Well recognized as one of the top estates in Italy, Bolgheri is also one of the favorite spots to produce wine in the world.

The Second Vin of Ornellaia is expected to meet all of the high expectations for Bolgheri’s most spectacular vintage.

Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2011 is the Estate’s ‘second vin.’ The great tasting wine is a cuvée of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grapes from the Bolgheri estate’s younger vineyards.

The Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2011 wine’s vintage ideally reflects the growing year that produced it – 2011. That year, the rains arrived just at the desired moment, right after flowering and veraison, which encouraged excellent development of the clusters.

Michel Rolland is an International Winemaker Consultant and commented on the vintage 2011, “Bolgheri is today one of the most famous spot to produce wine in the world. Everybody remembers the fantastic 2001 vintage. Ten years after 2011 is as amazing as 2001 was. But we are working better, and 2011 seems to be more sophisticated.”

The Ornellaia Estate extends over 97 hectares along the beautiful Tuscan coast, nearby the medieval hamlet of Bolgheri and the world famous, cypress-lined avenue “Viale dei Cipressi.”

Ornellaia has earned extensive recognition is consistently ranked among the top estates by the Italian Wine Guides, including: Espresso, Gambero Rosso, Duemilavini AIS, Veronelli plus Luca Maroni. In 2001, the 1998 Ornellaia was declared Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator.

Axel Heinzis the Ornellaia’s Winemaker and Production Director and stated, “The palate immediately amazes continued Heinz, “for its ripeness and quality tannins, which are supple, densely-packed and already strikingly glossy.”

Ornellaia’s company philosophy considers the birth of the wines to be the truest expression of their terroir. All of the grapes for Ornellaia are carefully selected by hand, and picked in the estate’s vineyards in Bolgheri, located on the Tuscan coast in Italy.

If you are interested in purchasing the Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2011 or any other hard to find fine wine, please contact The Life of Luxury.

Ideally located in the center of the world’s largest area of fine wine vineyards, the luxurious Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa welcomes both amateurs and wine lovers to uncover the great wine estates of Bordeaux, France.

Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa is found in the center of the city of Bordeaux, in La Place de La Comédie square that overlooks the historic Le Grand Théâtre.

Bordeaux is in France’s South-West region and known worldwide for its fantastic grape vineyards and fine wine. The annual grape harvest season is the ideal time to experience one of the most crucial steps in the process of wine making.

The Wine Concierge Service at Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa has impressive knowledge and strong connections with the various châteaux of the region. This insider knowledge of the local, Bordeaux wine industry can make your trip a memorable one. Hotel guests are provided a rare opportunity to access the world of fine wine, that is unsurpassed in the luxury sector.

The luxury Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa can create bespoke itineraries for its guests who are interested in discovering the secrets of great wines and exploring the wine making process. This allows you to experience the behind-the-scenes of the annual grape harvest and actually includes the hand picking of the grapes.

If you are looking for a fantastic wine tasting experience, then consider visiting Margaux, St-Julien, St-Estèphe, Pauillac, St-Emilion, Pessac-Léognan, and Sauternes. The hotel’s Wine Concierge Service can take care of all the logistics for intimate and private tastings in the various estates and appellations.

Based on this fine wine heritage, the luxury Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux has created a new ‘Wine Package’ available until the end of the year, which includes the following:
• Two nights accommodation for two including daily breakfast at ‘The Bordeaux’, the hotel’s 19th century Belle-Epoque brasserie
• Half day wine tour – Guests will be able to discover and taste wine from renowned estates Saint Emilion or Médoc, where they will learn the art of wine making and wine blending, as well as the secret for aging wine.
• Transfer to and from the estates in a private car
• Free access to the Spa and Fitness Centre
• Free access to broadband Internet and Free Wifi
Pricing for this amazing, French harvest package is €1,252 and excludes the city tax (€1.45 per person per day).

For a wonderful fine dining experience, the hotel offers a gastronomic joy in their Michelin-starred ‘Le Pressoir d’Argent’ restaurant, which is headed by Pascal Nibaudeau;

The Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa is committed to providing its guests with unparalleled experiences. It’s ideal location plus high level of expertise in the world of fine wine will make your visit magical.

