Category: General

Filed under: Wine

Paris Hilton once dipped herself in gold for an ad campaign to promote Rich Prosecco, a sparkling wine in a can but that may not have been enough. The Sun reports that 30,000 units of the canned wine are sitting in a warehouse in Serbia. They say that a Stockport auctioneer has been given the task of offering up the wine at discount prices. So far the cans are only offered in batches of at least 5,000 and they expire in May.

Paris Hilton’s Prosecco Going Cheap originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Wine

After twenty years of grappling over the trade agreement between winemakers in Europe and the U.S., 2005 marked the beginning of a somewhat peaceful understanding between the two markets — with a few conditions. At that time the words ‘Champagne’, ‘Burgundy’, ‘Port’ and ‘Sherry’ were no longer allowed to be used in America. Just this past month the EU added another restriction to American winemakers’ verbage. Wines bearing these words on their labels will no longer be sold in Europe:

‘chateau’, ‘classic’, ‘clos’, ‘cream’, ‘crusted/crusting’, ‘fine’, ‘late bottled vintage’, ‘noble’, ‘ruby’, ‘superior’, ‘sur lie’, ‘tawny’, ‘vintage’ or ‘vintage character.’

Bureaucracy at its finest. I certainly understand protecting rights to regions but not simple words with more than a location’s name at heart.

European Union Extends U.S. Wine Restrictions originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Auctions, Celebrity Shopping, Art

Artist-turned-director Julian Schnabel has a problem, he can’t sell his apartments. We’ve discussed Schnabel’s folly, the rose-colored Palazzo Chupi multiple times and a recent Huffington Post piece revealed that the penthouse has now been discounted from million to million. The real estate downturn is prompting Schabel to part with one of his dearest possessions, his prized Picasso. Schnabel bought Femme au Chapeau way back in 1989. The nearly six-foot canvas painted when Picasso was nearly 89 mirrors Schnabel’s own penchant for creating outsize works.

Schnabel has had the painting in his home for 20 years and the New York Times reports that it most recently hung in his living room in Palazzo Chupi. It will be sold Christie’s auction on May 6 and is estimated to bring million to million. Schnabel told the Times that the sale of the painting will take care of a loan he took out with Commerce Bank that used part of his art collection, including the Picasso, as collateral.

No Sale At Chupi Forces Julian Schnabel To Sell His Picasso originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

Rocker, actor and activist Henry Rollins has put his Craftsman-style Hollywood Hills house (above) on the market for .15 million, Big Time Listings reports. The 2,100-sq.-ft. spread is surprisingly banal considering it’s inhabited by the former frontman of seminal punk band Black Flag. Then again, Rollins is almost 50 years old. The three-bed, two-bath house in Nichols Canyon, built in 1947, features an open floor plan with lots of windows looking over the lush .39 acres with a natural year-round spring fed creek. Other features include two brick fireplaces, a large brick patio, vaulted wooden-beamed ceilings and skylights. Rollins purchased the house in 1999 for 0,000, and has apparently already gotten an acceptable offer on it.

Rocker Henry Rollins Lists His Hollywood House originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Journeys

One of the key amenities at luxury hotels and condo complex is often the fancy cars they drive you around in. At one Ritz-Carlton that it is set to change. At the Ritz-Carlton in White Plains developer Louis Cappelli has said that the chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce Silver Spur and Bentley Continental GT that residents of the condo towers have been able to use will be replaced. Cappelli is quoted in The Journal News as saying that now is not the time for excess and that the cars project the wrong image. As he puts it: “it is not Rolls Royce and Bentley time right now. It’s Town Car time.”

Cappelli says the lease on each car is just ,500 a month because the owner, Miller Motorcars in Greenwich, Connecticut wanted their cars outside the Ritz. Some owners are said to be a bit perturbed by the change but they can take comfort in the fact that Cappelli may also be returning his personal Bentley to the dealer once the lease is up in a couple months.

Ritz-Carlton Developer Declares It’s Town Car Time originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Wheels

Fans of James Bond movies have a new place to indulge their obsession. The Bond museum opens this weekend in England. The Bond Museum will host of vehicles and gadgets used in the series of action films. It is located on the site of a former supermarket in Keswick. The museum features a convertible Triumph Stag driven by Sean Connery in “Diamonds Are Forever” as well as the Russian T55 battle tank from “GoldenEye,” and the original Colibri gun from “The Man with the Golden Gun.” The Lotus Esprit Turbo from “The Spy Who Love Me” will also be exhibited along with a few of Bond’s Aston Martins. The owner of the museum, Peter Nelson has been collecting Bond memorabilia for years and also runs the Cars of the Stars motor museum in Keswick and you can see a bit of the collection on that website.

