Travel Secrets Monsoon Issue 2016 | Page 36

Name: Prachi Bhardwaj City: San Francisco, USA 3 gifts I would pick: Wine, chocolates, and artistic memorabilia Wine Take it from a resident: There are not many items you can buy in San Francisco that are considered inexpensive. Fortunately, thanks to the abundance of California vineyards, our wine is. Our proximity to the greatest vineyards in the country means that our wine is superior in quality, exported to the finest restaurants, and collected by wine enthusiasts around the world. Take a trip up to the Mondavi vineyards, for example, and learn about the red and white wines they make. Then take a bottle—or four, for you and your loved ones. My Secret: Plan to check a bag in if your travel involves a flight. The biggest problem that wine-purchasing tourists run into is that they are unsure about how to take their bottles home. Wineries often have a service that safely delivers your bottles of choice to your home, so be sure to ask the associates in the tasting room if this is an option! Otherwise, bring an extra bag, and nestle your bottles into a bed of clothes before checking it in. 36  Travel Secrets monsoon issue 2016 travelsecretsmag.com