Lauren Mowery

Charleston

Founder and Editor-in-Chief at Azure Road

Contributor at Food & Wine

Contributor at Forbes

Writer at Freelance

Wine + Travel @Decanter. Freelance writer/photographer for @Forbeslife. Master of Wine student #travel #wine #food

Articles

The Journey: Bohème by Mekong Kingdoms

6 days ago | azureroad.io | Lauren Mowery

“Bohème offers a rare blend: design-driven comfort and access to one of Southeast Asia’s least-touristed interiors.”Laos isn’t known for big-ticket luxury, which makes Bohème all the more unexpected. This river’s largest ship, launched by Mekong Kingdoms in December 2024, reimagines travel along the Upper Mekong not as a spectacle, but as a deeply considered experience.
Of Craft and Humanity: Tracing the Modern Silk Road through Uzbekistan

1 week ago | azureroad.io | Lauren Mowery

“Craft is function. Craft is beauty. It’s our shared, common life. Something to be held. Touched. Used.”Tashkent greets us not with romance but with Soviet blocks and the sterile malls of modern capitalism. Dust and the brazen late-summer sun cast a muted glow over the city. I search for a story in a photograph, but the streets hide their secrets. After the earthquake of 1966, much of the old heart of Tashkent was paved over. Our bus slows near an alley.
8 Iconic Global Coffee Drinks to Try Before You Die

1 week ago | foodandwine.com | Lauren Mowery

Credit: F.J. Jimenez / Getty Images To paraphrase a line from a famous American doughnut chain, the world runs on coffee. Originally from Ethiopia, coffee plants and beans traveled across continents, eventually earning a spot alongside tea as an essential daily drink. Along the way, every culture put its spin on the caffeinated beverage, whether through high-pressure machines or the addition of sweeteners or frothy, steamed milk.
8 Coffee Orders That Every World Traveler Should Know

1 week ago | flipboard.com | Lauren Mowery

Tea For Constipation: How It Works, Limitations & Teas To Start WithFeeling constipated is never fun, but it's something people of all ages deal with from time to time. When you're backed up, it can feel like nothing …
The Gritti Palace Updates Its Culinary Program with MAD Academy

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Lauren Mowery

The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice, has long played a prominent role in Venetian history. Built in 1475 as the residence of Doge Andrea Gritti, the palazzo overlooks the Grand Canal, directly across from the Santa Maria della Salute basilica. It was converted into a hotel in the late 19th century and later became part of The Luxury Collection, a portfolio of distinctive properties under Marriott Bonvoy.
A Stylish Arrival In Chiang Mai: InterContinental Raises The Bar

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Lauren Mowery

Chiang Mai may be known for its temples and mountain backdrop, but its hotel scene has long felt behind the curve — especially compared to Bangkok or the islands. That changed with the late 2023 opening of the InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping. This isn’t a surface-level rebrand. It’s a full transformation of a decades-old city property into a polished, design-forward hotel that reflects the creative evolution of northern Thailand.
The Bite: Hubs Single Origin Peanuts from Virginia

4 weeks ago | azureroad.io | Lauren Mowery

Production & ConsumptionDiversity and InclusionCommunity SupportHubbard Peanut Company, known as Hubs, is a family-owned business in southern Virginia that has built an outsize reputation on quality and consistency since 1954. The company’s latest release — the 2025 batch of single origin redskin peanuts — reflects an emphasis on local sourcing and deeper community partnerships.
The Top 10 International Cities for Coffee, From Melbourne to Milan

1 month ago | foodandwine.com | Lauren Mowery

Photo: Courtesy of Proud Mary The search to identify the best coffees in the world gained momentum 40 years ago,when a group of coffee professionals founded the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCA) to uncover specific countries, regions, farms, and lots growing and producing the best beans and brews. The wine industry has leveraged the romance of vineyard scenery, tales of family legacy, and the influence of terroir to position wine as a pleasurable, sophisticated drink.
In Search Of A Gentler Tuscany: The Story Of Ampeleia Winery

1 month ago | forbes.com | Lauren Mowery

From its hillside perch in the Colline Metallifere, Ampeleia Winery looks out over a patchwork of woodlands and olive groves. On early autumn mornings, fog gathers in the folds below the vineyards before lifting with the sun to reveal distant ridgelines. To anyone who has toured wineries in Tuscany, the setting rings of the Italian hinterland. The red-tiled rooftops of the medieval village of Roccatederighi, within view of the winery’s terrace, a handy giveaway.
In Search Of A Gentler Tuscany: The Story Of Ampelaia Winery

1 month ago | forbes.com | Lauren Mowery

From its hillside perch in the Colline Metallifere, Ampelaia Winery looks out over a patchwork of woodlands and olive groves. On early autumn mornings, fog gathers in the folds below the vineyards before lifting with the sun to reveal distant ridgelines. To anyone who has toured wineries in Tuscany, the setting rings of the Italian hinterland. The red-tiled rooftops of the medieval village of Roccatederighi, within view of the winery’s terrace, a handy giveaway.