Latest Blog Posts

November 6, 2026

Wine Etiquette: 10 Restaurant Wine Rules Every Woman Should Know

A sommelier’s guide to restaurant wine etiquette: how to order, check the bottle, taste the first pour and enjoy every glass with confidence.

Maria The Wine Blonde choosing a bottle in a restaurant wine cellar
November 3, 2026

Abruzzo, Italy Travel Guide: Wineries, Restaurants & Hotels

Two hours from Rome, Abruzzo stretches from snowcapped mountains to Adriatic beach towns. Here is my insider’s guide to the wineries, restaurants, wines and hotels worth knowing.

Maria The Wine Blonde with a glass of red wine above the vineyards of Abruzzo
September 7, 2026

Best Wine Bars in Las Vegas: Where to Sip, Swirl, and Stay Awhile

Consider this your guide to the best wine bars in Las Vegas.

May 19, 2026

The Best Rosé Wine to Drink Now

Rosé isn’t a season. It’s a state of mind. What was once dismissed as a poolside pour has quietly become one of the most expressive, food-friendly, and stylistically diverse categories in wine. From the mineral precision of Provence to the sun-soaked spirit of California, rosé today is less about color—and more about style, atmosphere, and the experience surrounding the glass.

people holding up their Rosé wine glasses to cheers
April 30, 2026

The Best Fine Dining Wine Lists in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is the place to go big—and the wine lists prove it. At the city’s top restaurants, the wine lists go deep—Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and beyond—with a level of access that’s hard to find elsewhere. These five restaurants have some of the most expansive wine lists in the city, with something for everyone and for every occasion.


Maria Valetta
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Maria The Wine Blonde

Maria Valetta is a certified sommelier and WSET Diploma graduate exploring the world through wine, travel, and style.

Her work brings together destination, dining, and designer style—offering a perspective that is both refined and approachable.

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