April 2021

First Previous 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Next Last

What began in 1950 as a partnership with Clare Valley Co-operative to distribute wines under the Chateau Clare label has grown into a historically significant tale in the Australian wine folklore. Decade after decade, the perseverance and the passion of a family has taken them to the top of the winemaking mountain down-under. The Wakefield Taylors Wines story began with Bill Taylor. Inspired by Bordeaux producers,  he decided to explore the wine regions in Australia.

Their pursuit of the perfect land brought him to South Australia’s Clare Valley where the family settled down by the Wakefield River. Coinciding with Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon, Bill Taylor took the first step on the soil that is now a focal point in Australian winemaking history. The plantation began with cabernet sauvignon grapes that came as a gift from Coonawarra’s Wynn family. The first vintage was produced in 1973, four years after the first grapes got planted.

Wakefield Taylors Wines, Source Facebook

As the business grew with public fanfare, the wines began to rise in popularity. The reds and the whites are both tailored to the needs of the public, fortified and sweet. The business expanded and so did the size of the vineyards. Wine after wine the Wakefield Taylors Wines name grew in stature with the brand becoming synonymous with excellence. The excellence was on show at the 2020 USA Wine Ratings, as multiple wines from the winery raked in awards in a stellar showing.

St Andrews Riesling

The highest-rated wine at the competition, the St Andrews Riesling won five awards on the back of their 97 point showing. Exceptionally balanced, the riesling displays notes of lime along with faint floral notes. The purity of the flavours and the mouthwatering crispness attract you. Its extraordinarily long finish encapsulates the perfection of a wine that comes along once in many years. The gold medal was just the start of this wine’s recognition at the competition as it went on to win Wine of the Year, Best in Show by Country, Best in Show by Varietal and Best Wine by Quality. 

St Andrews Shiraz

The second of the three gold medal-winning wines from Wakefield Taylors Wines, the St Andrews Shiraz has a ruby red colour. Its complex nose contains red berries, dark chocolate and hints of roasted coffee and charcuterie. The palate is rich and rounds up a generous wine that is an excellent mix of long, persistent flavours with elegant tannins. 

Jaraman Shiraz

The final gold medal-winning wine from Wakefield Taylors Wines, the Jaraman Shiraz has a deep cerise red colour with vibrant purple hues. The aromas of plum, blackberries and coffee beans prepare you for its palate. It is a well-balanced and luscious wine. The Jaraman Shiraz is a marriage between the fruits of Clare Valley and McLaren Vale.

St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon

This 2017 vintage from the St Andrews selection of wines is a complex and elegant cabernet sauvignon. The St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon offers notes of cassis and blackcurrant. It also has subtle hints of spice and dried tomato leaf. A generous wine, the St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon has poise and balance that can be experienced well with a long conversation. 

Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon

An ode to the Coonawarra grapes that started the Wakefield Taylors Wines journey all those years ago, the Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon is an enticing mixture of flavours of blackcurrant, choc mint and some eucalypt. A full-bodied, complex cabernet sauvignon it retains elegant tannins that provide it with a great structure. The complexity of the wine is because of the intense flavours of cassis, blackberry and more. 

These wines with several others are a part of select groups that all have one thing in common. They are all spectacular in their regard. The range of Wakefield Taylors Wines includes – The Legacy – The Pioneer – The Visionary – St Andrews – Jaraman – Taylor Made – TWP – Taylors Estate – Eighty Acres – Promised Land

– Limited Release

The liberal culture accorded to the Venice tradition of carefree beach-going and fun-having may be the reason why most of the people in the world know about the area, but the truth is that 

Abbot Kinney Boulevard Street, which is unofficially referred to as “hood’s most stylish street”, also is responsible for the amount of attention Venice is getting from the public eye these days.

Abbot Kinney Boulevard Street has some of the best art galleries, restaurants, bars, boutiques, etc., in the city of Los Angeles, and it is also where many beach-lovers come down to get a taste of the culture and experience. It is because the trendiest haven in the Westside is the Abbot Kinney Boulevard Street.

Abbot Kinney Boulevard Street, the beach at Venice, is one product of the Westside, known for its innovation, extensiveness, and the detail attached to the work the citizens put into the scenery of the beaches and their immediate environment. The street was named after Abbot Kinney, who created the city of Venice early into the 1900s. 

Of course, there have been many changes that have been observed in the city since those early years. Venice has seen a lot of growth commercially over the years, and this is due to the city-state’s involvement and investment in private businesses. A lot has changed since the days of Abbot Kinney, who is an inventor, environmentalist, and also a businessman who dealt mostly with tobacco sales and distribution.

