I created this post in an effort to save everyone some time when looking for a stand alone discount Crested Butte lift ticket deal.  Lots of so-called discount sites exist out there, but there is only one true stand alone lift  pass sale for Crested Butte, and this is it.  There are no Crested Butte coupon codes either.

I was working on updating my discount Telluride lift ticket page when I stumbled upon this killer deal for discount Crested Butte lift tickets.

Insider Crested Butte Lift Ticket Savings Information

To use this special lift pass, you must buy the tickets in advance.  These tickets are valid for everything a ticket you would purchase at the Crested Butte window, they are just quite simply a discount to even the cheapest online rate at the ski mountain’s website.

*********Please read the instructions below about how to find the deal*********

1)  Click any link on this page

2)  Enter “Crested Butte” in the “Where” text entry box

3)  Enter the dates you want to ski or ride

No packages necessary, no add ons, no additional purchases necessary.  Just simply the best discount on Crested Butte lift tickets, period.

**This is the cost chart showing average rates using the discount link within this blog post.  NOTE:  Rates may be higher or lower depending upon the start date of your ski trip.  However, I’ve never seen the rates here to be higher than what is offered anywhere else.

So, you may ask, how much money does it save if I’m going to Crested Butte?

Below is the chart for the biggest discount available for mountain-direct Crested Butte multi-day lift tickets: (Copied directly from www.skicb.com)

So, for example, if you are a traveling party of two adults and want to ski 3 of 5 days while you are at the resort, using my Crested Butte discount link, you’ll spend $496.00.  If you used the best available online rate from the ski resort or other online resellers, you’ll pay $522, or a savings of $26.  Hey, it isn’t life changing money, but it is real and yours!

**Kids and senior lift ticket discounts are also available at the discount link.

This really is the best deal on Crested Butte lift tickets available anywhere. I hope this insider tip helps you enjoy your mountain trip just a little more!

Enjoy your Crested Butte discount lift tickets!

Best of luck, and happy skiing!

The Cork Head

Like most winos I know, we are all suckers for a fairly priced Napa wine, and get especially excited when it is from the famed 2007 vintage.  So, I plunked a couple of them in my 10% discount 6 pack carrier and headed for self checkout.

It isn’t often I use the word “lovely” when describing cabernet sauvignon, but in this case it absolutely fits.  It offered a sound structure for mid-term cellaring, but was soft enough around the edges to please right now.

Over the 2 hours I tasted it, the wine  provided twists and turns as to what it predominantly offered…all I can ask from a bottle priced under $20!

I guess my palate still has it, as I see Wine Enthusiast gave it 93 points.  Certainly one of the best deals around.

Quality, complexity, and varietally correct.  Pick some up and confidently enjoy!

As a Telluride regular, I am always asked about cheap or discount Telluride ski lift ticket sales.  Well, this is the best one available.  I’ve spent hours scouring the internet and local hangouts alike, and I can honestly say this is the only real Telluride lift ticket special on the market.  Coupon codes just don’t exist.  Kids and senior lift tickets are available too!

Rules for Getting the Lift Ticket Discount

You must by at least a week in advance wherever you buy, otherwise you’ll be stuck with window rates no matter what!

With this link, there are no tricks, add ons, or additional purchases necessary.  It simply offers the best deal on discount Telluride lift tickets, period.

1)  Click any link on this blog post

2)  Enter “Telluride” in the “Where” text box

3)  Enter your skiing dates

I’ve included comparison charts below that show that my online rates, (first chart) vs. the window rate, and the ski resort 7 day advance discount rate (second chart).  Compare and save!  Keep in mind my online rates will fluctuate slightly depending upon what time of the season you visit.  However, I’ve yet to see Telluride Ski Resort beat the prices available here.

Rates displayed in the below grid are an average regular season rate. Your rate may be slightly higher or slightly lower depending upon the time of season you choose to travel.

It has been a while since I have had time to post about some of my favorite wines of the year, and I’m glad to have a little now before Monday Night Football to post about what may qualify as my go-to cabernet for 2011.

The folks at Folsom and Associates, the marketing arm for Robert Mondavi Winery, sent me this one a few months ago to give it a test run.  Coming off the staggeringly good 2007 vintage, it has been a while since I tasted something that gave me pause.  This one did.

