinking beer or whiskey today, but the truth is wine is actually a super manly beverage as well - even though it is sometimes more marketed towards women. Vivino though is working to change this and has created a quiz to help us identify the perfect wine for your individual tastes!

The Crawford Hotel, Denver’s newest independent luxury hotel located inside the revitalized Denver Union Station, has partnered with two of the Mile High State’s top independent wine and spirits makers - Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey and Infinite Monkey Theorem - to offer exclusive new “Colorado Curated” packages.

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey is one of the first whiskeys made in Colorado since Prohibition ended. Master Distiller Rob Dietrich sources primarily local Colorado malted barley for fermentation and distillation, and the spirit is then cut with Rocky Mountain water.

Are you lucky enough to have a partner that loves beer almost as much as you do? Well then I've got a great Valentine's Day gift suggestion for you!

Frankly though, they have a lot more than stuff for the women in our lives and you will have as much fun shopping as she will in receiving it. Of course, if you are lucky, she will remember this place when it comes time for your birthday or fathers day since it has some great gifts for guys too!. 

It's time to raise your glass and celebrate the holidays with a toast among friends! BourbonBlog.com, ChickVacations.com, FlowSocialMedia.com, and I have joined up with other bloggers and brands who agree to celebrate the holidays and the arrival of the new years with a world-wide social media virtual toast and we want you to join us as well.

Wine vending machines, delicious pizza, and good friends to share it with - what more do you need in life? That's exactly what I found at San Diego's Toast Enoteca & Cucina when I visited there a couple weeks ago and we had a fantastic dinner that would be equally good as a "date night" or as a place to hang out with the guys after a Padres game.

San Diego is an awesome town that is sometimes forgotten about or dismissed as simply a surf town, but what I have discovered over the past year is that there is an incredible amount of awesome things to do here beyond the beach including touring some of the almost 100 craft breweries, exploring vineyards in nearby Temecula and Romona, as well as visiting the Zoo, touring historic military ships and some of the best burgers and tacos in the country.