2019. As we lived through it – it did not seem to be remarkable. Travel and tourism executives and pundits were optimistic as there were increases in people leaving their zip codes and out shopping for new travel experiences. One industry event that did not appear to be out of the normal range of actions […]
Guardian of Italian Luxury: Lust not Love
I was recently asked what I would buy with my lottery winnings (should I be so lucky) if real estate, yachts, and airplanes were not allowed. My thoughts immediately turned to Italian luxury fashion, fixtures, furniture, and experiences (including wine, spirits, and travel). Italy is at the head of the line in the highly competitive […]
Barolo Wine Auction: €600,000 for Barolo in a Barrel
Sometimes an event is just an event, and sometimes (when I am lucky) the event turns into a wonderful Saturday afternoon experience that is good by doing good. Recently, I was invited to the Barolo en primeur at Il Gattopardo (with a Zoom simulcast from Grinzane Cavor Castle in Piedmont, Italy). The event was also […]
Wines – Chenin Blanc Warning: From Yummy to Yucky
Chenin Blanc is a neglected grape. Why? Because it is more challenging than Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc to grow and make into wine. The grape demands an almost perfect combination of soil and weather, and it is a challenge for the winemaker to balance oak and other flavor-enhancing options. The grape is part of jug […]
Tourism Impasse: Cannot Stop or Go
The hotel, travel, and tourism industry contributed to the spread of the Covid 19 pandemic, most notably cruise lines and airlines; however large their role, these enterprises cannot be held accountable for its origin or for the irresponsible approach of governments and global health agencies to the identification, mitigation, control and elimination of the virus. […]
French Wines: Worst Production Since 1970
Reuters research determined that the French wine industry production is likely to drop by approximately 30 percent this year, compared to the previous year, making 2021 as the worst year since 1970 and likely to be the worst year on record. The causes of this bad news included an April frost, Covid 19 chaos, President […]
New York French Consulate Presents Wines Val de Loire: Part One
It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Manhattan. I stood patiently standing in a long line outside the French Consulate on Fifth Avenue and was amazed at how many people were interested in learning about the wines of the Loire Valley on a Sunday afternoon in New York. Although I queried a few of the […]
French Wines: Worst Production Since 1970
Reuters research determined that the French wine industry production is likely to drop by approximately 30 percent this year, compared to the previous year, making 2021 as the worst year since 1970 and likely to be the worst year on record. The causes of this bad news included an April frost, Covid 19 chaos, President Trump’s trade […]
Italy: Grapes Go Native
Would there be wine without Italy? It is interesting to note that given the dynamic politics of the country (until the second half of the 19th century), and the importance of local markets (as late as the 1970s), that the diversity of growing conditions has led Italy to preserving an extremely rich heritage of grape […]
French Wines: The worst production since 1970
France is noted for luxury and included in this array are its wines. The country produces approximately 16 percent of the world’s wines and employs over 142,000 people in the wine-growing sector alone. Reuters research determined that the French wine industry production is likely to drop by approximately 30 percent this year, compared to the previous year, […]