Courtesy of: Charles Heidsieck

Charles Heidsieck, the Worlds Most Awarded Champagne, is celebrating the return of ‘Champagne Charlie’.

After a busy year collecting awards, including the International Wine Challenge ‘Winemaker of the Year’ award for the ninth time! Charles Heidsieck, the worlds most awarded champagne, is celebrating the return of Champagne Charlie to British soil. Look out for him this Christmas in the country’s leading hotel bars and restaurants.

Charles Heidsieck, coined as the original ‘Champagne Charlie’ founded the house of Charles Heidsieck in 1851.

A connoisseur’s champagne for “those who know”, Charles Heidsieck champagne is served at leading luxury hotels and restaurants including Claridge’s, the Ritz, the Criterion, Bluebird and Coq d’Argent.

The latest venues to be bestowed with ‘Champagne Charlies’ Christmas sparkle are Piccolino, the Restaurant bar & grill, Bank and the Zinc bar & grill restaurant’s, all part of the Individual Restaurant Company (IRC), combined these venues add 33 new premium stockists to ‘Champagne Charlies’ portfolio across the UK.

Great news for discerning customers wishing to sample Charles Heidsieck’s Brut Réserve and Rosé Réserve champagnes this festive season. ‘Champagne Charlie’ is planning to serve his award winning cuvees to more discerning customers nationwide soon so look out for him in your town or city as he is quite a profound character!!

For more information, please visit www.CharlesHeidsieck.com

Sardine Factory – Captains Room

You can find over 175 unique vineyards, plus 85 vintners and growers in scenic Monterey County.

The Monterey area is one of the top producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the entire U.S.

Cannery Row is an oenophile’s playground. This top destination features five different tasting rooms and and variety of award-winning restaurants that serve world-class local wines.

Here a list of two of our favorite Monterey Bay restaurants on Cannery Row:

The world-famous Sardine Factory is a favorite among food and wine lovers. Its 32,000-bottle wine cellar is world renowned and is the recipient of the “Best Wine List in America” award from Restaurant Hospitality Magazine. The restaurant’s selection features both prestigious vintages, such as an 1870 Chateau Lafitte Rothschild Pauillac and many well-chosen, affordably priced domestic and imported wines. Try the Parmesan Crusted Calamari Steak, Diver Scallops & Wild Pacific Prawns Entrée paired with a delicious Monterey County Sauvignon Blanc. A “wine captain” will search the cellar for a palate-pleasing vintage.

Having spent years as executive chef for Wente Vineyards, Executive Chef Jerry Regester at the C restaurant at the new InterContinental The Clement Monterey focuses on using local organic ingredients to create seasonal fare with rustic elegance and refined flavors. The C restaurant and bar complies with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program and supports local, organic farming. The C bar offers a large selection of tasty appetizers and an extensive selection of local wines plus a delectable Champagne menu featuring sparkling wines from around the world.

Below is the list of our favorite Cannery Row wine tasting rooms:

Bargetto Wine Tasting Room http://www.bargetto.com/

A Taste of Monterey http://www.tastemonterey.com/

Scheid Vineyards Wine Lounge http://www.scheidvineyards.com/

Baywood Cellars http://www.baywood-cellars.com/

State Guest Da Hung Pao

It’s been long reported, that the fragrance of State Guest Da Hung Pao tea can often last until the next day.

State Guest Da Hung Pao is a long-lasting tea with a delicate perfume.

Similar to oolong, which is a semi-fermented tea, tea lovers will often pay big bucks to enjoy a cup of State Guest Da Hung Pao tea.

With 40 stores across greater China, you can enjoy a cup of State Guest Da Hung Pao tea at a Wu Yi Star Teahouse.

Wu Yi Star Teahouse charges a rate of 16,800 Hong Kong dollars (US$2,160) for a small pinch of leaves weighing around 50 grams.

Don’t be fooled by the expensive price. There is strong demand for this tea but limited supply at the chain of China tea shops.

