WELCOME TO OUR FIRST-EVER WINE ISSUE! At Global Traveler we certainly have an appreciation for all things vino. For 13 years we’ve announced the winners of our annual Wines on the Wing airline wine competition in our August issue, and this year we take it a step further, with most of the articles on the following pages containing information on wine. Join us in raising a glass, and say cheers to the 2017 Wines on the Wing winners on page 36!

I’ve been on quite the journey thus far in 2017; I just returned from my first trip to Thailand and a return visit to London with my college friend, reminiscing along the way about our semester abroad there in 2005. As you can see from this month’s picture, I made a new friend in Thailand at Baan Chang Elephant Farm, a sanctuary in Chiang Mai that rescues elephants from the logging industry. Whether visiting a destination for the first time or returning to an old favorite, I always challenge myself to experience something new and perhaps step outside my comfort zone. I got knee-deep in mud at an organic farm in Sukhothai to plant rice, and I took a daytrip to explore the Cotswolds, a previously undiscovered part of England for me. What adventures have you found yourself on this summer? And what corner of the world are you planning to visit next?

Perhaps you’ll find your inspiration in this month’s issue, particularly if you’re thirsting for a trip to one of the world’s storied wine regions. Kristy Alpert can help on page 44. Art director Tracey Cullen’s frequent trips to New York’s Finger Lakes were a catalyst for the area’s inclusion this month. Wine-taste with us in the region on page 66. Where else can we travel together this month? Cartagena, Jinjiang, Brooklyn, Incheon, Salzburg, Gujarat, Pompeii, Tahiti and San Francisco.

Next month, another worldwide adventure awaits. Bon voyage! In the meantime, follow me on my adventures on Instagram, @kimk928.