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Each year, the Great Wine Capitals Global Network’s “Best Of” Wine Tourism Awards offers hospitality leaders a chance to strut their stuff and compete toe-to-toe with
other wine tourism businesses from around the world. The competition consists of seven categories: restaurants, accommodations, architecture, parks and gardens, art and culture, innovative wine tourism experiences, wine tourism services and sustainable wine tourism practices. And, it comes as absolutely no surprise at all that many of the winners are right here in our own backyard.

Accommodations: Auberge du Soleil
Oh, Auberge du Soleil. It's always popping up on “World's Best” lists. If hotel properties were people, AdS would be the Queen herself.
www.aubergedusoleil.com

Wine Tourism Restaurants: The Napa Valley Wine Train
The only Bay Area restaurant on rails. Why can't BART serve elegant wine-paired meals? Wait, scratch that.
www.winetrain.com

Architecture, Parks & Gardens: Chateau Montelena  One-time owner Yort Frank designed the grounds to reflect the Chinese gardens of his homeland.
www.montelena.com

Art & Culture: Clos Pegase
The folks at Clos Pegase call their winery a “...temple to wine and art.” Sounds good to us.
www.clospegase.com

Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences:    St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery  From behind-the-scenes cellar tours to live music under the stars, this is a winery that thinks out of the box. Get it? “Box?” 
www.stsupery.com


Wine Tourism Services: California Wine Tours
The only hard part of wine tasting used to be finding a designated driver — now it's choosing between Cali Wine Tours luxurious vehicles. Party bus, limo or personal car?
www.californiawinetours.com

Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices: Quintessa
This winery takes a holistic farming approach and visitors get a crash course in biodynamism and the importance of sustainable practices. Oh, and they also get to try some very lovely wines.
www.quintessa.com 

Dressed just like one would expect of a stylish New Yorker - complete with straightened hair and skinny black pants - Christian Siriano’s diminutive frame seems like an unlikely vessel for his voracious personality. Chatting over chocolate at a recent book signing event for Siriano’s “Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self,” we covered everything from Twilight (“No, no, no… I can’t get caught up in this Twilight craziness!”), to building a brand, and his boyfriend singer Brad Walsh (bradwalsh.com).

Stemming from his success on the hit show Project Runway, Siriano has of late, been a whirlwind of creative energy, lending his artistry to everything from a makeup line at Victoria’s Secret (which sold out almost immediately) to his recent collaboration on the “Fierce Mamas” Maternity label.

“A lot of people don’t understand that being on a reality TV show is the best way to build a brand,” divulges Siriano. “It’s different right now. The economy is different. People are not just buying what every magazine tells them to buy. You have to have a presence or people don’t care.”

Siriano’s presence is larger than life; between his makeup line, maternity line, shoe line (for Payless), a book and showing in Bryant Park, it’s a wonder that he has time to sleep. “I have a team,” Siriano points out. “I have great assistants, and a designer assistant, so that helps.” Smiling, Siriano adds, “I don’t do it all myself. No, no. I don’t sew anymore.”

Siriano did, however, manage to squeeze in some time to develop his book, “Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self” after his famous win on Project Runway. “I thought it would be really fun. It’s kitschy, and about fashion. It’s not serious. It’s supposed to be funny and light-hearted,” explains Siriano. “It’s so fashion! I love clothes, I love makeup… I love all those things. So I wanted it to be for the young designer, artist or dreamer.”

If the “Fierce Style” isn’t enough Siriano for you, just wait; In lieu of his success, Bravo TV is currently filming a reality show featuring the young designer. “It’s very cool, very me,” said Siriano. “It’s me starting up a business. It’s what a designer’s life is like. It’s not manufactured in any way.” Which will be a breathe of fresh air compared to other reality TV shows … ahem “The Hills.” The new reality show will feature normal everyday things such as Siriano spending time with his boyfriend and family, as well as the craziness that ensues during fashion week.

Next on the horizon for Siriano… a well deserved break. “After this book tour I am taking a break,” sighs Siriano. “No more projects unless I’m offered ten million dollars, then we’ll see.” Knowing Siriano, it’s only a matter of time before he surprises us all with other fashionably fierce endeavors.

(You knew we had to throw “fierce” in there somewhere!)

For a stylish, light-hearted read:

You can find Christian Siriano’s “Fierce Style: How to be Your Most Fabulous Self,” co-written with Rennie Dyball of People Magazine at Amazon.com