Only 100 canisters of State Guest Da Hung Pao tea are available each year and are sold out usually in less than two months.

Don’t wait to long, because the waiting list for the 2011-year harvest is already underway.

Private Cellars Wine Club – Michael Mondavi

Renowned Napa Valley vintner Michael Mondavi, recently announced they have launched “Private Cellars by Michael Mondavi”, which is an exclusive luxury wine club.

Private Cellars by Michael Mondav members will be able to access some of the world’s most rare and unique wines.

Private Cellars is solely focused on bringing to its members – high-end wines, including small production and limited edition wines-direct to consumers.

Membership to Private Cellars will be limited. It’s members will choose between receiving monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly shipments.

Each wine shipment will include a minimum of three bottles of a rare and collectible wine, and a selection of others, as pricing allows.

If you join before the end of this year, members will also receive as a special welcome gift, a bottle of Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi Castelgiocondo Brunello – a four-time Wine Spectator “Top 100″ ranked wine.

Membership benefits of Private Cellars includes:
– Access to collectible and rare wines
– Personalized visits, VIP access and introductions to top wineries, their owners and winemakers around the world including Italy’s Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi and Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia, Spain’s Vall Llach, the Michael Mondavi Family Winery in Napa and many more.
– The chance to host your own private event with Michael (as available) and top wine producers from around the world
– Meet other wine enthusiasts to discover, share and compare the best wine and travel experiences
– First-hand involvement in the art of winemaking through “Blend Your Own Wine” experiences hosted by Michael and his team in Napa Valley
– Invitations to special wine and culinary events with Michael Mondavi and other top wine producers from around the world
– Shipping is included on all club shipments (where applicable by law)
– 10% discount on most club wines and reorders

Michael Mondavi was quoted, “For the past 40+ years, my wine career has brought me in contact with some of the greatest family-owned wineries all over the world. Through my personal relationships with these producers, I am able to give Private Cellars members access to special wines, visits to the estates and personalized introductions to the people behind the wines.”

Another advantage to the Private Cellars program is members also receive periodic access to older vintages, signed bottles, magnums and other exclusive wine items in addition to exclusive wine and culinary experiences.

For additional information about Private Cellars membership by Michael Mondavi and participating wine estates can be found at www.privatecellars.com

Wolfgang Puck

As a follow-up the Nate Berkus article we did last week, we wanted to share famous chef Wolfgang Puck’s kitchen tips for the holiday season.

These are some helpful food preps that Wolfgang Puck has offered to help you, so your family and guests can enjoy your special holiday meal.

1) When making mashed potatoes, after you drain the potatoes return them to the hot pan, cover tightly, and allow them to steam for 5 minutes. Doing this allows them to dry out so they’ll mash to a beautiful texture and soak up the butter and cream more readily.

Perrier Jouet & Christofle vase

The Christmas holiday season is always a great time to try new Champagnes. In addition, with New year’s Eve just a few short weeks away, we wanted to introduce you to several, wonderful champagnes we have come across.

Champagne Perrier-Jouet features an iconic anemone bottle that was designed by Emile Galle way back in 1902.

Perrier-Jouet has collaborated with master silversmiths Christofle to create a stunning limited edition vase to house a magnum.

Try wonderful tasting menus to pair with G.H. Mumm champagne.

Most of us are aware of the health benefits of a glass of red wine. There’s also been past research suggesting that says drinking a glass of wine can slim you down, make your bones stronger and also help you live a little longer.

Well the news just keeps getting better for alcoholic lovers. There are more reasons to enjoy even an occasional, good quality cocktail.

Reason #1: Researchers in Norway who surveyed more than 38,000 people, say occasional drinking may be good for your mental health. They discovered those who drink are less likely to be depressed than those who do not.

Reason #2: Researchers say people who admit to drinking more than a single drink per day, may be in better shape than those who don’t drink alcohol at all. According to a new study, people who drink tend to exercise more and therefore be generally more active.