For additional information or to make a travel reservation to visit Bordeaux, France and and stay at the Grand Hôtel de Bordeaux & Spa, please contact The Life of Luxury. One of our travel concierge specialists will handle all your arrangements.

Photo: Harvest Inn

The Harvest Inn is a AAA Four Diamond hotel that’s located in scenic St. Helena.

With summer almost here, the luxury hotel in the world famous Napa Valley, is introducing its new ‘Healthy Living in Napa Valley’ package.

The Harvest Inn is surrounded by many world-class wineries and extraordinary dining. It’s the is the ideal retreat where hotel guests can simply relax and rejuvenate after a full day of local wine country adventures.

The Harvest Inn serves up a truly authentic Napa Valley experience, so much so that guests return here again and again. The luxury hotel features country estate-style accommodations such as uniquely designed, well-appointed brick and wood cottages, guestrooms and suites spread over eight acres of gorgeously landscaped gardens and hundreds of redwood trees.

The new “Healthy Living in Napa Valley” package being offered by the Harvest Inn, provides its guests an exclusive blend of outdoor adventures with the best in food, wine and relaxation in the heart of Napa Valley.

The Harvest Inn “Healthy Living in Napa Valley” Package includes the following amenities:

* luxurious two-night stay in a charming guestroom at the Harvest Inn
* unique cycling excursion from Clif Family Winery at Velo Vino, followed by a post-ride Le Maillot Jaune tasting experience
* two 60-minute rejuvenating massage therapy treatments
* $100 gift card to Cindy Pawlcyn’s Wood Grill and Wine Bar
* complimentary wine country breakfast each morning, tailored amenities, access to the fitness center and pool, plus much more!

The unique cycling excursion will provide lasting memories. The “Cruiser Road Rental Package” from Clif Family Winery at Velo Vino, includes a cruiser bike rental from Calistoga Bike Shop, customized fitting, and bicycle helmet.

Prior to your cycling journey, guests will enjoy a complimentary espresso and Clif Bar at Velo Vino. You’ll pick up a map noting the top bike routes in picturesque Napa Valley or have a customized ride developed just for them.

In addition, your “Healthy Living in Napa Valley” package also comes with:

* Complimentary wine country breakfast each morning
* Wine and cheese tastings on Friday and Saturday evenings in the Harvest Inn’s Great Room
* Access to the Fitness Center and swimming pool
* On-site parking
* Free Internet access

The Harvest Inn features stunning vineyard and mountain vistas, two heated swimming pools open 24 hours, a well-equipped Fitness Room, massage treatment rooms tucked into the gardens and among the redwoods, complimentary breakfast daily, warm, inviting hospitality and high-quality service, plus a relaxed, retreat-like atmosphere steeped in comfortable luxury.

For guests that simply want to unwind and let your escape your worries, just beyond the lobby you’ll find the Inn’s spacious Great Room, where guests enjoy fireside wine tastings beside the massive cobblestone hearth.

In addition, the cozy wine bar offers fine samples of local vintages as well as tranquil views, handsome leather sofas, a grand piano and backgammon tables.

To take advantage of the “Healthy Living in Napa Valley” package and book a reservation at the Harvest Inn hotel in St. Helena, please contact The Life of Luxury using the below form:

Copain Wines

Copain Wines is a premium winery and tasting room located just two short miles from downtown Healdsburg, in the middle of Northern California’s world-famous wine country.

Specializing in vineyard-designated wines from the Anderson Valley and Mendocino County, Copain Wines features a tasting room that’s perched on a hill overlooking the serenely beautiful Russian River Valley.

Pack your own lunch and relax in their picnic tables and Adirondack chairs, and take in the gorgeous local wine country views.

Copain Wines has long been a favorite among both locals and Healdsburg/Sonoma area visitors who prefer its “off the beaten path” location. Patrons gather to enjoy winemaker Well Guthrie’s cool-climate Pinot Noir and Syrah, which have cultivated a cult following since Copain’s inception in 1999.

