Ronn Wiegand Signature Wine Glasses

Ronn Wiegand Signature Wine Glasses

endorsement is a common thing in sports equipment but not quite so common in the world of wine. Master Sommelier and Master of Wine Ronn Wiegand has collaborated on hew line of wine glasses with German line Eisch Glaskultur. The Ronn Wiegand Signature series of Breathable wine glasses were collaboratively designed by Ronn Wiegand and Eisch. In a press release, Wiegand stated that after a year and a half of using Eisch Breathable glasses on a daily basis on hundreds and hundreds of red, white, and rose wines from around the world he was very impressed. He found that they helped wines taste smoother, fruitier, and more forward. The new line is machine-made, lead-free crystal with a pulled stem and is specially designed to show the best in New World wines. Each piece is produced from a single lump of glass, eliminating the seam between the stem and the bowl. The series includes glasses for Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Champagne, and an all-purpose Red Wine glass. The Ronn Wiegand Signature line also includes a Tumbler. Prices range from $239.99 to $324.99 for a set of six glasses.
Tags: ronn wiegand, RonnWiegand

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Crepuscule, A Wine To Drink In The Magic Hour

Crepuscule, A Wine To Drink In The Magic Hour

I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for five-dollar words and crepuscule has to be one of my favorites. It is a French word referring to the magical hour of twilight. It's also the name for a magical dessert wine. The 2006 Crepuscule Late Harvest Semillon, $90 (375 ml) is a wine from Swanson Vineyards in Rutherford, California. Swanson has made this wine eight times over the past 22 years, needing exactly the right conditions for 'noble rot.' The wine includes some Sauvignon Blanc and is fermented in new French oak with native yeast. Swanson has made my bottles to bring lists before, their dessert wines are some of the best produced in California and with names like Arsene, Minuit, Tardif and Luminous they are great conversation starters. The 2006 Arsene Fortified Petite Sirah which sells for $75 is a port-style desert wine that would pair terrifically with dark chocolate truffles. The 2004 Minuit Black Muscat, $65 (375 ml) is made entirely of black muscat grapes, vinified in a process developed by Spanish missionaries two hundred years ago, adding brandy to the just harvested juice. The wine's name, the French word for midnight, seems to suggest the ideal drinking time. The 2005 Tardif Late Harvest Chardonnay, $80 (375 ml), is golden wine with a honey nectar flavor, it would be all sorts of wonderful served with a creamy cheesecake. The 2006 Luminous Gewurztraminer Ice Wine, $85 (375 ml) has the classic piercing sweetness of ice wine and expresses the lychee and honeysuckle character of the grape. For chocolate lovers, the Alexis bonbon, a collaboration between Alexis Swanson Traina and Katrina Markoff of Vosges Haut Chocolate is a must-try. It has a cocoa and cabernet sauvignon center, is dipped in Belgian chocolate and dusted with a delicate curry powder.
Tags: crepuscule, dessert wines, DessertWines, swanson vineyards, SwansonVineyards
Filed under: Wine

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Ralph Lauren's Luxe Holiday Offerings

Ralph Lauren's Luxe Holiday Offerings

This holiday season Ralph Lauren has come out with a number of luxurious offerings rooted in the spirit of 1930's Sun Valley, the famous Idaho ski resort frequented by socialites and celebrities. The designer's Holiday Collection "embodies wintry sophistication with luxe cashmeres, rich tartan plaids, regal velvets and chic yet rustic details, creating gifts with a nod to classic American heritage and modern sensibility." Standout items include a tartan plaid duffel bag made of rich wool with saddle leather trim for $1,500, and the Brabham Vice Box at $4,995 (above), a streamlined case containing handsome crystal barware, sleek coasters and a debonair poker set. As a limited edition of 50, each box bears a numbered plate. Other home items evoke the inviting world of the Adirondacks or a sleek urban environment, with a sophisticated jewel-toned palette executed in sumptuous materials.[via JustLuxe]
Tags: barware, holiday 09, Holiday09, poker, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren, Sun Valley, SunValley
Filed under: Decor, Spirits, Men's Style

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The Wine Trials 2010 Presents Red & White Luxuries for Less than $15

<i>The Wine Trials 2010</i> Presents Red &amp; White Luxuries for Less than $15

The expression "Cost is no object" goes both ways: sometimes your greatest desires can consume an entire trust fund, other times they can be fulfilled for a few quarters. Yet wen it comes to matters of literal taste -- the kind you judge with your palate -- your mouth knows what it likes, dollar signs be damned. And when it comes to wine, as anyone who has shopped in Paris for a bottle of red knows, one can find some startlingly delicious vintages at startlingly low prices. Robin Goldstein's The Wine Trials 2010 helps you find divine deals on either side of the pond. The tome has 150 recommendations for wines under $15, all of which were chosen in blind taste tests. The fine print says the "results were compiled, analyzed, and reviewed by a team of scientists including statisticians, neuroscientists, and economists," but as with those dollar signs, your taste buds don't care about them, either -- the point is that you can indulge in rewarding varietals without wincing. There were 450 wines, bruts, and champagnes tested, with winners emerging from Spain, Portugal, Argentina, France, Germany, and Washington state among others. Goldstein also includes a section called "The taste of money" examining the the principle that people believe a wine tastes better if they know it's expensive. And no, the picture doesn't lie: there are even three box wines included, if you are fearless about your frontiers. We'll be honest: it's occasionally rewarding to remember that luxury doesn't need to cost a fortune. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't, so don't get any ideas...
Tags: the wine trials, TheWineTrials, wine
Filed under: Wine