It’s important to keep these finding in perspective. The good news does come with a very important reminder:
– Keep your daily alcohol intake to one drink per day
– Don’t drink every day of the week.  If you do (and you consume more than a glass a day), your risk for certain health conditions and cancers, including breast cancer (for women), may increase.

The key is be safe and drink in moderation. So now go have an after-work cocktail. Enjoy!

Courtesy of: Unwind / Frontier Beverage Co.

With today’s hectic lifestyle, we are all looking for a way to relax and unwind.

Where it’s a stressful job, commuting headaches, raising a family, or getting ready for a vacation, there is plenty of stress in all our lives.

Well Frontier Beverage Co. has come to the rescue and understands our stress. The company has created a low-calorie, low-sugar relaxation aid, Unwind (TM), aimed to ease these daily stresses.

Unwind is a low-calorie, low-sugar, relaxation aid that contains melatonin, rose hips, and valerian root (these are the calming properties).

A can of Unwind is just 40 calories and only 10 grams of sugar per 12 oz. can.

Unwind is the healthiest drink of its class and comes available in three lightly-carbonated flavors – Goji Grape, Citrus Orange and Pom Berry.

Not only does the flavorful drink provide relaxing benefits, but it has already received rave reviews. Unwind has been awarded among one of 2010′s ‘top trends’ as named by both Good Morning America and The View.

For additional information on Unwind, please visit http://www.unwindbeverage.com

Godiva Chocolate Infused Vodka

During the holidays or anytime for year, especially in Thailand, a good glass of vodka or rum with a fine cigar is sure to satisfy. Now toss in some “to die for” chocolate and you a have a recipe for danger. Godiva Chocolate Vodka is the perfect blend of vodka and decadent chocolate.

The new Godiva Chocolate Vodka is a five-times distilled ultra-premium vodka that’s infused with the essence of luxurious chocolates from the ultra-luxe, Godiva Chocolatier.

This wonderful tasting and cocoa-filled vodka goes down so easily and is quite delicious.

Godiva Chocolate Vodka is so smooth and delicious, you’re gonna think you’ve died and gone to heaven.

It’s the perfect holiday gift for both men and women. But wait, that’s not all. In addition to the Godiva Chocolate Infused Vodka, the company has also launched Godiva Raspberry Chocolate Infused Vodka!

You can enjoy each of the two vodka flavors in several ways – combine it to make a fabulous tasting cocktail or just drink it straight.

Either Godiva Chocolate Infused Vodka or Godiva Raspberry Chocolate Infused Vodka are ideal for that stylish female on your Christmas list who wants to be at the top of the latest, luxury trends.

For that special male, he’ll also enjoy the terrific taste of Godiva’s two vodka flavors. Godiva Vodka is now available at spirit retail stores nationwide for $29.99/bottle (750mL).

For rum lovers, don’t feel left out. In addition, try an ultra-premium sipping spirit – Zacapa Rum. Zacapa Rum is specially aged an incredible 8,000 feet above sea level in Guatemala, Central America.

Delicious tasting Zacapa Rum is carefully blended in a series of barrels, creating a fantastic spirit with a one-of-a-kind flavor that is truly unlike any other rum found today.

Observing the wine itself is a major part of the overall wine tasting experience. Although the expression wine tasting will imply to many the actual drinking of the wine. The key is to actually consider the whole wine tasting experience. We want to share Tips For Wine Tasting.

Tips For Wine Tasting

For a start we can learn a great deal about a wine just by looking at it. The wine should always be presented in a clear glass and observed against a white background. The wine color is a strong contributory factor to the taste of the wine. One will notice that red wines will vary in color as is the case with whites this variation in color is something to look for.

The longer a wine is aged and the greater flavor that it has, the stronger the color it will have. In the case of white wine, too much color is not a good factor. White wine is actually ruined or tarnished in flavor by the aging process. On the other hand, red wines improve with age. As red wines are aged, their color begins to lighten, as opposed to white wines which normally go darker with age. The lighter the color of a red wine the older it tends to be.