The winery’s professional staff is warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable. Open by appointment, the winery welcomes guests to join the ‘Farm Table Tasting’ tasting, featuring a selection of Copain’s hand-crafted wines, offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily in the hilltop tasting room.

A fee of $15 is waived with purchase. Members of the recently launched Copain Membership Program may request the ‘Farm Table Tasting,’ or a private appointment between the hours of 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Inspired by his time in Burgundy and the Northern Rhône Valley of France, Well Guthrie marries French stylistic sensibilities with the best organically-farmed California fruit to craft classically-styled wines that are well balanced and food-friendly.

To book a vacation to Northern California’s Sonoma or Napa wine-country, please contact us using the form below.

Now is your chance to experience the best of California’s Napa Valley wine country with this ultimate luxury package.

To celebrate of the second annual Flavor! Napa Valley, event organizers of the popular wine and food festival partnered with private jet industry leader Magellan Jets and Meadowood Napa Valley resort to create the most exclusive and prestigious Napa wine tasting travel package in the region’s history!

The 2012 five-day Flavor! Napa Valley Celebration of Wine, Food & Fun is a five-day annual event that features world-class Napa Valley wines alongside Napa Valley’s master chefs and graduates of The Culinary Institute of America’s culinary education programs.

The Legends of Napa Valley: A Definitive Tasting has a starting price tag of US $50,000. This incredible package includes –
– Tickets for two to the $3,500-per-ticket marquee event of the festival, “The Legends of Napa Valley: A – – Tickets for two to “Definitive Tasting Appellation Trail: Tasting Napa Valley”
– Tickets for two to “Conservatory Dinner with Larry Forgione”
– Tickets for two round-trip flights on one of – Magellan’s exemplary jets
– Luxurious accommodations at Meadowood Napa Valley resort

Meadowood is settled among two-hundred-fifty private acres in the heart of this scenic valley, America’s premier wine growing region.

Flavor! Napa Valley

Only 32 people will have the unique opportunity to taste more than 60 wines that tell the story of the Napa Valley including the oldest wine tasted will be a Louis M. Martini 1957 Pinot Noir.

One of the most notable wines to be poured is a Chateau Montelena 1976 Chardonnay; its 1973 counterpart was ranked #1 in the 1976 Judgment of Paris. It was a win that stunned the wine establishment and placed the Napa Valley and entire California wine industry on the map.

Here’s a summary of what you will experience over two days – Friday 16th and Saturday 17th of November.

. Day One: Tasters will experience rare wines from founding wineries and wineries that led the post-Prohibition renaissance, such as Schramsberg, Stony Hill and Robert Mondavi.

. Day Two: Devoted to the new pioneers, the second day features vintages from the likes of Staglin Family and Harlan Estate vineyards. In addition, two of the Napa Valley’s legendary figures, Andy Beckstoffer and Heidi Peterson Barrett, will be honored with a comprehensive tasting of their signature wines, including cult favorite Screaming Eagle.

For additional information or to book a reservation at the Flavor! Napa Valley Celebration of Wine, Food & Fun event, please complete the below form:

Netil House  – Waldorf Project

For an unbelievable night of entertainment, plan on attending The Waldorf Project at the Netil House in London.

Between October 10-14, the global premiere of this spectacular Waldorf Project includes a stylish blend of visual arts, theatrical performance, contemporary choreography and staging, plus fine cuisine and the best rare wine available.

It’s definitely a dining and performance experience to die for as London literally takes center stage for a night to remember.

The Waldorf Project will brilliantly showcase six of the most exciting practitioners in the respective worlds of choreography, design, visual art, theatre, electronic music and gastronomy.

The driving force and director behind the creation of the Waldorf Project is British artist Sean Rogg. The result is the ideal meshing of an unique art performance with visual, aural, creative and performative arts. Topping it off is the chance to enjoy some of the world’s rarest wines and finest, delicious tasting food.