Retail $28, buy widely available for far less, the 2009 RMW Cab is all it should be:  voluptuous,  with a hearty combination of full ripe tannins, balancing acidity, and complex barrel flavors of cinnamon toast, dark berry fruit, and a whisper of cabernet “sauvage”.

Perhaps one of the reasons I liked it so much is that it barely qualifies to be labeled as a cabernet sauvignon at all, with only 75% of the blend being CS.  Merlot, cabernet franc, and a few percentage points of common blending varietals all come together adding to a wine I just might like a hint better than it’s 2007 counterpart.

High praise indeed.

The winery is one of the great tours in The Napa Valley where hand stacked bottles line natural caves dug by Chinese laborers over a century ago. Schramsberg Winery stands proud as a romantic marriage of then and now.

The 2007 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs, meaning “White from Reds”, is a limited production wine made from pinot noir and pinot meunier, two of the three traditional varietals which make up Champagne. Flavors of strawberry, cashews, and bread dough ooze from this very special wine made from perhaps the greatest vintage in Northern California history.

I absolutely love this wine for a few reasons.  First, every time I open a bottle I remember the first time I visited their historic property.  The indelible visions of their Victorian home and more than a century old history come flowing back with every sip.  2nd, the processes Schramsberg uses harken back to a different era of Napa…one before limousines and publicly traded companies…err..wineries.  As someone who has spent plenty of time in the Napa Valley, I’ve grown to love the wineries with true character, and ignore those who simply spend money in an attempt to create it.

So, the next time you are in the mood to sit back and relax with a sparkler, grab a 2007 Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs.  You’ll thank me for it.

Most important to remember, it is not what is in your glass, it is who you share it with. Great wine always pairs best with friends and family.

Honestly, I’ve just been incredibly busy with my job that pays the bills, being a La Jolla real estate agent. Actually, most of my business recently has been in UTC, North Park, and Pacific Beach. Anyway…

I’ve been dying to write about the 2009 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc since I received the sample early this year.

Clearly it is not the grass bomb of New Zealand, nor does it have the piercing minerality of a Sancerre. What it does offer are aspects of both of these sauvignon blanc stalwarts while offering the distinctly Californian touch of ripe fruit and the most pure streak of lime since you licked the saltless rim of a margarita.

This will be one of the top 5 California whites I taste all year.

Though I won’t be offering a point score for this wine, ( it clearly doesn’t need it) I know I will buy it, drink it, and give it as a gift with confidence!

As a longtime San Diego resident and someone who previously managed beach vacation rentals for out of town visitors, I’ve been asked countless times about getting the best discount San Diego attraction tickets. The below represent what I think are the three best options to save money and enjoy Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, Zoo Safari Park, Midway Museum, and more.

1) The San Diego 3 for 1 Pass

This is probably the most widely known discount pass for the major San Diego attractions of Sea World, San Diego Zoo, and San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly the San Diego Wild Animal Park). It is the best option if you want to visit just these three attractions. You will save 10% off the combined individual ticket price by purchsing the 3 for 1 pass. Adults $129 and kids 9 and under $99 (Family of four $456). **if you click my link and it does not take you directly to the 3 for 1 pass purchase page, simply enter the dates of your travel and type in or select “San Diego” and it will come up for you**

2) The Go San Diego Card

With the Go San Diego Card, the ultra biggies like Sea World, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Legoland, and The Midway Museum are all included, but it just starts there. La Jolla and Balboa Park museums, the new Children’s Museum, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (highly recommended), Belmont Park, and on and on. In addition, the card provides VIP front of the line access and other upgrades at museums, restaurants, and more.

Basically, the card can be purchased to be used for any number of days, but for weekly renters I recommend the 3 day option.

The 3 day Go San Diego Card costs $174 per adult and $134 per child, or a total of $612, or an additional cost of $156 more than the 3 for 1 pass. But, if you use it, you really get a lot of extras. (That being said, by clicking this link you’ll be forwarded directly to the Go San Diego Card purchase site where the cards are often on sale for less.)

The Go San Diego Card gives you choices of what you can do each day. Want to skip Sea World, the Zoo, or the Safari Park and hit Legoland instead? Great. Want to go to Knott’s Soak City waterpark, or my favorite, The Midway Museum? No problem. The card is flexible that way.

The real value in this card is if you are a Mission Beach or Pacific Beach renter. You are walking distance to Belmont Park, where the big rollercoaster is, ($78 unlimited rides family of 4 retail) and The Wave House’s famous Flowrider ($120 family of 4 one hour use retail). Both of these attractions are included in the card’s purchase price.

