In a three-way race between Italy, France, and Spain, the wines of Italy are victorious – outselling the other contenders – repeatedly. I am frequently asked why I write about the wines of Italy. The answers are quite simple: 1. Italy produces wines that are palate pleasers at value prices
The General Manager of Your Hotel is a Narcissist. The Dark Triad
The Dark Triad Personality Traits (DTP) includes Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Narcissism demonstrated by three behaviors. . You really like your colleagues; your guests are terrific and tip generously; the hotel is beautiful and while you would like a larger paycheck, the real reason you are unhappy and want to quit is that your General Manager […]
Live in Spain? Drinking Less Wine!
If you live in Spain, you may have noticed that your drinking habits have changed. You and your friends are drinking less Spanish wine! Who is taking up the slack? Those of us living in other parts of the universe are actually drinking more wines from Spain because they have gotten better. Holding Tightly onto Tradition The […]
A Narcissist in Your Life? Oh S..t!
Up to 5 percent of the population has narcissistic personality disorder – one of the top 10 personality disorders in the United States. “The sadistic narcissist perceives himself as Godlike, ruthless and devoid of scruples, capricious and unfathomable, emotion-less and non-sexual, omniscient, omnipotent and omni-present, a plague, a devastation, an inescapable verdict.” ― Sam Vaknin […]
Wine from Israel is 80% Kosher, Sabbath-Observant, and All Male
Are you travel ready? Need Cosmetics?
Panic in Italy but never in coffee bars over an Espresso & Prosecco
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 […]