When discussing the top wine producing countries, Chile isn’t a name that often comes up. The current top 5 countries are Italy, France, Spain, United States and Argentina. Chile is surprisingly number 6 and higher than Australia, South Africa, China and Germany. Given that wine industry fact, what a treat to be able to sample the wonderful wines of Chile.

In Chile, four unique climactic regions can be found. What makes them all so interesting, is the diversity of the four regions. These areas are very popular for vacationers as well as producing some of the top wines.

Enjoy a light pinot noir while laying under the sun on a Pacific Ocean beach. How about a crisp sauvignon blanc while you take in beauty of the steep Patagonia glacier. Enjoy the the Atacama desert with a dry chardonnay. Go high into the mighty Andes Mountains and taste a glass of full-bodied cabernet.

In addition to their fabulous taste, the wines of Chile have been receiving much deserved attention. Of course receiving a perfect score of 100 is the dream of every wine producer. One particular Chilean wine named Viñedo Chadwick by Errazuriz was scored 100 points from James Suckling, who is a respected wine critic. This achievement was the first a wine from Chile received a perfect point score. As a red blend, Viñedo Chadwick comes from one of most famous wine regions in Chile – Puente Alto in Maipo.

Le Cite du Vin is the new wine museum in Bordeaux, France. It hopes visitors will experience the amazing world of wine firsthand. The wine industry has a long and rich history. The new wine museum showcases all of the major wine producing regions from all around the world. Many wines of Chile were part of the large scale, Le Cite du Vin inauguration.

Achieving the title of Best Sommelier is long battle of the world’s best. The competition to be the best in your own country is tough enough. Then the best from 58 different countries square off. Marcelo Pino was the top Chilean Sommelier and was proud to take 24th place overall in the world competition.

Asia continues to be a lucrative target market for wine producers. At the recently held VINEXPO Hong Kong event, fifty different wineries were present and shared the best wine of Chile to the world.

For those interested in trying some wonderful tasting wine from Chile, we wanted to share four bottles that won’t break your bank.

William Cole Albamar Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley 2014 (Suggested retail price of $12 per bottle)
Calcu Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley 2012 (Suggested retail price of $14 per bottle)
Garces Silva Boya Pinot Noir Leyda Valley 2014 (Suggested retail price of $20 per bottle)
Errazuriz Max Reserva Chardonnay Aconcagua Valley (Suggested retail price of $20 per bottle)

We have access to many of the most expensive and rare wines in the world. Our concierge specialists can help you. Please also consider the wines of Chile for your next social event. Follow our luxury blog and keep up on more wine industry news.

Photo:

The Regal Lion Wine & Decanter Stoppers are also stunning, Art Deco-inspired sculptures. Not only practical for wine lovers, but also as a gorgeous art sculpture. Each piece is carefully designed with precious metal and gems.

Featuring a custom designed base, The Regal Lion Wine & Decanter Stoppers sits beautifully atop your favorite wine bottle. It can also be used with a crystal decanter. Many wine drinkers simply shove the original cork back into the bottle or use a cheap store bought cork. No more people! It’s time to add some style to your wine drinking.

Each of The Regal Lion Wine & Decanter Stoppers are made to custom order. You can choose from a variety of options. For example, decide between 18K Gold, sterling silver or even 950 Platinum. Then accent with either shimmering diamonds or golden sapphires.

There is no denying that The Regal Lion is a true piece of art. So who is the target audience for this unique product? Someone who has the means to acquire it and appreciate its beauty. Someone with a refine taste for the best life has to offer. A person who can see the artistic allure of this piece. It’s a perfect gift for that special friend or family member. Or simply buy one or more for yourself and wow guests at your next social gathering. If you are an animal art collector, The Regal Lion Wine & Decanter Stoppers are perfect for you as well.