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Coppola Sues Over Faulty Wine Closures

Coppola Sues Over Faulty Wine Closures

Oxidized wine can be a nightmare for any winemaker. Francis Ford Coppola's winery is suing Vinocor, the maker of specialized screw caps and custom bottles for the Coppola's Encyclopedia wine series. The wines were created to showcase varietals that best represent the culture and traditions of different winegrowing regions and have distinctive beaker-like bottles. Coppola's team says that defective bottles and caps ended up ruining 55,000 cases of wine. Francis Ford Coppola Presents is taking on Vinocor USA, saying that they paid $685,000 for the packaging but that the first shipment had bottles with chipped glass and caps that had uneven threading and were bent. According to Courthouse News Service, Coppola has said that he complained about the first shipment and Vinocor promised it would fix the problem. Coppola says he ordered another 100,000 screw caps and another round of bottles, but they were also defective. The bottles and caps leaked and allowed air in, causing oxidation and tainting the wine. Coppola's winery wants a return of money spent as well as unspecified damages.
Tags: coppola winery, CoppolaWinery, francis ford coppola, FrancisFordCoppola, lawsuit, wine
Filed under: Wine

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Historic Cognac Sells For Ten Times Over Estimate

Historic Cognac Sells For Ten Times Over Estimate

Part of the lure of drinking older vintages is the idea of quaffing history, imagining what was happening when the bottle was first sealed. The 427-year-old La Tour d'Argent restaurant in Paris recently auctioned off some of its drinkable history in an auction that brought in 1.54 million euros in two days. A bottle of 1788 Clos du Griffier cognac was one of the first of around 18,000 bottles auctioned off. French entrepreneur Raphael Zier paid 25,000 euros for it but is quoted by Bloomberg as saying that he paid 10 times the asking price because he was eager to contribute to the charity for children, Association Petits Princes, which would get the proceeds. Ivan Imenitov, a Russian businessman picked up another bottle of the 1788 Clos du Griffier for 15,000 euros. It was priced lower because mold had obscured the label. Imenitvov said he was just happy to get the aged cognac, label or not. Collectors from around the world picked up bottles of aged Bordeaux and Burgundy. The bottles, which were bought directly from vinters and sent straight to the seller, had an impeccable provenance, a concern in these days of wine fraud.The auction also brought attention back to the historic restaurant which is currently trying to earn back a second Michelin star (at one point it had three but is now down to one). Most of the auction proceeds, except for the charity sale of the cognac bottle, will go toward fleshing out the wine cellar with newer vintages and sprucing up the kitchen.
Tags: auction, cognac, france, la tour dargent, LaTourDargent, paris, wine
Filed under: Wine, Auctions

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Will TinyBottles Be A Big Idea For Wine?

Will TinyBottles Be A Big Idea For Wine?

The latest innovation from custom winemaking facility Crushpad is a new way to get their boutique wines into more hands. Their new TinyBottles come in sets of four letting potential buyers taste several different wines for a lower cost, hopefully attracting those who might balk at spending $50 or more for an unfamiliar wine.The new tasting kits are available on the site BrixR.com, a website that also includes videos and recommendations and sells wines from the various small vineyards. On Brixr a four bottle tasting pack sells for $29.95. The bottles were developed for Crushpad customers but an article on Wines & Vines says that Crushpad could also use the system for other wines include barrel samples or imports. Other applications include online tasting, retail or restaurant samples, in-flight wine tastings or review samples.
Tags: brixr, crushpad, tinybottles, wine
Filed under: Wine

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Belvedere Vodka Silver Ltd. Edition

Belvedere Vodka Silver Ltd. Edition

Belvedere, the all natural super premium vodka from Poland, has come out with a limited edition silver bottle for the holidays perfect for gift giving or festive occasions. Available only until the New Year, the Belvedere Silver bottle features the brand's signature design set against a mirrored background for a modern, celebratory look. Using only Dankowskie Gold Rye grown solely in the sweeping plains of Poland's Mazovia region, water from a pristine artesian well, and a proprietary purification process, Belvedere is distilled four times to uncover the vodka's strength of character. The preciseness of the distillation process allows the distinctive notes of the vodka to come through without stripping away the subtle nuances, resulting in a smooth, creamy, peppery taste with a clean finish.The limited edition Belvedere Silver bottles are available in four sizes: 375 ml, 750 ml, 1 litre and 1.75 litre, with the 750 ml size retailing for $35.
Tags: Belvedere, Belvedere Vodka, BelvedereVodka, holiday 09, Holiday09, limited edition, LimitedEdition, Poland, vodka