There were few successfully managed businesses in those days, but now, this infamous street has seen the startups of many modern organizations interested in serving the city’s populace. Now, even clients come in from outside the neighborhood to experience the splash of culture and colors displayed on these beach streets.

The Abbot Kinney Street renovation began in 2007 when Pinkberry, the frozen yogurt company, arrived in the city. The entrance of a company as big as Pinkberry was in those days led to the cataclysmic effect of redevelopment and revamping of the average business mindset and approach to the running of their block.

In five years, after the entry of Pinkberry and the total renovation efforts, GQ magazine referred to the Abbot Kinney Boulevard Street as “The Coolest Block in America”, thereby making this national treasure a name that got recognized all over the world as different major brands started expanding their markets in the area.

If you do make your way to Los Angeles, it would be highly recommended for you to visit the Abbot Kinney Boulevard Street at least once for a good time. Now, without further ado, let us run down the list of the top spots in the Abbot Kinney Boulevard Street we selected for you to do some of your activities (business or pleasure) like drinking, shopping for clothes, eating good food, etc.

Check it out –

Where to Get Nice Drinks

Intelligentsia

The Intelligentsia indeed serves the most excellent tastes regarding the quality of their offered brews to its customers. Although it boasts of huge, uncompromising crowds who mostly come around to enjoy the cruise of the beach sides, you can also get the full service to your satisfaction if you make your reservations early.

The aggravation involved is definitely worth the stress when you get to experience the quality of their brews.

Salt & Straw

The drinks bar was formerly located in Portland, before moving their business down to Los Angeles. Salt & Straw brings that artistic feel to your scoop, making sure that you do not just have regular ice cream but one that you’d remember the taste of for a long time. The extensiveness of their menu means that there’s something for every customer who walks through their doors.

There are also the classic and seasonal options in the Salt & Straw menus.

Where to Get Good Food 

The Tasting Kitchen

The Tasting Kitchen is a food establishment that focuses its intent and resolves in the creation of excellent menus containing several periodic meals. The bar is managed by some of the most unique and welcoming people in town.

Felix Trattoria

Felix Trattoria specializes in pasta making in the same way that a chef did it back at Spago and the Rustic Canyon. It had always been Chef Evan Funke’s undertaking to promote authentic Italian meals to Venice – what this led to is the success of a culinary establishment that’s still going on strong.

The customers’ reviews have been highly encouraging as they always like to talk about how great the options on the Felix Trattoria menu is. Since there are so many good reviews, you might want to make that reservation as early as possible, so you do not lose chances at getting the quality meals served here.

Best Places to Shop for Clothes

Bazar

The boutique, established by Tina Wakino, a true native of Venice, has been in existence for more than 20 years on “The Coolest Block in America”. One wouldn’t think it has been that long, though, given the boutique’s still-fresh outlook, which features a mix of classic influences along with some modern statement pieces that are quite luxurious and eye-catching.

Heist

For clothes that will last you for a long time, it is suggested that you head down to Heist, which specializes in the sales of a wide range of designer brands and products for women. Nilou Ghodsi, the Heist owner, is one person who has a good eye out there for procuring modern-classic wears. 

Festivals and Flea Markets to Attend in Abbot Kinney Boulevard Street 

First Fridays on Abbot Kinney

The first Fridays on these streets feature lots of outdoor art galleries, food trucks, and more to keep the people satisfied and entertained during the festival’s duration. However, you’d have to show up at the festivals early to secure a good parking spot.

Artists & Fleas Venice

The flea markets at the outpost at Venice are the place to be if you are on the lookout for vintage materials or clothing, jewelry, luxury items, etc. Many vendors located on that stretch are known for their expertly created products, which do their part in cementing the place of the Abbot Kinney Boulevard Street as the “The Coolest Block in America”.

Right now, the Abbot Kinney Boulevard Street is still very much in vogue and trendy too. There are many lively restaurants in the streets manned by top-class chefs, which has stamped the street’s reputation for being one of the top-class dining establishments in the city. There are also street arts, boutiques, and various other entertaining events to attend once you are in the city. 

If you know about Los Angeles, you would know that you’re expected to get a huge whiff of the beach traditions, which is one of the major entertainments the city and the entire state of California, are known to be best at. So it would be prudent for you to come prepared with your fashionable beach wears to avoid getting stuck and left out of the fun. 

A cruiser too, would be a nice thing for you to have in your possession – for added effects.

