Page 18 - Boca Club News - December '21

Page 18, Boca Club News
Grape Expectations: My New Year’s Resolution

By Ed Wolfarth, who moved to South unfortunate restaurant practice. In this instance, it helps to seek out Moulin a Vent and Morgon for really age-worthy
Florida after retiring with his wife, carry a pocket vintage chart. You usually can’t go wrong silky-smooth wines. Or, Brouilly, St. Amour or Fleurie for
Vicki, as Professor of Sports Sciences choosing a reliable producer from a good vintage year. wonderful food-friendly wines. All for less than $20 a bottle.
& Physical Education at both Queens Another consideration is to trust a local wine merchant. Wines from the Pacific Northwest, Washington and
College and Hofstra University. He In Boynton, I found that the personnel at Total Wines are Oregon. In Oregon, more specifically the Willamette Valley,
is a nationally ranked senior tennis knowledgeable and extremely helpful. Recently, one of their Pinot Noir is king. Lemelson, Erath, A to Z Wineworks, Shea
player and long-time USPTA Elite staff recommended a $15 Chianti that would rival any $60 and King Estate are making fabulous Pinots at affordable
Teaching Professional. Ed has written Brunello, IMHO. Since then, I’ve tried many of their staff’s prices. 2012, 2014 and 2015, 2017 and 2018 are fine vintages.
many educational and tennis articles recommendations and have never been disappointed. Also, Ponzi, another fabulous Pinot that sells for around
in the past. Over the past few years, Ed has turned his hobby Allow me to suggest a few wines, producers and vintages $30 can easily rival Burgundies at three times the price!
of wine collecting into a way of continuing his passion for you need to try next time you are imbibing. Remember, this Avoid 2013 as it rained during harvest and many wines were
writing, and has written on the subject for publications. As a is your New Year’s resolution! washed-out and thin.
self-proclaimed “wine snob,” he has collaborated on many New Zealand wines. Most of us know about their In Washington State, Merlot is king. My favorite producers
wine lists for private clubs and a few restaurants. Ed can be Sauvignon Blancs. In the early 1960s, Cloudy Bay put New are: Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Waterbrook and
reached at wolfarthe@msn.com Zealand on the world’s wine map. Now, there are dozens Milbrandt. Columbia Crest makes a middle of the road line
Too often, we settle for the comfortable choice: That name of excellent producers including; Dog Point, Villa Maria, called H-3 (or Horse Heaven Hills). All selling for around
brand of wine or that Pinot Grigio has become the default Starborough and, most notably, the ubiquitous Kim Crawford $15 a bottle. While I haven’t seen it on too many wine lists,
choice of many consumers. Or at a restaurant, we’ll ask our that give you that distinctive “grapefruit” taste. Typicity you should be able to find their reds in local wine shops. The
server to choose a wine for us. This, too, has its inherent in wine has become a virtuous thing. It’s simply easily Waterbrook Reserve Merlot was the house wine at many fine
problems. Many wait staff have little wine knowledge or recognized. New York restaurants and can easily compete with any right
may have “hidden” agendas. But if you are willing to step Besides the above mentioned, New Zealand is home to bank Bordeaux. Milbrandt is a boutique winery that you really
out of your comfort zone and try something different, trial some excellent Pinot Noirs. While red Burgundies are more need to seek out. All their bottlings run around $15 - $20 and
and error and self-discovery will lead you to some terrific expensive and often unreliable, California Pinots tend to be are fabulous examples of Washington State wines. All current
wines at affordable prices. And that, my friends, is our New made in a style that suggests more is better. More alcohol, vintages were excellent for Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet.
Year’s resolution. more fruit etc., I prefer Pinot from either Oregon or New So there you have it. Do a little research, seek out a
Lately, I find myself perusing the on-line wine lists of Zealand. Look for Craggy Range, Amisfield, and Nobilo Icon. knowledgeable wine merchant and, most importantly, step
restaurants I’m about to attend. Since I don’t know many Remember the names Otago Valley and Martinborough. out of your comfort zone and try different wines. Become
of these wines, I do a bit of research to look for value and Single vineyard Beaujolais – yes, Beaujolais! Not the familiar with reliable producers. Nothing ventured, nothing
interesting wines I need to try. nouveau type that comes out every 3rd week of November but gained. Remember, it’s your New Year’s resolution. You
While many wine lists do not include vintages, I always the good stuff, also made from the Gamay grape, but vinified won’t be sorry.
ask our servers, since vintage variation is another important in a style similar to the great red Burgundies for a fraction
factor in choosing a wine. I have found some upscale steak of the cost. Look for Kermit Lynch or Georges Dubouef
restaurants switching vintages on their expensive Cabs – an on the label. 2014 and 2015 were excellent vintages. Also
Travel: Post Cards from Jessica