Pick form 3 different sizes of The Regal Lion:
– as a Wine Stopper
– as a Fine Decanter Stopper; designed for a median-size neck, it will fit many fine decanters
– as a Baccarat Decanter Stopper for Baccarat’s three Square Whiskey Decanters; The Regal Lion can be purchased by itself or as the perfect companion with one of these magnificent decanters

Be sure to order fast. These rare products from Cameron-Zemtsov Design Associates (CZDA),are strictly limited. As a result, each is individually numbered. Pricing for The Regal Lion ranges between $6,300 up to $25,150 each.

Cameron-Zemtsov Design Associates have a strong belief in helping save endangered wildlife. Therefore, they will contribute 5% of the company’s sales to Born Free USA. This respected organization is a real global force in wildlife conservation.

Contact The Life of Luxury today if interested in purchasing The Regal Lion Wine & Decanter Stoppers. Be sure to return soon and follow this luxury blog. We enjoy sharing the best the world of luxury has to offer.

Photo: CZDA

Argentina is quickly becoming one of the world’s most popular and is a top destination for wine lovers and with good reason. More commonly known for its dominating Malbec varieties, Argentina also has a vast array of superb Cabernet Sauvignons, Pinot Noirs, and unique Torrentés.

Below are just a few of the reasons why the South American country of Argentina is the ultimate destination for wine lovers. Enjoy a true VIP experience and sample some great tasting wines.

Breathtaking Elevations Make For Exceptional Wines

Argentina is home to the the world’s highest commercial vineyard, at an astounding 9,800 ft above sea level. Most of the country’s vineyards are located at roughly 5,000 ft above sea level. The grapes grown at those high altitudes create wines with sumptuous flavors, and intense colors.

Wines That Won’t Break The Bank

Some of the world’s best Malbecs come from Argentina. Many of the country’s celebrated Malbecs, and other types of wine can be purchased for just $13-$20 per bottle.

Innovative Methods, Innovative Wines

Argentine winemakers are aware of the country’s supremely vast landscape and micro-climates that allow for a wide range of varieties.

Wineries are working with weather stations to better understand their micro-regions in order to grow the best grape for a particular area’s soil and climate. By using grapes from varying elevations, some families are creating rich, and complex wines that are pleasantly rediscovered with each sip.

World’s Best Malbecs

Argentina is arguably home to the some world’s best Malbecs. In fact, in the 2016 Malbec Master Series, Argentine Malbecs took home 70% of the awards given. Because Malbecs are a fickle bunch, they tend to thrive better in the Argentine climate, and make for pure and lush black-fruit batches.

Tantalizing Torrentés

Argentina’s Torrentés variety is unique to the country, and makes for many light and aromatic blends. Torrentés are the perfect summer sipper, with smooth floral notes that are light on the tongue and tropical. Argentine Torrentés are unlike anything you’ve had before.

Dependable Bonarda

Once the wine staple of Argentina, the medium-bodied Bonarda variety is a welcome red at any dinner table. A solid choice, it offers many fruit notes, including dark cherry, plum, and even strawberry. If oaky flavor isn’t your favorite, then the Bonarda is the red for you as many see little to no oak.

Picturesque Patagonia

Not only do Patagonia’s frosty creeks and piney timberland make for spectacular views, the vineyards near them make rich and complex Pinot Noirs.

Winds that gust year-round produce thicker grapes with higher levels of acids and tannins. The cooler climate of the area also allows for many international white grape varieties to thrive, such as Riesling and Semillon.

For more information why Argentina is the ultimate destination for wine lovers, check out the below infographic by Tango Tours, an Argentina wine tour company.

Make your plans now to visit Argentina in South America. It’s definitely a top destination for wine lovers. Return again soon to follow this luxury blog and read more wine industry articles.

During a recent stay in the beautiful Napa Valley, I had the opportunity to visit Domaine Carneros and take the “Art of Sparkling Wine“ winery tour.

As you head west on the Carneros Highway (Hwy 12/121) to Sonoma, you’ll notice the iconic Chateau-style winery up on the hill. Take a left on Duhig Road and turn right into the parking lot. It’s a well known, local landmark and a very popular winery to visit.