To discern the age of a wine with reference to its color, you should tilt the wine glass partially to one side. It will then be possible to get a clear view of the edge which is referred to as the rim color. If you observe a purple tint this shows that the wine is quite young. Should you observe a brown or orange tint this indicates that the wine is mature.

You should also give the wine a swirl which allows you to observe the body of the wine. If it appears thicker, this donates higher alcohol content along with a sweeter flavour. It is clear then that you can discern much about a wine merely by observing it. Are you enjoying these Tips For Wine Tasting?

Although the actual tasting of the wine is important, so is the aroma of the wine. As a component of the whole wine tasting experience you need to smell the wine in the correct manner. Indeed, the aroma of the wine will help you determine if you have a wine that you can truly appreciate. Many people take a short sniff of their wine, which does not allow one to take in the full scent of the wine

The molecules in the wine will allow you truly appreciate the aroma. Wine tasters refer to this as the nose or the bouquet of the wine. Numerous different bouquets are mentioned with the most common being: spices, herbs wood, fruit, earthy, or floral. Each of these aromas will result in their own distinctive tastes.

To smell wine correctly, firstly give the glass a swirl. This will help to release the wine molecules prior to taking a quick sniff. Now its time to take a deep inhale of the aroma. Now you should be able to smell the difference. Which one of the different bouquets comes to mind?

Author: Roger Gordon (www.enterprisewines.co.uk)

It seems like the world keeps moving at a much faster pace. Our stress levels are at all time highs and people are just physically and mentally exhausted.

But as Thanksgiving nears, it’s time to reflect on what we are truly thankful for. We need to relax and unwind on this traditional American holiday and sincerely enjoy the day with our dear family and closest friends.

But because there is a lot of stress involved in both preparing and serving that perfect Thanksgiving meal, many luxury hotels offer their own gourmet Thanksgiving dinner.

All across the United States, you can enjoy a delicious and inventive cuisine Thanksgiving meal, in beautiful and luxury surroundings at some of the top luxury hotels and resorts.

Don’t worry about any of the time consuming prep work or the tedious clean up. Leave that to the professionals and just give thanks that you can enjoy a wonderful experience.

Here is just a small sample of the luxury Thanksgiving Meals that await you …..

“Manhattan” yacht in New York City
Enjoy a bountiful Thanksgiving Holiday Dinner aboard the Manhattan (a 1920′s style motor yacht), and experience a comfortable and unique round-Manhattan trip through the Hudson, East and Harlem Rivers around New York City

The Driskill Hotel :
Rated by bon appétitas as one of the best Thanksgiving meals in the country (November 2009), try the mouth watering Thanksgiving Brunch at Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas.

Hilton Los Angeles :
Have a romantic feast, named the “LA Thanksgiving” – a Thanksgiving Dinner for Two at the Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale, California.

Sofitel Chicago Water Tower :
A chic Thanksgiving dinner with a four-course meal of modern French brasserie cuisine can be experienced at the Café des Architectes at Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, Illinois.

Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel :
Enjoy a four-course Thanksgiving menu presented by Executive Chef Rob Wilson in Restaurant 162′ in scenic Laguna Niguel, California.

The Greenbrier :
The “In the Apple Orchard Grand Thanksgiving Day Feast” is sure to delight all your senses with a grand buffet, carving stations, and a luxury setting with an elaborate array of holiday classics in a festive, fall harvest decor. The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

InterContinental San Francisco :
At Luce, try the a New American Thanksgiving feast that brings together the best fresh local ingredients that San Francisco has to offer. Luce at InterContinental San Francisco, California.

Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay :
Experience an elegant affair by booking a table at the recently remodeled Oystercatchers, offering waterfront locale and simple Florida elegance. Oystercatchers at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, Florida.

Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows :
In the classy Wedgewood Ballroom, enjoy a first-class Thanksgiving brunch travel deal. Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Barbara, California.

The Inn at Perry Cabin :
Try a five course Thanksgiving lunch or dinner for two in Sherwood’s Landing at The Inn at Perry Cabin, in St. Michaels Maryland.