Each of the show’s collaborators was personally and carefully picked by Sean Rogg to represent an imaginative approach to the theme – the rare Japanese muskmelon. In addition they bring their readiness to break boundaries through the most fundamental fusion of their diverse disciplines.

If you are unable to attend this year’s event, be sure experience the Waldorf Project: Chapter Two which be held in the Spring of 2013.

Below is an overview of the Waldorf Project:

Set Design: Gina Geoghegan
Art Director across fields of theatre, film and brand experiences, Gina Geoghegan will transform Netil House into a 5000 square foot hydroponic fantasy land. The immersive environment will be one where the plant culture not only serves as a bewitching backdrop for the performance, but is also incorporated into the menu itself.

Choreography: Imogen Knight
Choreographer and Movement Director Imogen Knight has choreographed eight dancers who will serve guests throughout the evening. The way in which the performers interact with the plates and the space is built into the design of the environment, which itself has been inspired by the food. For The Waldorf Project Imogen has created a performance bridging the gap between naturalism and surrealism, combining darkness and humour and highlighting base human emotions with dramatic effect.

Sound Design: Walls
Winners of the coveted Mojo Electronica Album of the Year award, sound artists Alessio Natalizia and Sam Willis, known together at “Walls”, are two of the most innovative minds working in electronic music today. For the Waldorf Project the duo will create a distinct sonic backdrop for each phase of the evening, completing the multi-sensory experience.

Food Design: Andrew Stellitano and Blanch & Shock
Food design studio Blanch & Shock and gastronomy artist Andrew Stellitano have collaboratively developed the menu as a narrative in 6 courses, moving from the rustic and unprocessed to expertly stylised dishes. Each course has been put together using premium quality produce and will be presented to guests by choreographed dancers.

Wine: Sanford and Benedict
The Waldorf Project will serve fine wines provided by prior owner of legendary California winery Sanford and Benedict. These include arguably the very best two vintages of the last twenty years for the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, 1994 and 1997. Four of the wines are special collaborations with Au Bon Climat, which were never released onto the market. The wines have been tasted throughout the creation of the menu, intrinsically connecting them to the food and ensuring a perfectly synchronized pairing.

Contact us ASAP if you are interested in attending.

Craggy Range

It’s easy to understand why a great tasting Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand would get all the attention from wine lovers. But please don’t forget about the “other” white wine – Chardonnay.

Wine season is well underway even thought temperatures are retreating from the summer highs.

Craggy Range Kidnappers Chardonnay 2010 from New Zealand is a delicious tasting wine. This new white wine offers a more Chablis like expression.

New Zealand’s shallow, warm clay loam soils allows the development of very pure, cool Chardonnay flavors
in brand’s grapes. This white wine features aromas of ripe, zesty citrus fruits, in addition to a slight taste of banana.

It’s juicy zesty core and the acidity and freshness comes from its coastal location in New Zealand.

Craggy Range Kidnappers Vineyard Hawke’s Bay 2010 has a suggested retail price of only $21.99

Liebherr

Germany-based Liebherr Corporation is the worldwide leader in luxury refrigeration. The refrigeration company just launched a new wine storage cabinet – the latest model in Vinidor Line of wine units.

The refrigeration company is well respected and known for its innovation and characterized by sophisticated and elegant design.

The new WS 17800 by Liebherr is a three-zone freestanding wine cabinet that will hold 178 wine bottles.

The WS 17800 wine rack is targeted at wine drinkers of all levels. It features a stunning stainless steel surround and elegant design detail allows it be a perfect fit in any dining or recreation room.

The new Liebherr freestanding wine cabinet is perfect for the wine connoisseur who may not have enough space in their home for a cellar. The cabinet’s third temperature zone produces the perfect beverage storage temperature of 55º F plus a drinking temperature for white wines (41º F) and red wines (64º F).

Each of the three temperature zones can be adjusted separately from the other zones to adhere to the owners’ specific preferences.