Domaine Carneros was originally founded by Champagne Taittinger, which is the stately Champagne house of France. During the late 1970’s, Claude Taittinger search the United States for a place to produce wines locally. He purchased a rolling, 138-acre parcel located in the heart of Carneros, Napa Valley. The classic 18th century château-style building that resides onsite today was finished in 1989. The inspiration for this gorgeous building was the historic Château de la Marquetterie in Champagne, France.

The Carneros region is famous for both its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. These two varietals are essential for the best tasting, premium sparkling wines. A varietal wine is primarily made using a single variety of grape.

It was recommended by a colleague to take the wine tour. The Art of Sparkling Wine tour provides an intriguing, educational experience. It’s a terrific way to learn how sparkling wine is made. Of course, the highlight for most is to actually taste several of the sparkling wines, as well as Pinot Noirs.

The Art of Sparkling Wine tour is offered three times a day. The tour times include 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The price is only $30 per person, plus local sales tax. The tour usually runs between 1 and 1-1/2 hours.

To start, our group of 12 people met in the a tasting room. We were all looking forward to a great VIP experience. After an intro of the winery’s history from our guide Michelle, we all tried a glass of 2011 Estate Brut Sparkling Wine. It had a crisp, yet light taste and was delicious. The sparkling wine is made using 2/3 Pinot Noir grapes and 1/3 Chardonnay. Brut is the wine industry’s common name for “dry”. Extra Brut is counter-intuitive and actually means more sweet.

We learned that Domaine Carneros uses two stage fermintation process. The first is in the large wine tanks and the second, in the wine bottle itself. The combination of sugar and yeast causes CO2, which makes the famous bubbles in sparkling wine as well as champagne. Our guide explained the term “nose” of a wine. It actually means the aroma or bouquet. The nose actually is the key method we perceive the wine’s flavor in our own mouth.

The Art of Sparkling Wine tour includes watching a 10-minute video. Then we got to walk along an observation area to see the large wine tanks and the winery’s bottling operations from above.

Depending on the time of the year and weather in the Napa Valley, the tour may include a walk to the nearby vineyards. Take in the amazing lake and vineyard views from your terrace table. After our walking tour, we ended in a tasting room and sat down to taste additional sparkling and still wines. We were served a plate of local artisanal cheeses, crackers and raisins to pair with our wines.

We tried a 2008 Prestige Cuvee which was decadent. It’s a heartier food wine with a full taste. Next was a 2012 Brut Rose that we were told is ideal with salmon. Next was a 2013 Avant-Garde red wine, which was rather light. What followed, was a heavier red wine – 2013 Pinot Noir Estate.

We all enjoyed the casual atmosphere of the tasting area and the opportunity to try many, great tasting wines from Domaine Carneros.

It was interesting to learn about the micro-climate regions of both Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. The Carneros region is perfect for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The result is a world-class, California sparkling wine.

Once the wine tour is over, you can take your time wandering around the massive property that covers about 4,800 square feet of space. Enjoy strolling around the winery and view the grand staircase, formal gardens and fountain. It’s such a peaceful setting in the middle of this world famous wine region.

Domaine Carneros was a wonderful stop during our day of sightseeing and wine tasting. The winery is located in an incredible and beautiful setting among the vineyard covered hills. The staff was top notch and provided VIP style hospitality. I look forward to returning once again.

Domaine Carneros
1240 Duhig Road, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 257-0101 or (800) 716-2788

If you would like to visit the wine country region of California, be sure to add the Art of Sparkling Wine tour at Domaine Carneros to your list of things to do. We can help plan your perfect Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley getaway. Read our luxury blog to learn about more luxury travel ideas and must-see places to visit.

Photos: The Life of Luxury

The world’s biggest wine festival is held each year in Bad Dürkheim, Germany. Held during the second and third weekend of September, Wurstmarkt hits an important milestone year. 2016 will mark the 600 year occurrence of this popular wine festival. The very first German wine festival was held way back in the year 1417.

