How to taste wine like an expert, according to the head winemaker at America’s oldest winery

Bob Barrow is a winemaker at Brotherhood Winery, located 1.5 hours north of Manhattan in Washingtonville, New York. Brotherhood sources grapes from the Finger Lakes and Long Island regions, as well as from other areas across the United States. Business Insider asked Barrow for his top wine-tasting tips as well as some of the most …

View from the top: a guide to NYC’s best observation decks, from the Empire State Building to the Top of the Rock

New York City’s observation decks offer stellar views of the city. The most popular ones are at the top of iconic skyscrapers including the Empire State Building, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and One World Trade Center. Ticket prices for adults range from $36 to $72. The highest outdoor observatory is Edge at Hudson Yards, which is …

Videos show apparent Wuhan coronavirus patients being transported in small boxes and plastic tubes to stop the deadly disease from spreading further

Videos show people in large, metal boxes and plastic tubes as China tries to contain the Wuhan coronavirus that has killed at least 17 people. Radio Free Asia shared a video of what it said was a patient being taken out of an ambulance in a large, plastic tube. Another video shows an apparent patient …

The best winter travel deals you can book right now for Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day weekend

Valentine’s Day in 2020 falls on a Friday, at the start of Presidents’ Day weekend, when many people have three days off from work. Presidents’ Day weekend is typically an expensive time of year to travel, as many people want to take advantage of the time off from work and get away. Fortunately, many hotels …

Amtrak shows its sleek new Acela train in action for the first time

Amtrak revealed the first completed train for its new fleet of Acela trainsets being built. The train was constructed in Hornell, New York, and will be tested in Colorado before the fleet enters service in 2021. The new high-speed trains will have 25% more seats than older models, plus improved access ability and sustainability. Visit …

I’ve been living abroad for 3 years and these are the 5 biggest money mistakes I’ve made

For the last three years, I’ve been traveling the world and working on the go. I hadn’t planned to be away this long, though, so I wasn’t fully prepared financially to live outside the US. I only brought one debit card with me, and it charges high foreign transaction and ATM fees, and I didn’t …

Airline credit cards from Delta, Southwest, and more can help you earn elite status — in some cases, you can qualify without setting foot on a plane

Most airline credit cards earn miles on everyday purchases and include day-of-travel perks like free checked bags. Some airline credit cards like the United Explorer Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card go even further and help members earn credit toward elite status. Elite boosts usually involve hitting (rather high) spending thresholds during …

Air Canada just added the Airbus A220 to its fleet — see inside the controversial aircraft that Boeing tried to keep out of the US

Air Canada took delivery of its newest aircraft, the Airbus A220, in December and unveiled it to the public on January 15. The airline plans to deploy the aircraft domestically and to US destinations including San Jose, Seattle, and New York. The aircraft has a storied history that saw majority ownership in the program being …

The 25 most expensive countries to live in, ranked

GOBankingRates determined the most expensive countries to live in. The United States landed within the top 25. To determine the most expensive countries, GOBankingRates looked at the daily cost of living in addition to the local purchasing power for each country, comparing each to the notoriously expensive New York City. It also found that though …

Fears are rising over the spread of China’s deadly Wuhan virus, which has now reached the US. Here’s how airports around the world are trying to stop it.

Airports and health authorities are seeking to contain a virus that has killed nine people in China and had cases confirmed in four other countries. The virus, called 2019-nCoV, originated in the city of Wuhan, and airports are stepping up efforts to screen and quarantine passengers from the city — and in some cases all …

China warned the deadly Wuhan virus is ‘mutating’ and could spread further, with over 2,000 people tested after being close to those infected

China is warning that the mysterious Wuhan virus is mutating, meaning it could spread further and being harder to control. 440 people have now been identified as infected in China, and killed nine people, while cases have been reported in other countries. The director-general of China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that the …

With rich wood, antler accents, and worn leather, Gild Hall is like retreating to a warm cozy cabin — in New York’s bustling Financial District

New York City’s Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel from World of Hyatt, offers much more personality than the typical Financial District hotel. Despite its Wall Street-adjacent address, the hotel is quite warm and welcoming, with decor inspired by Aspen country houses for an overall vibe that is rustic and cozy. Details such as tufted leather, …

A Swiss-Russian company makes credit cards into works of art using gold, diamonds and precious gems. Here’s a look at the cards — which sell for as much as $50,000.