Header Image Credit: Abbot Kinney

Navarra, a geographically diverse region in Spain, was introduced to Bodega Otazu back in the nineteenth century when a French chateau-style winery was built here in 1840. The winery had 40 hectares of vineyards that saw a huge loss when phylloxera hit the region. Fast forward to 1989 when Bodega Otazu decided to return to the world of wines. Guillermo Penso acquired the land and the winery selected Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo as the grapes to plant in their 92 hectares of land.

Bodega Otazu made their first wine in 1994, a Merlot that showed great potential and gave the winemakers the confidence to move forward in their journey of producing world-class wines. It was also the year that saw the ‘La Catedral’ del vino replace the old winery as Bodega Otazu embarked on a remarkable journey. The winery has added many vintages to their collection as they progressively increased the size of their vineyard. One of their premier wines, the Otazu Premium Cuvee was among the select few to be honoured with a gold medal at the 2020 USA Wine Ratings.

Bodega Otazu, Source Facebook

Otazu Premium Cuvee: A blend of cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo and merlot, the Otazu Premium Cuvee is a cherry red coloured luscious wine. Intense and complex at the nose, it has notes of blackberries, cinnamon and nutmeg with black fruit being the dominant flavour. The friendly palate consists of plums, with the wine tasting sweet with round tannins at the beginning. The Otazu Premium Cuvee has a very fruity character and its elegant finish rounds off an excellent ensemble of flavours. 

Along with this gold medal-winning wine, Bodega Otazu also produces a magnificent range of wines that includes:

Senorio de Otazu Chardonnay: Nuances of pineapple and citrus stand out in this elegant chardonnay. It also contains notes of toffee and caramel.

Pago de Otazu: Just like the Otazu Premium Cuvee, Pago de Otazu is also a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and tempranillo. A bright and excellently layered wine.

Otazu Altar: A dark garnet red colour epitomizes this 100% chardonnay. It has notes of fruit, truffle and cedar.

Bodega Otazu Vitral: A wine of enormous complexity, the freshness, balance and long finish stand out for Bodega Otazu Vitral, another great red wine from Bodega Otazu.

Bodega Otazu, Source Website

Otazu Chardonnay: Peach, pineapple, and citrus zest aromas along with notes of acidic apple skins on the palate stand out in this bright lemon yellow coloured wine.

Otazu Rosado Merlot: Raspberry coloured merlot that will give you an explosion of red fruits and take you on a nostalgic ride with its sweetness.

Otazu Rose Tempranillo: The nose of this standout rose is dominated by raspberries, gooseberries and strawberries. A silky and structured wine with an aromatic finish. 

This picturesque vineyard has undergone many changes over the years to emerge as a state of the art winery today. From a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape to a building that exudes architectural brilliance, everything Bodega Otazu does from their wine to their design defines royalty. Plan a visit to the winery to learn about their wine, winemaking, architecture and the winery’s history. There are tasting events or a tour of the winery that lasts for 90 minutes. You can also get a rundown on the history of the surrounding area in a 120-minute trip or get a chance to step into the shoes of the winemaker. Book a visit before you go. 

Bodega Otazu, Source Facebook

The winemakers believe that the vineyard chose them rather than it being the other way round. They have done justice to the excellent terroir and made Bodega Otazu the pride of Pamplona. To be familiar with the winery’s tale, know about events and see daily updates, follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Header Image- Bodega Otazu, Source Facebook

With hundreds of wines on store shelves, restaurant lists, and even more on the internet, finding the perfect one can be quite daunting. The Sommelier’s Choice Awards is set to become your own personal guide for wines. Whether you’re looking for a crisp Chardonnay for your summer picnics or a rich Merlot – Cabernet blend for a date night, a recommendation from some of the most knowledgeable wine experts awaits your attention. 

Each year, the Sommeliers Choice Awards recognizes wines that will be a great addition to a restaurant/bar’s wine list, or in your personal wine cellar. Here’s why you should peruse the list of winners before heading out to your favorite wine bar. 

How the competition is judged

To begin, wines are blind tasted and evaluated by their quality. Then the Sommeliers Choice Awards takes it a step ahead, and focuses on all aspects that make an all-round great wine. Along with the quality, the wines are judged on the basis of their food pairing ability, typicity, value, and packaging; with the pure intent of throwing the spotlight on wines that will settle well on a restaurant’s wine list, and on our shelves. 

You may ask, how do these factors play a part in the judgement of wines? The food pairing ability of a wine determines how versatile it is. Is the wine only good when paired with a certain dish? Or can it be paired with a variety of meals? Next comes the wine’s typicity. For a wine to excel in its score for typicity, it has to resonate well with its origins. If it’s a Merlot from Sonoma, does it represent a Merlot from Sonoma? The value factor determines whether the wine is worth its price tag when compared to its taste and quality. And lastly, the packaging. As shoppers, we buy with our eyes first – meaning, if we find an attractive looking wine bottle, we are most likely to pick it up. The packaging aspect measures if the wine label and overall look of the bottle complements its quality and value. 

