Check out a little behind the scenes with Marissa Ross, this woman who’s taking the wine world by storm (read: living the dream?) Grab a glass and get comfy.

 

 

As with all my stories and adventures, we naturally start at the wine shop. My current favorite is Psychic Wines in Silverlake.

My Away suitcase I will be living out of for the next three weeks (starting in Palm Springs) and magnums of three of my favorite wines.

My husband hates being in photos with me, and judging by this photo so do my two dogs, but if there's one thing we can agree on, it’s that we ❤road trips.

When I was really little, my dad always told me the long stretches of windmills along the freeway were actually propeller farms for planes, which still makes me smile.

 

 

It took all of ten minutes before we made ourselves at home in the backyard of our desert rental. There's no where in the world I'm as happy as I am in Palm Springs.

When you're trying to pack a whole summer into a single three day weekend, you need new swimsuits. And that’s exactly what me and my good friend/total babe Grace Piro Delia did.

Sometimes you actually get dressed in Palm Springs. This is one of my favorite outfits. Not only does it reflect my favorite palate but it also reflects my ethos when it comes to my wardrobe – sustainability and ethics are key.

 

 

Dead or Alive is the only place to get natural wine in Palm Springs. It's a great wine bar if you're looking for a place to get a good glass, but they sell bottles to go too! 

Dead or Alive also has a great sense of humor, as showcased by their vintage inspired tee. 

After a few glasses and grabbing a bottle, I advise you to go to Mr. Lyons for dinner. This classic Palm Springs steakhouse has vibes somewhere in between The Great Gatsby and The Shining - in a good way! 

Make sure to slide behind the curtain and slip into Mr. Lyon's secret(ish) bar for cocktails while you're there. I got a Gibson. I'm into Gibsons now.

 

 

Traded my suitcase of bikinis for one full of sweaters and headed to Vermont to profile winemaker Krista Scruggs. Highball Social is a delightful bar focusing on highball cocktails and is owned by Sass Stewart. Hell yes to female entrepreneurship! 

My last day in Vermont was spent tasting all of Krista Scruggs' wines, which are some of the most innovative and well-crafted wines coming out of the states today. I love my job.

Back home for two days. One day I took this delicious and spritely bottle of Julien Pineau's "Bocca di Rosa" Cabernet Sauvignon rosé to visit with my dear friends and badass women in wine Amy Atwood and Isabelle Legeron. The other day I went to 3.1 Philip Lim to get something to wear for the Primetime Emmys. Hilariously it only took me leaving television and writing about wine to get invited.

And the next day, I was trudging back onto the runway to fly off for Feast Portland to host panels and events for another four days. I've been home for two weeks now, and somehow am still living out of that damn suitcase.