Wine making is big business in Germany. The European country has thirteen different wine growing regions. The regions produce incredible wines ranging from crisp Riesling wines to a floral Pinot Noir.

What is interesting is that the wine festival’s name – Wurstmarkt – translates to sausage market. Most people don’t associate wine and sausage together. The town of Bad Dürkheim is located in the premier wine-growing state, Rhineland Palatinate. The legend of how Wurstmarkt got its name is due to the large amounts of sausage that was eaten during the early years of the wine festival. Now it’s the World’s Biggest Wine Festival and people attend from all around the world.

It is expected that greater than 600,000 people will attend this year’s wine festival in Germany. Be sure to check out the Giant Cask, named Dürkheimer Riesenfass. It’s known as the biggest wine barrel in the world. Surprisingly, it even includes a restaurant inside.

Wine connoisseurs can try about 300 award-winning wines and sparkling wines. In addition to the many food and drink stands, plan on enjoying the various fairground carnival rides. There will also be music concerts and spectacular fireworks displays. This is an amazing cultural experience that should not be missed, especially for wine lovers.

This year’s Wurstmarkt wine festival will be held on the consecutive weekends of September 9 to 13 and 16 to 19.

Be sure to attend Wurstmarkt in Germany at the World’s Biggest Wine Festival. Contact The Life of Luxury today for help booking your luxury travel itinerary. Come back again to follow our luxury blog and read about other popular events from around the world.

During the busy holiday season, it’s very important to try and stay festive. Hosting a holiday party can be stressful, but the the key to a great party is being a relaxed host.

The key is planning ahead, getting organized and staying on task. Hosting a holiday party can be a daunting task, but don’t let it ruin your life. You want everyone to have a VIP experience, but that won’t happen by just luck.

Between Thanksgiving and New Years, we all have a lot going on. Shopping, socializing with friends and family, cold winters …. it can be too much for some people. Stay calm, don’t get overwhelmed and take things one day at a time.

If you need some planning and hosting a holiday party, Maureen Petroskyhas offered some helpful tips to get you through it and throw a successful holiday party. It can literally be as simple as 1, 2, 3.

Maureen’s resourceful tips offer some time honored help to get you on the right path. Focus on the end goal and her “Go for Gold”, “Rule of Three” and the “Three P’s” tips will make your next soirée the talk of the town!

Tip #1: Go for Gold
• When decorating for the holidays, create a tabletop that lasts from Thanksgiving through the New Year. Go for a gold tablecloth, and simply switch out fall colored napkins for red, white, green or navy blue—and then add more glittery objects to take it from November to December. For New Year’s, you can just pluck off all the colors and turn the tabletop all silver and gold. It’s easy by just changing out linen napkins and draping different colored ribbons around the center of the table.

Tip #2 – Rule of Three
• From appetizers to drinks to desserts, you don’t have to be a trained chef or mixologist to entertain over the holidays. Keep it simple with 3-ingredient recipes. My go-to 3-ingredient appetizer is a fresh baguette sliced thin and toasted, top with a scoop of quality ricotta cheese, and then drizzle with truffle oil and finish with coarse sea salt and cracked pepper. For an easy cocktail that’s sure to impress, put ice in a tumbler and pour Sandeman Porto on ice and stir well with a bar spoon. Garnish with a slice of orange and sprig of mint.

Tip #3 – The Three P’s:
• This tip is really for entertaining anytime of the year! There are three things you need to make sure to have in your kitchen – port, poundcake and pain (which is French for bread). With these three items on hand, you can put out a festive spread with very little effort. Just pour that holiday port cocktail (or serve it straight up!) and top that sliced baguette with anything and everything—from manchego cheese and spicy honey to leftover cranberry sauce and cream cheese for easy appetizers. The pound cake is delicious on its own, but you can easily dress it up with oranges and dried cherries or even make a quick rosemary-infused whipped cream and top with pomegranate seeds. Voila! You’re ready to entertain in style.

