After self-reflecting for a few weeks, I thought a lot about if I was to die tomorrow, would I be happy with everything I had done. Had I ever lived my "dream?" I realized that although my life had been interesting, the answer was "No." Think about it, what would you do before you die? Where would you go? What would you see? Who do you want to meet? I took the chance and "released" from "real life" to see what was out there. It is a right that we all have. I know many people have traveled to "find themselves" and though that was not my intent, it happened. I did something that no one can ever take away from me - something for myself. For the first time in my life I did not have a plan, was selfish and it felt great. The first thing I packed was a wine key. This is my European story: 42 cities, 14 countries, in 80 days - solo and unplanned.

I have a passion to travel, but what do you do when you can't get away? This is my journey to "get away" and write while staying at home. I took the time to educate myself and readers on the love of booze and all its glory. What started as a way to kill time became quite an adventure. After writing my first book (The Right to Release: A Trail of Empty Bottles Across Europe), I needed to find a creative outlet during a return stint to the restaurant Biz after traveling through 42 cities in Europe for 80 days. The outcome was a blog called Swig Knowledge. It served as a way for me to "travel" and learn without leaving the country again. At first, I didn't know if anyone was following, but at the end of one year of blogging about liquor, beer, and wine from all over the Globe, Swig Knowledge has over 4,500 followers in over 100 countries throughout the World. I hope you enjoy the 2011 version of Swig Knowledge and always know what you drink.