Wine
The top retreats for 2012 in California's oldest wine valley
The top retreats for 2012 in California's oldest wine valley
California's Sonoma Valley has a lot to brag about. Having withstood the test of time and Prohibition, it can claim to be the birthplace of California wine. It now hosts the oldest wineries in what is perhaps America's only world-renowned viticulture state, making Sonoma Valley one of the top places west of Bordeaux to swill a native vintage. As summer settles in, signalling the start of warm weather festivities that culminate in the September harvest, it's time to take advantage of hotel retreat packages that let you worry about your favourite varietals and nothing else. We've scouted out the best of the best.
Top Five: Marsala Wines
Marsala is a fortified wine traditionally produced around the Sicilian city of the same name. It was immensely popular in England in the late 17th century (thanks to the efforts of English trader John Woodhouse), but gradually lost followers until a resurgence in popularity during the last five years. Produced via the 'in perpetuum' process – much like the solera system used to make sherry – Marsala attained DOC status in 1969.
Grillo, Inzolia and Catarratto are the main grape varieties used to make Marsala, and – similar to port and sherry – the wines are rated by their age, colour and sweetness. The three sweetness levels are Secco, Semisecco and Dolce, ranging from 40 grams of residual sugar per litre, to 41-100 grams and over 101 grams. Classified colours are 'Oro' (golden), 'Ambra' (amber) and 'Rubino' (ruby), and the ages are defined by 'Fino' (aged less than 1 year), 'Superiore' (a minimum of two years), 'Superiore Riserva' (at least four years old), 'Vergine' (minimum of five years) and finally the 'Soleras Stravecchio' (aged for at least ten years). There are also vintage wines that will have the vintage year in addition to the classifications above.
Here are five of the best:
Pellegrino Cantine Cremovo Cream Fino, DOC
This is a deep amber-coloured dessert Marsala, not unlike a sweet Pedro Ximenex in flavour profile. It's raisiny on the nose with a hint of cinnamon, lots of Christmas fruitcake flavours and a long, very moreish finish. Try it with a blue cheese or a ripe triple cream. Go to the winery homepage
Spiritual Collection
Bay van der Bunt and his World beating collection of spirits
Bay van der Bunt, from the Netherlands, started collecting rare spirits in 1971 when he was 23. Today his extensive collection numbers around 5,000, is worth around 6 million EUR and is up for sale.
CENTURION: Tell us a little about the collection?
Bay van der Bunt: It is about 2,900 bottles of cognac, a little fewer than 100 bottles of Armagnac, and they all date back to 1700, 1800 and 1900. I then have around 600–700 bottles of port and around 100 bottles of whisky, some bottles of Madeira, very old French liqueur, from around 1890. Altogether, I have more than 5,000 bottles.
What inspired you to put the collection together?
When my father quit drinking I started collecting. My father was told [by the doctor] that he was not allowed to drink much any more, so he handed over a few bottles to me.
Winter wine festivals kick off across North America this month
Winter wine festivals kick off across North America this month
This past weekend, the most exclusive wine event and auction in North America celebrated a milestone in its 12-year history. The Naples Winter Wine Festival, held at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida, brought in USD 12.2 million at its live auction for a total of USD 106.7 million raised since 2001, all to benefit the region's underprivileged children. Highlights included the top-selling lot, a private beachfront concert by Grammy-winning country singer LeAnn Rimes catered by celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, which sold for USD 1.2 million. The highest bidding wine lot, donated by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, garnered USD 550,000 – twice. Of course, along with the wining came plenty of dining, as dishes were served up by 17 of the country's most venerated chefs, among them Wolfgang Puck and Tony Mantuano.
But if you didn't make it to Naples this year, no worries. There are still ample opportunities to warm up with winter wine across North America in February.
Château de Seguin wine estate in Bordeaux for sale
Château de Seguin wine estate in Bordeaux for sale
Located on the south west coast of France, Bordeaux is a city of wonderful architecture and style – so much so that it is now a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not that this is the overwhelming concern for some people – it’s all about the wines, you see. In fact, with its renowned Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots and Sémillons, for some wine connoisseurs, heaven really is a place called Bordeaux.
The countryside in and around Bordeaux is perhaps the most renowned wine terroir in France, perhaps the world. It is here that hundreds of millions of bottles are produced each year in countless large, medium and small vineyards.
Set in 172 hectares of Bordeaux countryside, Château de Seguin is one such medium-sized wine estate in the region. On the market for EUR 11.2 million, the focal point is its bijou-style chateau, which boasts pointed turrets above ground and long cellars for storing huge quantities of wine below. The principle property comprises seven bedrooms and a separate apartment, alongside which there are several other buildings, such as a wine-tasting museum, reception rooms and various storage areas.
Export expert Pierre Philippe Durst on the wines of 2012
Export expert Pierre Philippe Durst on the wines of 2012
Pierre Philippe Durst grew up in the vineyards of Alsace, helping his family tend the grapes and doing all the hard work that goes into a good wine. He really didn’t want to become part of the local wine trade, so he studied languages instead, only to be lured back to take on the Export Manager’s job at Dopff Au Moulin. The company is one of the oldest family-owned vineyards in medieval, cobblestoned Riquewihr, an immeasurably picturesque village in France that's still protected by impressive city ramparts.
As a wine expert familiar with the export markets, we asked Durst to share his opinion on the state of the wine business and his predicted trends for 2012.
CENTURION: What is the Dopff vineyard story?
Pierre Philippe Durst: Where should I start? In 1574? That’s when the Dopff family company was established. Currently, the vineyard is run by the 13th generation. We currently have four generations here with the General Manager being the 13th, and the ‘Honorary President’ – although he is 92 years old – still comes to the office everyday to ensure that everyone is working as hard as possible. The 14th generation is here as well, although they are not really supposed to drink yet, as they are only five and eight years old. I am the Export Manager and look after more than 60 countries. Mind you, working in a small family company also means I help pack containers, pick grapes or lend a hand wherever necessary.
Label It Art
Anish Kapoor's label for Château Mouton Rothschild 2009
If you've ever seen or read about Anish Kapoor's oft-debated artwork Leviathan, you'll know that, even if it were for sale, there's no fitting that behemoth into a private art collection. In fact, you could probably fit a private art collection into it. Art buying fans of Kapoor have something to raise their glasses for though, because not only can you now own a manageably sized piece of the Indian-born British artist's work, you can drink from it, too.
Kapoor's latest work is a label designed for the Château Mouton Rothschild 2009 bottle, maintaining a tradition established by the Bordeaux region wine estate in 1945. Every year since then, an artist has decorated a label for Mouton Rothschild, with Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Picasso and Joan Miró numbering among the commissioned.
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