Travel to South Africa may be impossible at this time. The COVID-19 pandemic and attendant travel restrictions resulted in a substantial decline in demand for air travel. The situation caused many airlines across the world to ground aircraft, release their employees, and to cancel flights. In the case of SAA, this decision means that SAA […]
You are Elegant and Sophisticated? Pour Bordeaux into Your Glass!
Bordeaux Winemakers Started Early Bordeaux, formerly known as Burdigala, dates back to the 3rd century when the Celtic tribes decided to settle in a beautiful spot, located on the western coast of the Baronne River. Latin Poet, Ausonius, first recorded mention of wine production in Bordeaux in AD 350 and a château still bears his name, […]
Lugana, Italy: Wines Waiting in the Wings
Lugana, located in the vinicultural region of northern Italy, sits at the southern end of Lake Garda. Lugana, derived from the Latin Lacus Lucanus (lake in the woods) is noted for its wines, and the region also offers incredible tourism opportunities as the religious influences from the Middle Ages especially in the towns of San Benedetto […]
Italy Prime Minister announces closure of all commercial activities
New measures against the COVID-19 coronavirus were announced by Italy Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte entailing the closure of all commercial activities. This new measure will be in force from March 12 until March 25. According to Italy’s civil protection bulletin today, there are 10,590 infected; 827 dead; and 1,045 healing. “I am proud of the Italian endurance test,” said […]
One Woman. Many Wines
Lia Tolaini Banville and her father, Pier Luigi Tolaini, started importing wines from Italy 16 years ago (2004), expanding the operation in 2016 to include wines from France, Germany and the UK. In 2011, Banville added Italian spirits to her portfolio, introduced a wholesale division and, a few years later, extended her reach to include Washington, DC […]
The French Vineyards of Occitanie
Occitanie is considered one of the newest French wine regions and it is located only 2 hours from Barcelona. The name for the region references a large southern European realm where people spoke a Latin-derived language called Occitan. This French vineyards region covers a territory similar to that ruled by the Counts of Toulouse in the 12th […]
Monterey County Wines: Where Wine-making is a Family Affair
What is there to know about Monterey County? First of all, it is in California… always a good starting point for a discussion of wine. When we drill down in the locale, we discover the beauty of Big Sur’s rugged shore; the beaches and artists in Carmel by the Sea; tide pools, and golf at Pebble Beach; […]
Should all Makeup be Halal Cosmetics?
It was not until I was meandering down the Javits aisle at the recent In-Cosmetics event that I even thought about Halal cosmetics. Halal food markets are widely available in New York, so the halal concept was not new; however, the idea of halal applied to cosmetics was totally different. Halal For Muslims, the term “halal” […]
Delicious Wines in Australia
Looking for an easy and delicious way to explore Australia? May I suggest getting a wine glass, reading my notes, and discovering the wonders of Australia by sipping a few of its wines. Wines by Design Australia is the smallest continent, but the sixth-largest country, slightly smaller than the continental USA. It features snowcapped mountains, arid […]
A Big Deal for Wine Partisans
If you grow grapes, make wine, drink wine, sell wine, are a wine educator, wine writer, or have anything at all to do with the wine industry, then it is likely that you would have been spotted tasting wine in New York at the recent Robert Parker, Matter of Taste event (2019). This exclusive program is part […]