If you need help planning or hosting a holiday party, contact The Life of Luxury. We can help or even recommend an event planner in your area to assist you and make your holiday party a huge success. If you like reading about entertaining tips and food related stories, please read our luxury blog.

The Thanksgiving holiday is wonderful time to enjoy the company of family and friends. Of course there is that tastey turkey or ham, plus all the side dishes and of course the mouth watering desserts.

But often, choosing the right wine to enjoy with your meal is overlooked. Forbes has put together a list of 5 top wines to help you find the perfect wine and food pairing.

As a general rule, if you are having turkey and its abundance of white meat, then choose a lighter red wine or a meatier white wine to go along with your Thanksgiving meal. Consider staying away from a bottle of Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc wine. You can’t go wrong with a delicious California Chardonnay as it would make an ideal choice.

Choosing a wine with a more fruit taste will also work well. Consider maybe a Rhone Valley wine from France or a bottle of Alsace wine.

A glass of nice wine is the perfect addition to make your Thanksgiving dinner a memorable one. You want to make it a VIP experience for everyone, so do a little homework up front and choose the correct luxury wine for all to enjoy.

Before you even begin to eat your Thanksgiving meal, start the event off right with a glass of champagne. Consider

A great recommendation is Henriot Cuvée des Enchantellurs 2000 (Price: $200 a bottle). A great choice from Champagne, France

Here is the list of 5 top wines. Enjoy the day, enjoy the company and make it a wonderful, holiday experience for all.

1) Corison Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Price: $100 a bottle)

From Napa Valley, California – a terrific red cab that teases with that hint of both old leather and cedar, due to the time honored, aging process. Be sure to decant approximately an hour before your dinner for the best taste.

2) Riesling Helfrich Grand Cru, Steinklotz 2008 (Price: $30 per bottle)

From Alsace, France – this Helfrich wine makes a great choice. The Riesling brings a perfect blend of lemon and honey, with a splash of Asian spices.

3) Etude Heirloom Pinot Noir 2007 (Price: $90 each bottle)

From Carneros, California – this balanced Pinot Noir wine is another great choice to pair with your Thanksgiving dinner. It includes full ripe fall blackberries for an undeniable and refreshing taste.

4) Chante-Alouette, M.Chapoutier 2012 (Price: $100 per bottle)

From Hermitage, France – a great sublime white with hints of white peaches and mangos. Oh so good.

5) Cristom Pinot Noir, Sommers Reserve 2009 (Price: $45 for a bottle)

From Willamette Valley, Oregon – another American Pinot Noir wine that is ready drink as soon as a pour a glass. It’s ripe taste will dazzle your taste buds.

We hope you enjoyed the above list of 5 top wines to try at your Thanksgiving dinner. Planning is key for a successful meal and dinner party. Go that extra step and choose your wines carefully.

Come back soon to read about other food and wine topics such as our list of the 5 top wines on our luxury blog. The Life of Luxury strives to provide the latest luxury news and we hope you enjoy what we do.

Celebrating its 225 year anniversary, The House of Sandeman is introducing a limited edition collection of Vintage Porto 2000. This collection would make the perfect holiday gift or for someone who appreciates the smooth taste of a great tasting porto.

The porto wine collection features 6 individually themed bottles that were specifically designed to commemorate the successful history of the iconic Sandeman legacy. In total, there are 225 complete collections that celebrate 6 key moments in The House of Sandeman’s inspirational and entrepreneurial history.

The history of Sandeman began in 1790. A wine business in London was started by a young Scotsman. The business traded Porto and Sherry. To recognize the humble beginning, the first label of the limited edition collection of Vintage Porto 2000 is titled “The Word.” The significance of the name reinforces the belief of founder George Sandeman to always stand by your word.

The limited edition single bottles of Vintage Porto 2000 include the following labels – The Word, The Spirit, The Journey, The Craft, The Pioneer and The Hat & Cape. The collections can be purchased as a set or in limited edition single bottles with your choice of 75cl, 150cl and 300cl sized bottles. Each collection comes in wooden case and also includes a commemorative anniversary book, which provides an overview of the fascinating history of The House of Sandeman.