A wine excelling in all aspects is deemed to be an outstanding wine, grabbing the spot of ‘Wine of the Year’, like the Kalaris Pinot Noir, which reigned over wines in the 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards. The competition also awards other aspects of wines with its special categories like Best Wine by Varietal, Best Red Wine of the Year, Best Wine By The Glass, and more. 

Scores are given out of a 100, where wines ranking between 96-100 earn a Double Gold Medal – the highest of them all. Those that are scored between 90-95 are awarded with a gold medal. The ones marked between 80-89 are crowned with a silver medal, and wines scoring within 70-79 are given a bronze. 

Behind the scores

While the judging process of the Sommeliers Choice Awards stands out amongst other international wine competitions, the ensemble of judges on the panel is what puts our trust in the winning wines. The judging panel at the Sommeliers Choice Awards is host to some of the most influential names in the wine industry. From Sommeliers, Master Sommeliers, Master of Wines, wine buyers, and other experts – these judges come from a rich history of working with wines on a day-to-day basis. 

This year’s judging panel includes names from some of the most prestigious establishments in the restaurant and bar world. The winning wines will be awarded by, Brian Petersen Jr – Wine Director at Mastro’s Steakhouse San Francisco; Tiffany Tobey – Wine Director at Stonebriar Country Club, Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex; Mauro Cirilli – Wine & Beverage Director for Press Club and Schroeder’s; Sean Widger – Wine Director at Alexander’s Steakhouse, San Francisco and many more. 

Celebrating wines from around the world

Each year, the Sommeliers Choice Awards sees wines from wine regions around the world. The judges taste wines from big boys like Barefoot Wines, Ehlers Estate, Cannonball Wines, to those coming from lesser-known producers, all looking for their rightful spot amongst restaurants and bars.

The competition highlights wines from some of our favorite wine regions like France, Italy, Australia, USA, and appreciates wines from smaller wine regions that make excellent wines. 

This year, the Sommeliers Choice Awards is set to take place on May 17th, with thousands of wines ready to be tasted and awarded for their excellence. 

So the next time there’s a wine list in front of you, the Sommeliers Choice Awards winners guide is the one to pick from!

Whether it is unwinding with a bunch of friends after a long week of work, capping off a sumptuous meal with the best liqueur, or celebrating a birthday with a shot or two of your favorite tequila, drinking is a social experience that we crave. Even toasting to your team’s victory, bagging a big project at work or other achievements give us an excuse to celebrate sharing a drink or two with our friends.  

At a time when the offerings of spirits are expanding exponentially, in not only the number of brands but the variations and varieties out there, choosing a spirit or brand to drink can be onerous. Rather than try something new, sometimes we feel overwhelmed from all the options and stick to the known and comfortable. When the choice becomes difficult, it is a good idea to refer to the experts. At the Bartender Spirits Awards, the most renowned names in the U.S bar industry, all of them with extensive expertise within the on-premise industry come together to rate spirits from around the world.  

The annual awards aim to bring the best of the world’s spirits to the shores of America and to add to the excellence of the American bar and restaurant scene. Here’s how it’s done. 

Get a taste of the best spirits per industry experts

While it is easy to develop a taste of your favorite brand as you sip on it from time to time,  what about those times when you are in the mood to try something new at a bar that is your second home. What about the time when you want to introduce your novice drinker friend to a spirit brand that will show them what they are missing out on. At such times your expertise in selecting the best drink available at the bar comes in handy. Don’t fret, we have just the thing to help you out. 

The annual Bartender Spirits Awards results are your friend during this time. Why? These award-winning spirits are the ones that are hand-picked from a plethora of entrants by judges who are bartenders, bar managers and buyers for the on-premise industry. These spirits are picked keeping in mind their use for a bartender, bar managers, bar owners in helping their consumers enjoy the best possible drinking experience at their establishment. 

Bartenders are the real influencers of the drinks industry. They shape the preferences of the consumers, their passion for drinks being a guiding force behind the drinking habits of many. Usually, these will be the bartenders from your favorite bars, restaurants to visit. The Bartender Spirits Awards takes this to a national level. The judges are experts with the know-how of the American drinks culture and trends with a knack for creating the most perfect concoctions and drinks menus everywhere they go. 

