New Year, new you, but what if this year your resolutions didn’t just focus on self-improvement but on experiences, community, and conscious choices that make the world a little brighter? If your idea of resolutions usually involves the gym or cutting sugar, why not take a deliciously different approach with travel, wine, and food? Here’s how to give your 2026 goals a fresh, sustainable, and downright tasty twist.
Sip Mindfully: Wine with a Story
Instead of setting a resolution to drink less, consider exploring wines that align with your values. Look for small, family-owned wineries that prioritize sustainability, organic or biodynamic practices, and low-intervention winemaking. Not only do these wines taste incredible, but each bottle tells a story - or three. Make a resolution to discover one new winery each month or host a tasting with friends featuring these hidden gems. Your palate and the planet will thank you.
This year, I had the joy of working with Pozzan Winery, an Italian family-run gem where every family member plays a role in the company. Being part of that hands-on, passionate environment reminded me how love and care at every step create wines that truly resonate.
Travel Local, Travel Small
Forget overscheduled trips to the typical tourist spots. This year, resolve to travel differently. Seek out mom-and-pop inns, boutique hotels, and locally-owned restaurants where your dollars support the community directly. Whether it is a weekend getaway to a nearby wine region or a road trip with a culinary twist, small-scale travel experiences often leave the biggest impact and the fondest memories (with often times, the least amount of stress). Pair your travels with eco-conscious choices such as public transit, bike rentals, and reusable travel essentials.
This fall, I explored Southern Oregon’s Applegate Valley and stayed at the cozy Lindsay Lodge right on the Applegate River. The autumn colors and intimate local wineries made it one of my most memorable road trips of the year.
Cook with Conscious Creativity
Food resolutions do not have to be about restriction. Instead, focus on creativity and sustainability. Try sourcing ingredients from farmers’ markets, local artisans, or small-scale purveyors. Explore plant-forward recipes or incorporate “imperfect” produce that would otherwise go to waste. Make it a fun challenge by creating a dish each week inspired by a small, local producer.
One of my ongoing highlights this year was working with the Napa Valley Farmers Market, spotlighting the farmers and food artisans behind the region’s freshest and most sustainable products. Sharing their stories and ingredients made every recipe feel more connected to the community.
Mix It Up With Experience-Based Goals
Why not make your resolutions about experiences over things? Attend a hands-on cooking class with a local chef, take a vineyard tour that teaches you about regenerative farming, or try a zero-waste cocktail workshop. These experiences are not just Instagram-worthy, they are transformative, connecting you with people, places, and practices that matter.
In November of this year, I learned how to crab sustainably in Coos Bay, Oregon. Handling traps, identifying the right crabs, and releasing undersized ones was a hands-on lesson in patience, respect for the ecosystem, and the care that goes into every bite.
This year, resolutions do not have to be predictable. By choosing sustainability, supporting small businesses, and leaning into local, mindful experiences, you can make 2026 the year of intentional indulgence.
Finally, I want to take a moment to say thank you. To you, my clients and supporters, for choosing to work with a small business like mine, your dollars have a direct impact on my family and me. Every project, every collaboration, every shared story allows me to do what I love and continue creating meaningful work. I am deeply grateful for your trust, your support, and the community we are building together.