“The Spirit” is another label and its importance is it represents the self-confidence and determination of George Sandeman. He quickly was known for having a “great spirit” and was widely respected.

“The Journey” honors the many miles traveled by George Sandeman to ensure he delivered the best tasting porto wine available. He has driven to provide the highest quality in every facet of his business.

George Sandeman, who is 7th generation of The House of Sandeman, was quoted, “This is an important moment in our history and it is important to take time to pause and celebrate. “After having launched Sandeman Cask 33 earlier this year, a Very Old Tawny Porto that is an authentic representation of Sandeman’s stock of Aged Tawnies, now we want to offer people the opportunity to join us and enjoy our celebration of history with this Sandeman 2000 Vintage Porto.”

So if you are looking for the ideal gift for a porto lover, then this ultimate collection would be perfect. Those who live a VIP lifestyle desire the best and expect nothing less.

You can purchase The House of Sandeman collecton at St. Swithins Lane Wine shippers, Vin Neuf Wine Merchant, S. H. Jones Wines, and the Slurp online store. Pricing starts at £80.

The Life of Luxury is here to offer assistance in finding a great holiday gift such as the new porto collection from The House of Sandeman or booking your next luxury travel experience. Return again to follow this luxury blog and stay abreast of the latest luxury industry news and product announcements.

Photo: The House of Sandeman

As the top producers of wine in the United States, the world famous vineyards of Napa Valley are a popular destination for wine lovers and vacationers who want to enjoy this scenic locale.

The countryside of Napa Valley provides an abundant variety of things to do including – touring the many wineries and lush vineyards, eating at one of the fine dining restaurants, shopping at quaint boutiques, and staying at luxury hotels, resorts and inns.

But one of the most popular things to do in Napa is ride the famous Napa Valley Wine Train. Departing from downtown Napa, you journey along 18 scenic miles of vineyards and rolling hills. It’s a unique experience and a chance to enjoy one of the best Napa restaurants.

The Napa Valley Wine Train offers several lunch and dinner packages. In addition, they have partnered with some of the local hotels to offer “overnight getaways.” You can also enjoy a private tour and wine tasting as part of their winery tours.

For the dinner tour, the train departs at 6:30 pm from the McKinstry Street Station in Napa. The train passes through the beautiful cities of Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and then St. Helena. The train rides through the heart of this famous wine region of California. After traveling about 18 miles north towards St. Helena, the train makes a brief stop before its return trip. In all, the 3 hour train ride covers 36 miles of picturesque landscapes.

But what is most enjoyable is the unforgettable, culinary experience. Kelly Macdonald is an award-winning Executive Chef and he cooks each meal to order aboard the train. It’s the ideal way to combine wonderful tasting food and sipping fine wine from Napa Valley.

As you first board the train to start your experience, it feels like you stepped back in time. The vintage rail cars have been carefully restored to their original beauty. The long line of train cars consist of a combination of 1915-17 Pullman dining cars and lounge cars, in addition to a 1952 Pullman Vista Dome car.

One of the train’s cars is the unique Silverado Car. This saloon-style car has been fully restored. As the only car without air-conditioning, between the months of May and October you can enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch menu and slide open the car’s windows to take in the Napa Valley breeze.

If you are looking for an intimate and private dining experience with a view, consider booking your table in the Vista Dome Car. There you can enjoy a delicious 5-course meal and gaze out of the elevated observation windows and take in the stunning views of Napa Valley’s wine country. This luxury dining car has been meticulously refurbished with decor that utilizes stunning Honduran Mahogany paneling along with classic, brass accents.