James Bond Museum Opening This Weekend originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Timepieces

It is common for a watch brand to partner with a sports celebrity to design or brand a watch model, but doing so with a basketball star is quite rare, unprecedented even. Why that is, is unclear, as watch companies seem to prefer the likes of tennis and golf stars. Leave it to Nubeo, a relatively new luxury brand started in 2004 and headed by Spain born Ivan Castro to decide Kobe Bryant was a good sports celebrity to partner with and tread new ground. The relationship is more than just having Bryant be a brand ambassador which is common. Bryant has commented that he has actively been involved in the style and design of the watch – even the title “Black Mamba” is taken from his court nickname.

Nubeo boasts that it has created the world’s most complex watch case (given all the parts), with overall designs of the watches being influenced by Jellyfish and the ocean environment. The Black Mamba is certainly more oceanic in theme than reptilian (as the black mamba is a snake), though the look is certainly futuristic and forward thinking with its organic curves. At least three limited edition Nubeo Black Mamba watches will be made available – each with different amounts of decoration. The most limited in number will be the pictured Black Mamba MVP, which has rings of baguette cut sapphire crystals which have a “Whiskey” color. The 48mm wide case is made from black titanium (with some DLC coating) and ceramic – while black sapphires frame two of the chronograph subsidiary dials on the face. Inside is an automatic mechanical movement of undisclosed origin. The pictured model will go for about 5,000, less for the models without as many sapphires. It is true that the economic status quo does not make it an ideal time for a new luxury watch release, but with limited numbers and niche market appeal, Nubeo (and Bryant) are confident in the Black Mamba’s market success.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Nubeo + Kobe Bryant = Black Mamba Luxury Watch originally appeared on Luxist on Sat, 04 Apr 2009 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Estates, Celebrity Shopping

The real estate habits of Nicolas Cage are legendary. He does more buying and selling in a year or two than most of us could do in a lifetime. In the U.S. he currently has three properties on the market but overseas he’s just sold one of his many homes. Cage bought the 11th-century Schloss Neidstein in 2006 for .3 million back in July 2006. It is believed that he spent millions in renovations on the 10-bedroom property which is on a hill and overlooks more than 395 acres of forest and meadows. But after all that work, Cage did what he always does, he moved on. The Telegraph says that Cage spent only one night in the castle.

Cage has a variety of properties up for sale from a million island in the Bahamas to homes in Nevada, California, Rhode Island and Louisiana. While I’ve covered the other three, I haven’t given the New Orleans, Louisiana house estate-of-the-day treatment yet. It seems a grave mistake on my part because it’s quite lovely. The Garden District home has six bedrooms and grounds that include a heated pool and statuary. Inside the home’s graceful lines, marble fireplaces, plasterwork, stained glass and curved staircase are elegantly preserved. The kitchen seems to be an overly modern off note but otherwise the home is beautiful and the rooms done in shades of periwinkle and pale blue are particularly winning. Cage bought in 2005 for .45 million and this home is now listed at .7 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

[Thanks, Lana!]

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Nicolas Cage Sells One, Many More To Go, Estate of the Day originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Fans of the uniquely delectable Spanish hams might want to stock up on the traditional bone-in jamon Iberico de bellota because a change is afoot. The hams are made from the hind legs and traditionally presented with the black hoof attached but U.S. government regulations are putting an end to that. The hams have only recently been allowed to be imported from Spain. The hoof violates a U.S. Department of Agriculture sanitary rule which also applies to domestic meat that is designed to reduce the risk of contamination.

LaTienda, an online retailer of Spanish wine and food, is selling hams that they have already imported with the foot attached for around ,395 for a 15-pound ham. Another reason to buy now is a new tax that goes into effect on April 23. The tax is 100 percent on cured Spanish hams shipped with the bone.

The AP quotes Jonathan Harris, co-owner of LaTienda.com as saying the ham won’t be the same without the hoof. The ham is made from pampered free range pigs each given an acre of space and fed a diet of acorns. The jamon Iberico is considered to be the most delicious ham with a rich flavor and silken mouthfeel.

Changes For Import of Jamon Iberico Ham originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Filed under: Dining

At the start of March, one of New York City’s priciest restaurant’s Masa dropped its menu price. It’s a good time to eat in New York City for less because, as the Wall Street Journal reports, another of the city’s premier dining destinations, Thomas Keller’s New York restaurant, Per Se is introducing an à la carte menu. Since the restaurant opened, Per Se has only offered two multi-course dinner tasting menus at 5 a pop.

The à la carte menu which is served only in the restaurant’s lounge, lets customers sample a few of the famed chef’s dishes. You don’t even have to make a reservation months in advance, you can simply walk in. The menu changes nightly and includes items that are part of the tasting menu served in the dining room. Of course you’ll still be spending quite a bit, wine and cocktails start in the to range and most dishes are around to .

Per Se Offers A La Carte Dining originally appeared on Luxist on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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