So basically you get to go to all the big stuff, then come back home to your rental and visit the local attractions, which you’ll surely be visiting anyway, and they are already paid for. Easy. The 3 day card saves a pile of money, gives access to all the attractions most people visit, while leaving ample family time on the sand.

3) Build Your Own Custom Explorer Pass

This is the newest addition to the Smart Destinations line of attraction discount products, and one I really like. It allows you to pick and choose the attractions you want. Sea World is not an option on the Custom Explorer Pass, but pretty much everything else is. Midway Museum, Zoo, Zoo Safari, New Children’s Museum, Belmont Park, Wave House, Miramar Speed Circuit, plus other big museums and attractions can be purchased and added to the card.

If you purchase 2-3 attractions, you save 10%, four attractions saves 15%, and five saves 20% per selection and so on. Basically, the more you buy the more you save.

The other great thing about this option is that you have 30 days to use what you’ve purchased, not just the 3 consecutive days limitations that exist on the other options. So, if Sea World is not in your plans and you want to have a more flexible stay in San Diego, this is a really great new option to choose from.

I certainly hope you enjoy your time in America’s Finest City, and let me know how you used your 3 for 1 pass, Go San Diego Card, or Custom Explorer Pass, and any other deals I can pass along to others!

The Cork Head

Benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego

Music and wine lovers indulge all their senses this spring as Rhythm & Vine returns to San Diego North for a one-of-a-kind tasting extravaganza. Held Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Westfield North County in Escondido, the 3rd Annual Rhythm Vine will feature over 35 world-class wineries, spirits and breweries; 25 restaurants and gourmet foods; and three live musical performances by San Diego’s favorite musicians.

APRIL 9, 2011

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

VIP Admission from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

$75 General Admission ($100 at the door); $125 VIP Admission ($150 at the door).

Must be 21 and older to attend.

LOCATION: Westfield North County

272 East Via Rancho Parkway

Escondido, CA, 92025

35 award winning wineries, breweries, and spirits companies.

25 of North County’s chefs and gourmet food companies.

Spectacular, live performances by singer/songwriter Simeon Flick, classic rock cover band Clay Colton Band and local spirited Flamenco band Espiritu Flamenco.

1,000 wine, food, and music enthusiasts, along with members of the trade and media, coming together to support the Boys Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego.

Silent Auction filled with charitable donations from exhibiting companies.

Exclusive VIP after-party extending past regular event hours from 9:00 – 10:00 pm.

All proceeds benefit the Boys Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego.

For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.rhythmandvine.org

Well, I’m here to tell you that no 3 words could be more accurate than when applied to the 2008 La Follette Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir.  A wine that is nothing short of magnificent. 

Managed by third-generation farmers, the Sangiacomo Vineyard benefits from a daily stream of cool air pulled inland from the San Pablo Bay in the Sonoma Coast.  The resulting wine is freshly fruity, yet impeccibly balanced with tea, a sweet earthiness, and french oak to coax out additional length and harmony.

Mostly what struck me about this wine was it’s elegance.  It absolutely slipps off  your tongue in a way only pinot noir can, yet exceeded any preconcieved ideas I may have had.  This is one of those wines that I receive in the mail from a winery or distributor that made me stop in my tracks, take a step back, and realize why I dedicate so much time to teaching and writing about wine. 

Honestly, I went directly to the grocery store and purchased a beautiful piece of fresh salmon, roasted it in the oven, and served with a few spoonfulls of pesto cream over the top.  It was absolutely perfect.

One more note on concentration.  When my wife and I don’t finish a bottle over dinner together, we know it is a wine with depth and concentration, and this was no exception.  I corked the remaining wine and had it the next evening prior to dinner, but this time with some lofty expectations. 

I was not disappointed. 

Find it.  Get it.  Enjoy it now or age for up to 10 years.

Basically it is a question and answer game.  If you get the question correct, you move on to another random corner of the wine world.  If you are incorrect, it spells out why.  Multiple players may participate or one can study on their own.

I use this CD-Rom all the time to make sure I’m sharp with my global wine knowledge. It has three difficulty levels to grow along with you. Super easy to use, and made for everyone from the beginning wine lover to advanced wine professionals.

Install and running is about as basic as it gets.  Just pop it in your computer, add player(s) names and go.

FIND IT HERE