Rosan Diamond, a payment-card manufacturer, handcrafts credit cards made with gold, diamonds, and other precious gems. Designs range from pandas outlined in gold to reproductions of ancient frescoes bedazzled with hundreds of diamonds. The cards function on VISA Infinite and VISA Signature platforms, cost between $18,000 and $50,000, and never expire. Rosan Diamond sells its …

The 12 best hotels in Chicago

Chicago’s booming tourism, attractions, and business opportunities attract millions of travelers to the city every year. As the city has surged in popularity, hundreds of hotels have opened across the city. From boutique stays to cheap minimal hotels and huge luxury towers, there’s a wide range of accommodations for every taste and budget. Most feature …

Beyond the sign-up bonus and rewards, 5 benefits make the Chase Sapphire Preferred one of the most valuable travel cards

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a great sign-up bonus and earns valuable rewards points, but there are many additional benefits worth knowing about. The card includes travel and purchase protections that can save you money or make travel challenges more comfortable. If you have a cash-back card from Chase in addition to the Chase …

Everything we know about the mysterious, deadly Wuhan virus sweeping across China

A mysterious virus has killed six and infected around 300 people in China, and has spread to at least four other countries. Experts say the virus can pass from human to human, and are fighting to understand it and stop it from spreading further. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories. China is dealing with …

Everything you need to know about Davos, the invitation-only conference that brings billionaires together with business and political leaders at a Swiss resort

Countless business leaders, 53 heads of state, and a handful of celebrities are currently convening in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting. The conference’s program features big names including President Trump, Greta Thunberg, and Marc Benioff, but its most impactful discussions will likely happen after hours. It’s impossible to access the …

The 10 unhealthiest American cities to live in, where residents are stressed, worried about money, and unsatisfied with their health

Mindbody, a wellness technology platform, released its annual Wellness Index ranking the healthiest and unhealthiest cities to live in 2020. The company surveyed 20,000 adults in the 50 most populous US cities on their fitness and wellness habits, and also looked at data from the US Census and business listing services. While Miami, Atlanta, and …

This map shows where China’s mysterious, deadly Wuhan virus has spread across Asia, as a 6th death is confirmed

Chinese state media said six people have been killed by a mysterious virus as authorities repeatedly increase the number of people that are infected. A map shows where the virus has spread, which includes both Chinese cities and other countries. Some countries have started to screen at airports, while fears of further spread are heightened …

The spread of China’s mysterious, fatal Wuhan virus is poised to get infinitely worse as the Chinese New Year travel rush begins

A deadly coronavirus known as the “Wuhan virus,” or 2019-nCoV, is gripping China. At least three people have died from the illness, which originated in a seafood market in Wuhan, central China. The disease has since spread to at least two other Chinese cities and three other Asian countries. The spread could get much, much …

A consultant who travels every week shares why the Amex Platinum and the Chase Sapphire Reserve are his go-to cards for benefits and rewards

A consultant who travels every week for his job says he uses rewards cards to earn points so he can travel in his free time. He uses a combination of the Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve to maximize his rewards and get luxury benefits. While the Sapphire Reserve is great …

The US Air Force recently acquired a new $64 million Gulfstream private jet for VIP government officials — see inside

The US Air Force’s 89th Airlift Wing provides travel for top government employees including the President of the United States The wing primarily uses a fleet of modified civilian aircraft including the Boeing 747-200 used as Air Force One. Its newest aircraft, a military variant of a Gulfstream G550, was delivered to Joint Base Andrews …

Ex-Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line workers reveal the things they couldn’t live without on board

Six former cruise-ship workers described to Business Insider the things they couldn’t live without while on the job. Their answers included clothing, technology, and cosmetics. The workers’ former employers were Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and American Cruise Lines. Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories. A cruise ship is an unusual …

The hidden costs of spending winters in the sun mean most ‘snowbirds’ are wealthy retirees, but they aren’t the only ones who can do it

Becoming a snowbird, or a retiree who spends winter in the south and summers in the north, isn’t cheap. Retired nonprofit administrator Lon Newman spends summers in Wisconsin and winters in St. Croix, and he finds owning property in both locations to be easier than renting. A financial planner says being a snowbird can be …

The 17 best countries in the world for people who want to run their own businesses — and enjoy a high quality of life

US News & World Report has released its fifth annual Best Countries list, which ranks 73 countries based on global perceptions. US News partnered with BAV Group and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School to evaluate each country on 65 attributes grouped into nine subrankings. Over 20,000 people hailing from 36 countries were surveyed. Entrepreneurship …

5 credit cards with welcome bonuses of 50,000 points or more, so you can get a head start on your warm-weather travel plans

Credit card welcome bonuses of 50,000 points or more can get you a free round-trip flight, several hotel nights, or more, depending on how you use them. While most credit card bonuses have minimum purchase requirements to earn, the payoff can be worth a thousand dollars or more. If you’re going to sign up for …

A Delta plane slid off an icy taxiway in Kansas City — here’s what happened

A Delta Air Lines aircraft slid off an icy taxiway Friday morning with its front wheel impacting the grass. The aircraft was taxiing to be de-iced in preparation for departure when the incident occurred. Five commercial airline flights departed from the airport that morning, according to flight-tracking website Flight Aware, before the airport was shut …