Our multiple-course gourmet dinner included – Hors d’oeuvres of seasoned vegetables, grapes, artisan cheeses and finely cut meats and salmon. The First Course was either a Baby Lettuce Salad or Soup du Jour. Next, we had a choice of four delicious entree’s: Roasted Beef Tenderloin, Salmon Hash Brown, Pan Seared Bacon Wrapped Pork Medallion or Sweet Pea Raviolis. There is also a Special of the Day that changes over time. Every course was excellent and with the train rolling through the scenic Napa Valley, it made for a perfect occasion.

You can’t have a gourmet meal without pairing fine wine. There were many choices of local Napa wines to choose from, such as – Jericho Canyon “Creek Block” Cabernet Sauvignon 2009; Reata “Three County” Pinot Noir 2012; Castello di Amorosa Sangiovese 2010 and Swanson Pinot Gregio 2011.

After our dinner was complete, we were served a delicious Harlequin Sorbet that was made from the Wine Train’s own Sorbets. Next we moved to the dessert car. We had two dessert choices to choose from: Chocolate Tiramisu and Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee. Yum! My wife and I both agree they were superb and the ideal way to end an exquisite meal.

The Napa Valley Wine Train also offers wine tasting that is an additional fee of only $10 and well worth it! You can choose 4 tastes at the wine bar from about 30 different boutique wines exclusively from Napa Valley.

After wine tasting as night fell, we returned to our plush swivel chairs and gazed out the large windows at the passing Napa Valley scenery.

If you plan to visit Napa and enjoy the Napa Valley Wine Train, be sure to plan ahead. It’s a very popular activity during the summer and fall months, when grape harvesting begins, so make your reservations early.

The Napa Valley Wine Train is truly an amazing experience and a unique chance to view the beautiful, local scenery. It’s simply a terrific way to enjoy a gourmet meal and sip fine wines from Napa Valley – all aboard a historic train.

If you would like to make a travel reservation and ride the Napa Valley Wine Train, please contact The Life of Luxury. We can assist planning and booking your entire itinerary. If you enjoy hearing about unique luxury travel experiences, return to follow our luxury blog.

Napa Valley Wine Train
(800) 427-4124
(707) 253-2111 (local)

Make the luxury Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa your perfect vacation getaway. Nestled in California’s famous Wine County, the Resort is conveniently located to downtown Napa and minutes away from over 400 of Northern California’s best wineries where you can enjoy great wine tasting and tours.

The Silverado Resort and Spa is a legendary name in Napa Valley, offering luxury accommodations, high-end spa, upscale business facilities, fine dining, along with countless recreational activities – anytime of the year.

Upon entering the 1,200-acre retreat grounds, you will notice the beautiful setting and historic charm of this distinguished Napa Valley resort. A helpful and courteous staff that is dedicated to making your stay a memorable one, will politely greet you.

Whatever your pleasure, you are sure to find the ideal way to spend your day at the Silverado. Pamper yourself with a soothing fireside massage at the resort’s full service The Spa at Silverado. The wellness-focused spa covers about 16,000 square feet and is the largest private resort spa in the region. The Spa at Silverado was recognized as the winner of the SpaFinder Readers’ Choice Award in three different categories.

For golf enthusiasts, play a round of golf on one of two award-winning courses. They were redesigned by PGA Hall of Fame golfer –  Johnny Miller. The scenic golf courses offer a unique combination of beauty and challenge, with dozens of water crossings, elevation changes and many historic oak trees.

In 2012, the golf courses were voted one of the “Top 50 Resort Golf Courses” by GolfWeek. The resort’s North Course was named the #16 golf course in California by GolfWeek’s “Best Courses You Can Play” list in addition to being #27 for America’s Top 50 Courses For Women.

The Silverado is very proud to have the PGA Tour return and host the Frys.com Open this year. The pro golf tournament runs from October 6 – 12, 2014. It’s a great way to see your favorite pro golfer and enjoy the beauty of the Napa Valley.

Depending on the time of year you visit the Silverado Resort and Spa, you can take a dip in one of ten swimming pools, play a game of tennis on one of their thirteen courts, or hike and bike the many, groomed trails in the area.