Uplifting your drinking experience one double-gold at a time

The focus of the judging process at Bartender Spirits Awards is to help the drinking community find a great spirit to drink on different occasions, ranging from celebrations to a casual hangout with a bunch of friends. To simplify our selection process the award-winners are separated into categories of medals, type of spirits and country of origin too. The most magnificent spirits are given a double-gold medal, an honor bestowed upon those scoring 96 points or over. The ones from 90 to 96 are given golds with a silver (80-89) and bronze (70-79) following them. 

A comprehensive process of judging is used to determine the standing of each spirit. While the consumers always have the pleasure of looking at the packaging and the appearance of the spirits before making the choice, the spirits at the awards are all tasted blind to have an independent and honest review of the quality of each. Through blind tasting, the spirits are judged on their mixability, balance and taste. All of these factors help judges in determining the drinkability of each spirit. Upon finishing rating on these criteria, the judges rate the spirit’s value and packaging too. 

While the judging process will help establishments identify what spirits brands will be the perfect fit for their bar menu or help plug a specific gap, it comes with its advantages for those on the buying side of the table. It helps identify spirits that stand up to all the points of debate a consumer can have during a drinking expedition. It covers everything from start to finish, how a bottle looks, how and if it has been priced correctly and how it tastes. 

Enriching your global drinking experience

The global drinks industry is booming, with the well-established spirit producing countries facing stiff competition from the new breed of countries creating an array of wonderful drinks. Whether it’s rum, whiskey or canned cocktails and liqueurs, brands globally are releasing spirits worth drinking to the market. What the Bartender Spirits Awards does for the American audience is that it brings the best of these global spirits producers under one umbrella. From gin producing heavyweights like the UK, whiskey giants like Germany, perennial tequila producers Mexico to the relative newbies like India, Australia, Sweden and the Philippines to name a few, BSA has a presence to pick from the best of the lot. 

This adds a great variety of American and global drinks to the bar and restaurant shelves across the country. In a way, it helps satiate the need to indulge and know the drinks from a different country. The Bartenders Spirits Awards helps add to the growing global culture in the American drinks industry. 

French castles have been significant historically and culturally. They have stood out during many focal points of history and it is no different when it comes to the wine industry. Among those castles that have been involved in winemaking is the Piéguë Castle. Its history dates back to the 1500s. Through the multiple buyers to have resided in the castle, adding a few touches of their own, it was in 1920 that that winemaking took off in the French Piéguë Castle.

The Van Der Hecht family planted the first vines which were spread over 35 hectares. Three generations of the Van Der Hecht family operated the vineyards until 2004 when the Thomas family bought the property. Fast forward to 2019, when Laëtitia Huet moved in with her husband Simon Cibois and took over the reins of the winery and the castle. Laëtitia, a student of oenology, journeyed across Canada for 12 years where she learnt about wines and became a cellar master. She and Simon returned to France to pursue their dream of having their own winery, which became Chateau Piéguë. 

Their craft and perseverance were greatly awarded at the 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards, where two of their wines stole the show. 

Crémant de Loire Château

Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc grapes are harvested very early to make this sparkling wine. The highest awarded sparkling wine at the competition, Crémant de Loire Château scored 96 points and won a Double Gold Medal and the Sparkling Wine of the Year award. The Crémant de Loire Château is defined by its silky body and complexity on the nose and palate. There are notes of honeycomb, white flowers and bosc pear. The finesse and the freshness of this bubbly make it an ideal food pairing option. The touch of richness makes it a versatile food pairing option. Pair it with a lemon meringue pie and it’s a match made in heaven! 

Chenin de Piéguë

A light-bodied white wine, the Chenin de Piéguë was among the best silver medal-winning wines, scoring 88 points at the competition. This cuvée is made from ripe and concentrated grapes, aged in oak barrels for 9 to 12 months. On the nose, you can smell notes of ripe yellow apple, daffodils and applesauce. The palate is dominated by citrus fruits and is a great expression of the terroir. Chenin de Piéguë is a rich and nicely textured wine that retains its vibrancy. It ends on a refreshing note with its bright acidity. Pair it with a pike-perch with white butter for a perfect evening. 

Laëtitia and Simon have created an ensemble of terrific wines, red, white, rosés and sparkling that are a pleasure to drink. All of their wines are a true reflection of the Loire Valley. The vineyards are spread across 27 hectares, divided equally between white and red grape varietals. 

Chateau Piéguë, Source Facebook

The land that is not planted with vines is dedicated to guest rooms where calm and nature reign supreme. The rooms open up to views of the vineyards that charm you from first sight. An authentic vineyard that will remain with you long after your visit. To get constant updates from Chateau Piéguë, follow them on Facebook and Instagram. 

This is what some guests said of their stay: