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

Ten Reasons To Visit Luang Prabang In 2025

1 week ago | forbes.com | Lauren Mowery

Aerial photograph of UNESCO heritage town of Luang Prabang in Laos, South-East Asia. gettyLuang Prabang, a UNESCO-listed town in northern Laos, has attracted intrepid travelers for decades with its blend of traditional Lao and French colonial architecture, myriad temples, and slow pace of life. Part of its appeal: Laos is home to more than 50 ethnic groups and boasts a cuisine (and heritage crafts!) that reflects such diversity.
Burgers, Bacon, Brunch: How A Napa Valley Winery Courts Younger Drinkers

1 week ago | flipboard.com | Lauren Mowery

Lazy coffee heir who lives in huge mansion goes on Land Rover rampage through streets of San FranciscoA San Francisco nepo baby went on a rampage in his Land Rover and fled from police, cops say. Austin Hills, 45, who is the heir to the Hills Bros. …
Burgers, Bacon, Brunch: How A Napa Valley Winery Courts Younger Drinkers

1 week ago | forbes.com | Lauren Mowery

Chocolate tasting at Priest Ranch in Yountville. Priest RanchThe U.S. wine industry is confronting a generational slowdown. For the third consecutive year, volume sales declined, and early 2025 numbers suggest the trend is continuing. According to Silicon Valley Bank’s annual State of the U.S. Wine Industry report, younger consumers are not replacing the Baby Boomers who once drove premium wine sales, especially in the Napa Valley wine market.
Why Jules Taylor Still Loves Making Wine After 25 Vintages

1 week ago | azureroad.io | Lauren Mowery

Jules Taylor didn’t sketch out a five-year plan. She didn’t start with Sauvignon Blanc. And she didn’t name her label after herself to become the face of a brand. But somehow, 25 vintages later, that’s exactly what happened. What kept her going wasn’t growth or recognition but the work itself. The chance to be outside, to keep learning, to make something that speaks of place. In her words: “We make an okay living. We’re still married.
Brixen Might Be Italy’s Best-Kept Secret — Here’s Why You’ll Want to Stay

2 weeks ago | azureroad.io | Lauren Mowery

Most people pass by Brixen. Trains push south toward Verona or Milan, and the highway hums with travelers aiming for bigger cities or ski resorts. But if you step off at this small station in the Isarco Valley, you’ll find something else entirely: a town that’s lasted more than a thousand years without losing relevance. Brixen — also called Bressanone — is the oldest city in the historical region of Tyrol.
Father’s Day Gift Guide 2025: 7 Standout Napa Valley Cabernets For The Collector Dad

2 weeks ago | forbes.com | Lauren Mowery

Ridges of fir, oak and pine trees overlook the floor of Napa Valley as the morning fog rolls in. gettyNot all Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is built the same. Prices are higher than ever, but after a sluggish year in the luxury wine market, clarity is setting in: the producers who prioritize site, structure, and longevity are the ones worth watching. These seven wineries consistently deliver Cabernet that holds up, both in the cellar and on the table.
Why Verlasso Salmon Is Worth Trying Today

2 weeks ago | azureroad.io | Lauren Mowery

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to try Verlasso salmon. The shipment was part of a Heritage Steel chef demo (more on that soon!), but I finished the hour-long cooking class just as intrigued by the fish as by the pan. As a longtime lover of salmon — and someone well aware of the fish’s environmental baggage and the sketchy history of large-scale farming — I did a little digging into the company’s positioning and practices.
Father’s Day Gift Guide 2025: Top Pinot Noir From Central Otago, New Zealand

3 weeks ago | forbes.com | Lauren Mowery

A festive dinner party featuring Valli Wine. Chloe Lodge PhotographyWhen it comes to Father’s Day, a bottle of thoughtfully chosen wine never misses. But instead of the usual Cabernet or Scotch, consider something cooler — literally. This year, give the dad in your life a taste of one of the world’s most exciting wine regions: Central Otago, New Zealand.
A Beginner's Guide to Wines from Italy's Piedmont

3 weeks ago | wineenthusiast.com | Lauren Mowery |Lauren Mower |Jake Abrams

Piedmont. Or Piemonte. Whichever way you say it: hard two-syllable, American-style or with the romantic three syllable lilt of an Italian, the word carries mystical qualities. It conjures visions of fog-shrouded hills, white truffle-sniffing dogs and noble wines. Most wine lovers associate the region with the famous reds of Barolo, but as anyone who has visited knows, it’s large, complex and full of surprises. A thousand books could be written on Piedmont. For now, let’s start with the basics.
Eco-Friendly Dental Floss: What to Know Before You Floss

3 weeks ago | azureroad.io | Lauren Mowery

What if your daily flossing habit is silently contributing to the plastic pollution crisis? Flossing is an essential part of oral hygiene; however, only one-third of Americans floss daily, while another one-third never floss at all. never floss at all. Despite this, the dental floss market is experiencing significant growth, with sales last year surging 37% higher than four years prior and outpacing inflation. The industry is projected to grow at 8% annually over the next decade.