First Stop: Peru. If you haven’t been to Peru…please plan village. Man…I really need to get back there soon!
on it soon. There are six magnificent Belmond hotels, including I have two other favorite Belmond hotels in Italy. The first
two adventurous railroad experiences. I’ve personally stayed at is the magnificent Splendido in Portofino on the west coast
three of their hotels and traveled on their Hiram Bingham train. of Italy. This truly cinematic restored 16th Century monastery
I recommend that once you arrive by plane you rest your sits in the hills overlooking this small picturesque village.
body at the Miraflores in Lima. This is a beautiful hotel located As you unwind in an award-winning spa or soak up the sun
on the manicured Malecon clifftop park with impressive views besides a shimmering pool, you’ll instantly understand why
of the Pacific Ocean coastline. Standard accommodations are Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor spent a lot of romantic
the generous Junior Suites at 484 sq. ft. Or you can simply go moments here. Also, the Ristorante La Terrazza is a must
first class with the Club Class suites and have access to the dining experience where the fresh locally-sourced ingredients
executive lounge on the 10th floor, open 24/7. are cooked to perfection and the flavors of Italy will whisk you
Of course, when visiting Peru you need to go to Machu away.
Picchu! But to get there you’ll need to take a short flight to My other favorite Belmond hotel in Italy is the Grand
Cusco. I highly recommend the Cusco Monasterio where Hotel Timeo in Taormina Sicily. Having spent time here, I
To: Those Looking To “Check-In” To the you’ll be transported back 300 years to when this was a can assure you that your first breakfast on the terrace will be a
Golden Age functional monastery. Please do yourself a favor and request lifetime memory as you gaze across the coast towards Mount
From: My Private Terrace In the Splendido an oxygen-fed room to help ease the altitude. Etna. The best part of your stay will be time spent traversing
Mare Portofino Once you arrive at the foothills of Machu Picchu, the the cobblestone streets throughout this quaint Italian village.
Sanctuary Lodge is the place you’ll need to stay in order to Third Stop and Beyond: As I had mentioned, there are
By Jessica Flores. Jessica has worked gain the first entry access into this historical site. Trust me, you too many Belmond Hotel destinations to cover in this one
in the travel and tourism industry for want to beat the onslaught of crowds later in the morning. If column. But from the timeless charm of the Cipriani in
well over a decade. She holds both your itinerary charts to the beautiful Sacred Valley, then stay Venice to the Mount Nelson South Africa, the La Residence
Bachelors and Master’s Degrees in at the Rio Sagrado Hotel, which sits magically alongside the d’Angkor Laos, Jimbaran Puri, Bali, or the Maroma
Hospitality & Tourism Management. Urubamba River. Riviera Maya, Mexico, you will never be disappointed by the
As owner of AWAY Travel in Boca Second Stop: Italy. If Northern Italy is on your bucket list, accommodations, service and dining at any of these five-star
Raton, Jessica and staff bring 25 years then the Castello di Casole Estate is a strong consideration luxury group of hotels.
of personal travel experience to an for your travel plans. Wheels Down: Regardless of your global destination,
exclusive clientele looking for luxury This timeless refuge located deep in the Tuscany countryside please consider having your wheels touch down at a Belmond
travel planning. Ready for your own journey to begin? Visit: brings a sense of truly living like a local. Here you’ll experience hotel or resort. With over 35 ultraluxe hotels, seven trains,
www.travelwithaway.com Email Me: jessica@travelwithaway. aristocratic rural life paired with contemporary luxury as you and three river cruises and restaurants in 24 countries, there
com or Call: (877) 493-AWAY navigate the 4,200 acres 10th Century estate. At this Belmond is simply no reason to miss this truly unique opportunity.
Pack Your Bags: As you know, wherever you travel Estate, you’ll have a choice of 39 indulgent rooms and suites Exclusive, timeless, immersive. Each Belmond hotel has its
hotels are going to be part of your itinerary. Even if you each uniquely enchanting in its own right. There’s also plenty own story to tell, and they are simply waiting for you to just
take a cruise, there is a good chance you’ll need to fly in a to do. Imagine daily walks among the olive groves, visiting open the page…
day early to readjust to time zones and stay at a hotel at your local farms, hunting for truffles, scenic hiking or bike rides, Wishing You Safe Travels,
embarkation port. or just simply sharing moments with the locals at a postcard Jessica
I know that most of us are very familiar with the well
marketed big hotel chains: Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, Ritz Carlton
and the Four Seasons. Though these are all good choices,
they don’t necessarily offer something different or distinct
about their location. When I travel, I want to park my luggage
somewhere where I can easily feel the ambiance and culture
of my destination.
I have several hotel groups (I really dislike referring to
them as “chains”) which I often gravitate towards for myself
and my clients. One of these is the Belmond Hotels. They
are unique in their locations and in their cultural physicality.
Imagine staying in a renovated monastery, an ancient castle
nestled in the Tuscany countryside, or sleeping in a luxurious
treehouse overlooking the golden beaches of Bali. It simply
doesn’t get any better than that!
Your Hotel Road Map: With over two dozen amazing
hotels throughout the world, it will be hard to pick just a few
to illustrate how wonderful these accommodations are...but
I will try.