It wasn’t until I tasted Prosecco from Nino Franco that I finally understood why there is a buzz about DOCG Prosecco Superiore. Prosecco @ the Grand Cru Level I have sipped my way through many glasses of Prosecco; a few were interesting, some were acceptable, and many were horrible, earning them a pop-wine image. It was […]
Italy Defines Luxury Jewelry
Birth of Jewelry Research has determined that one of the first necklaces was found in a Monaco cave and dates back 25,000 years ago. Although it was a simple piece made from fish bones, it was not a surprise as the first adornments were derived from the hunt (i.e., teeth, claws, horns, bones). Hunters believed […]
Les Crus Bourgeois du Medoc: Making Wine Buying Easier?
Governance and Associations of Bordeaux Wineries: By Law and By Choice
The French wine industry is founded on rules: the cepages (varieties of grapes used to make wine), the geography, the yields, the aging plus other “must do” details determined within every appellation. Because of the challenges facing French wine makers, in an attempt to either address the rules, bend them or avoid them, marketing conscious […]
Occitanie Formed: Dynamic Wine with an Interesting History
Languedoc-Roussillon Wines Today, Languedoc wines are considered to be among the most interesting and dynamic wines in the world and are noted for subtlety and complexity. The area produces lots of wine, exceeding production of Bordeaux, Australia, South Africa and Chile combined, representing about one-third of the French volume output that equals approximately three billion […]
Ivan Eskildsen: Republic of Panama’s New Minister of Tourism
Who He Is YES, he is young, and attractive and NO, he has no prior experience in government or politics, and – just like that – Ivan Eskildsen became the new Minister of Tourism from Panama. This Panamanian entrepreneur graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bentley College with a BS degree in Finance. Before the age […]
From Farmers to Protesters to Winemakers
Bordeaux and Its Wines Change… Slowly
Tradition, tradition, tradition… For decades, Bordeaux winemakers have dug in their heels, hanging steadfastly onto customs and habits that date back centuries. In France, the reputation for a wine has been based on custom (i.e., know-how, terroir, appellation d’origine controlee/AOC – protected designation of origin). It was “believed” that consumers purchased French wine based on […]
Bordeaux Wine: Pivot from People to the Soil
Wine has been made in the Bordeaux wine region since the Romans settled in the area (60 BC). The Romans were the first to plant vineyards (possible obtained from Rioja, Spain) and produce wine in the area. Even at the beginning in the 1st century AD, the regional wines were appreciated and distributed to Roman […]
Bordeaux Wines: Started with Slavery
When I visited Bordeaux, I wondered about the magnificent 18th century architecture complete with mansions and public buildings that make this a very beautiful and architectural city. What was the source of the money that built this city – certainly it did not come from the early stages of the wine industry. Lurking behind these […]