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The $85,000 Scotch Whisky Gift Experience

The $85,000 Scotch Whisky Gift Experience

If Jared Paul Stern's $2 Million Scotch Whisky Gift Experience (with Glenfiddich) was a little too rich for your blood, an $85,000 experience with The Dalmore might be just right for you.We've covered various Dalmore bottles with prices as high as $58,000 over the years, as well as a tasting led by the colorful third generation Master Distiller Richard Paterson (above). With the once-in-a-lifetime Dalmore Experience package, you can combine all that -- taste the best bottles, spend a day with Richard and even get your hands on a custom-blended bottle of The Whisky Dalmore. The $85,000 price tag gets you first class transportation (including airfare) to the Scottish Highlands, a city and country tour, four nights in a five-star hotel, a private barrel tasting of resting casks, a day of falconry with Richard Paterson, and a bespoke bottle of scotch whisky hand-created for you by Richard himself -- after he gets to know you, you personality and your preferences. The bottle will arrive in a handmade case a few weeks after you return to real life.This extravagant package is so exclusive, it's only available for those in-the-know. Comment below and indicate your interest if would like to be contacted by a representative (or contact Annie.Scott-at-weblogsinc.com), and the Luxist team will pass along your information. You're welcome.
Tags: dalmore, richard paterson, RichardPaterson, scotch, the dalmore, TheDalmore, whisky, Whisky Tours, WhiskyTours
Filed under: Journeys, Spirits

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Win A Copy Of The Ponzi Vineyards Cookbook

Win A Copy Of The Ponzi Vineyards Cookbook

The name Ponzi has gotten a bad reputation lately. With the words 'Ponzi scheme' flying around left and right, it's important to remember that Ponzi isn't just a name associated with stealing money, it's also an Italian name with a long heritage. And it's a name that belongs to a great winery in Orgeon. Now that winery, Ponzi Vineyards, has released The Ponzi Vineyards Cookbook. This is guaranteed to get the bad Ponzi taste right out of your mouth. Nancy Ponzi has shared a variety of recipes that include not just Italian specialties like eggplant lasagna and Doba alla Piemontese but Latin American fare like Chilean Pebres with meats. The cookbook has over 80 recipes from appetizers like oysters Rockefeller to desserts like ricotta cheese cake. The tone of the book is warm and family-centered, Nancy Ponzi shares anecdotes of vineyard life and tips for pairing wines with many dishes. We have one copy of this great book to give away.Some other important details:* To enter, leave a confirmed comment below.* The comment must be left and confirmed before December 18, 2009 at 5:00PM Eastern Time.* You may only enter once.* One winner will be selected in a random drawing.* One winner will receive a copy of The Ponzi Vineyards Cookbook valued at $24.95.* Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.See complete contest rules here.This contest is now closed. Thank you for your participation.
Tags: book giveaway, BookGiveaway, cookbook giveaway, CookbookGiveaway, giveaway, oregon wines, OregonWines, ponzi vineyards, ponzi wines, PonziVineyards, PonziWines
Filed under: Books

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Getting Sirius: Luxist Samples The Dalmore's 58-Year-Old Scotch

Getting Sirius: Luxist Samples The Dalmore's 58-Year-Old Scotch

There are some opportunities that only come up once in a lifetime – if you're lucky. You may not know them before they present themselves, but you sure will when they have. Experiences like driving a Ferrari around Italy. Dining on the top floor of the World Trade Center. Shaking hands with the President. Or drinking a whisky that's old enough to have been your father.The good folks at The Dalmore distillery in the Scottish Highlands were kind enough to oblige us on that last one a few weeks ago. And we've spent at least a few minutes every day since trying to figure out how we'd describe the experience to you, our loyal readers. Follow the jump to read how we found it.

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10 Holiday Spirits to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

10 Holiday Spirits to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

Some people are hard to shop for -- what do you get for that person who has everything? Answer: Booze. Something consumable is almost always a solid choice, unless you know your friend is on some kind of special diet. Cupcakes are great, but a bottle of something imbiblious is festive and practically synonymous with celebration.A simple bottle of wine can be a pretty lame gift. If you want your gift to matter, be noticed, or be remembered, go for something a little extra special. Here's our list of 10 great holiday bottles (and new-this-season treats) that will have your recipient charmed and delighted. Click through the gallery for pics of each!1. La Vie Grand Marnier. This limited edition metallic red bottle (above right) is cheery and bright, and comes in an upbeat, vintage French poster-inspired box. $69.95.

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