The Silverado Resort and Spa offers its guests 380 non-smoking private cottage suites that are clustered around well manicured, hidden courtyards. The luxury rooms are inviting with an allure of both sophistication and elegance.

With accommodations for almost any need, you can choose from a guestroom, junior suite, one bedroom suite, one bedroom suite double, one bedroom golf-course view, two bedroom suite, two bedroom suite golf course, plus two and three bedroom condominium vacation rentals.

We stayed in a beautiful, one bedroom suite that was warm and inviting with a spacious living room, fireplace, flat screen TV, and adjacent eating area. The kitchen is equipped with all the amenities and is perfect for times you prefer to dine in. The appliances are all stainless steel including a large KitchenAid refrigerator and oven.

Gaze out the living room window at the spectacular view of the mountains or enjoy the beautiful outdoors and tranquil setting, while relaxing on your private patio overlooking the golf course. Make your way into the separate bedroom featuring a plush king-sized bed with 340 thread-count Egyptian cotton linens, large LG flat screen TV, and a luxurious bath that adds to the coziness of the suite.

End your day with a glass of wine and superb cuisine at either The Royal Oak or The Grill at Silverado restaurants. It’s a perfect way to enjoy time with that special person in your life or friends. Wine and dine in this classic Napa Valley restaurant, while enjoying the scenic golf course views.

At The Grill at Silverado, you can select from a variety of mouth-watering menu of soups, salads, prime steaks, fresh grilled fish, and many delectable desserts. We returned to this same restaurant the next morning for a scrumptious breakfast buffet. Enjoy a wide selection of your favorite breakfast items. You won’t be disappointed as you savor in this unforgettable dining experience – an ideal way to start and end your memorable vacation getaway.

With accommodations at the luxury Silverado Resort and Spa, it’s the perfect place to explore scenic Napa’s wine country. Napa Valley awaits and is a destination with countless wineries to visit, plus attractions, outdoor activities and great shopping.

To make plans and visit beautiful Napa Valley and surrounding wine country, be sure to stay at the amazing Silverado Resort and Spa. Contact The Life of Luxury to help book your travel reservation.

Rated as Italy’s number one wine by Liv-Ex, Masseto 2010 has just been released for sale to the Italian and international markets.

Masseto 2010 is a cru wine and was exclusively produced merlot grown in a Masseto vineyard of just 7 hectares in Italy. Masseto has rightfully become one of the world’s most outstanding wines.

Ornellaia Production Director and Winemaker Axel Heinz was quoted, “Cool weather conditions in 2010 resulted in the wine’s remarkably elegant expression and ultra-rich aromatics. It appears a deep, near-opaque red, and the nose exhibits great depth of fruit highlighted by refined hints of spice and mineral.”

Inside the winemaking cellar, each individual vineyard parcel is personally vinified separately by Axel Heinz himself. The Merlot is next exposed to the important process of time. The separate lots of Merlot grapes next mature for 12 months in new barriques.

After the blend is assembled, the wine is returned back to a barrel where it is stored for 12 additional months. Once completed, Masseto ages in the bottle for another 12 months.

Then after three full years after first harvested, Masseto 2010 is ready for release and to be enjoyed by wine lovers around the world.

Masseto is produced in very limited quantities and through a rigorous quality-selection process, the end product ensures the highest-possible quality of wine.

Masseto continue to achieve ackowledgements in the wine industry. After only twenty years since its first vintage back in 1986, several of the key awards includes: Wine Spectator awarded Masseto 2001 its highest score, 100/100, and Wine Advocate gave 99/100 to Masseto 2006. Also, Masseto consistently achieves high rankings in Italy’s main wine guides, Gambero Rosso, Espresso, Veronelli, Duemilavini AIS, and Luca Maroni.

With the release of their latest wine – Masseto 2010, we expect the string of much deserved awards to continue for Masseto.

If you are interested in purchasing a bottle of the new Masseto 2010 cru wine from Italy, please contact The Life of Luxury and one of our product specialists can assist you.