Additional major features by Liebherr ensures successful wine maturity, such as:
• Constant, high air-quality, with re-circulated cooling and fresh air supplied through an activated charcoal filter
• Exact digital temperature controls in each of the three zones
• Wooden pull-out shelves on smooth telescopic rails that make selecting a bottle convenient
• Digital ventilation control to precisely maintain desired humidity between 50% and 80%
• Quiet storage, due to specially developed vibration-free compressors that keep bottles still
• Energy efficient LED lighting for an attractive display without adding any heat or UV light into the storage cabinet

Learn more about the WS 17800 wine cabinet by visiting www.liebherr-appliances.com. It will also be available at fine and specialty appliance retailers across the U.S. and Canada beginning November 2012 with a manufacturer suggested retail price of $4,899 USD.

The incredible Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris was built in 1928. This luxury hotel is the only Parisian Palace to offer such an incredible wine cellar.

This beautiful wine cellar has a long history, dating back to World War II. To protect its bottle collection, the wine cellar was walled up from being accessed by the enemy.

The historic wine cellar named La Cave is used on special occasions and events for hotel guests.

To view a video of the La Cave wine cellar at the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris …..

Odette Estate

A new winery has opened in the beautiful Napa Valley of California. The new addition is Stag’s Leap winery, Odette Estate.

Odette Estate is located on the former Steltzner Vineyards property in Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District.

Opening this month is a redesigned tasting room at Odette Estate. The tasting room is planned to feature PlumpJack and CADE wines in addition to a new line named Adaptation. The Odette Estate tasting room will offer a selection of wines focusing on the Napa Valley appellation.

Additional information about Odette Estate in Napa:

* Owned by PlumpJack Group partners Gordon Getty, Gavin Newsom, and John Conover, Odette Estate is a new winery in Napa Valley’s Stag’s Leap District

* The re-designed Odette tasting room will be open daily from 10am – 4pm

* The winery’s name Odette was chosen for its representation of femininity, strength and power, all of which characterize the wines of Stag’s Leap District. Odette has also been a pivotal character, not only in the literary works such as those penned by Shakespeare and Proust, but also in Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake. In the wine world, Odette was the name of one of the French judges of the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 in which a red wine from Stags Leap District beat out the French competition to take top honors.

* The property, built on the celebrated former Stelzner Vineyards estate, includes a historic 36‐acre vineyard and a 5,000-square‐foot winery with 18,000 square feet of caves (one of the first modern caves built in Napa Valley)

* The new winery will be designed by renowned young Hispanic architect Juancarlos Fernandez, who designed CADE Winery

* The vineyards are being re-planted and are currently undergoing conversion to 100 percent organic farming (in accordance with the PlumpJack Group’s continued commitment to organic viticulture)

* The new winery will be LEED certified

* Jeff Owens, who has been with the PlumpJack Group since 2006, working as assistant winemaker at CADE, will serve as winemaker for Odette Estate

* Construction of the new winery will be completed in 2013

* 2011 will mark the first vintage of Odette Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and will be released in 2013. The winery’s Adaptation line of wines will be available in the tasting room at Odette Estate, in addition to CADE wines.

Odette Estate can be found at 5998 Silverado Trail, Napa, California 94558. Reach Odette Estate by calling (707) 224-7533.

A common question for foodies is how to pair wine with food? The old adage that white wine pairs well with fish while red wine works with meat, serves as good advice to begin.

Wine expert Brandon Walsh is the president of Reston, Va.-based Hosted Wine Tasting and offers the following wine tips:

– Try to match the weights of the wine with the food being served.
– Wines should always be served at their optimal serving temperatures, as well.

Try these suggested wine and food pairings for a great tasting meal:

– Lighter-bodied white wines include reisling and pinot grigio.
– Medium-bodied wines include sauvignon blanc while chardonnay is a fuller, heavier-bodied wine.
– Lighter-bodied wines go well with salads, as well as light fish, such as sushi.
– Medium-bodied wines works well with light and flakey fish as well as poultry.
– Heavier-bodied whites, such as chardonnay, pair very well with salmon or swordfish.