APRIL 2019

UPSCALE â„¢

APRIL 2019 - Digital

E x p e r i e n c e T h e Di f f e r e n c e w w w. u p s c a l e l i v i n g m a g . c o m

FEATURES

REAL ESTATE

12 Martyn Lawrence Bullard 48 Desert Mountain’s Forever Home

Comfort is the Ultimate Luxury Your Scottsdale Dream Home

with views that go forever

AUTOMOBILE

PROFILE

24 McLaren 720S Spider

Defining Automotive Convention

34 Dana Asher-Levine

Confidence is the Best Accessory

26 Mercedes-AMG’s AMG GT R Pro

TRAVEL

TIMEPIECES 22 Bentley & Breitling

Celebrating Extraordinary Partnership

with Centenary Timepiece

41 What’s New!

- Montage Laguna Beach, CA

- The River Lee, Ireland - The Dupont Circle, Wash DC

53 Pet-Friendly Hotels Worldwide

JEWELRY 30 Sparkling Italian Gold Jewels

with Design and Great Style

BEAUTY 32 Top 10 Perfumes Must Have

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CULINARY 64 Nobu Mathuhisa Exclusive Interview with owner of Nobu restaurants

SPIRITS 68 35th Annual Classic Wines Auction Savor The Experience 71 The New Purgatori Winery Costers Del Segre, Spain 76 The Glenlivet Winchester Assets

EVENTS 73 35th Annual Wine Auction

74 The New Range Rover Evoque

COVER Martyn Lawrence Bullard spoke exclusively to Upscale Living Magazine about his rise to superstardom and the joy that he feels in creating marvelous spaces. Page 12.

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Upscale Living ALINA ROSA LEYVA PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / FOUNDER

publisher@upscalelivingmag.com 786-760-9133 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Alina Cabral

COPY EDITOR

Natalie King

ASSISTANT EDITOR FASHION EDITOR

Karen Comin Lisa Marie Valentino

BEAUTY EDITOR

Suzanne Luccie

TRAVEL EDITOR

Heléne Ramackers

HOME + DECOR EDITOR FEATURE EDITOR TIMEPIECE + FINE JEWELRY EDITOR

VP OF SALES

Daniella Ichi Deve Sanford Anthony Demarco

Rich Murowski MurowskiRich@aol.com 630-980-6570 | 630-202-1912

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

CONTRIBUTORS

Diane Cassidy, Louisa Coy, Sophia Z. Lewin

Heléne Ramackers, Jarone Ashkenazi, Dellvin Roshon, Anthony DeMarco, Raj Gill Tracy Beard, Nikita Vivek Pawar, Tim Cotroneo

ART DIRECTOR

Michelle Tarkalson

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Michael Vincent, Shane Tarkalson

WEB DEVELOPMENT

Sébastien Moisan

MARKETING & RESEARCH

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OPERATIONS MANAGER

Julianne Altmore

DISTRIBUTION

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Anthony Leyva Jacklyn Dana

SALES, MARKETING & ADVERTISING RICH MUROWSKI (Chicago Office) rich.murowski@upscalelivingmag.com 630-9806570 office, 630-202-1912 mobile

Copyright 2019 Upscale Living Magazine. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Upscale Living Magazine and ADMS Publishing Group, LLC. Neither the publisher nor the advertisers will be held responsible for any errors found in the magazine. The publisher accept no liability for the accuracy of statements made by advertisers. Ads in this publication are not intended as an offer where prohibited by state laws. www.upscalelivingmag.com

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PHOTO BY CHRISTY GUTZEIT

F E A T U R E

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MARTYN

F E A T U R E

LAWRENCE BULLARD Comfort is the Ultimate Luxury

By Heléne Ramackers Photographs courtesy of Christy Gutzeit, Douglas Friedman, Tim Street Porter and Lu Tapp

With his chiseled features and broody looks, Martyn Lawrence Bullard epitomizes a handsome version of a Hollywood actor. Even though the big screen beckoned only once, Martyn seems perfect for a starring role in Lawrence of Arabia. This soft-spoken British-born designer is passionately conceptualizing homes and commercial properties, thereby living his dream. He spoke exclusively to Upscale Living magazine about his rise to super-stardom and the joy that he feels in creating marvelous spaces.

MARTYN, TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. As a child, I loved traveling with my parents and when visiting new places, making trips to museums and country houses. Those visits sparked my interest in wonderful, interesting objects and by the age of 12, I had convinced my father that I could use my pocket money to go around to various antique markets, junk stores and car boot sales to buy things, anything that I thought was pretty and unusual. This took place in London and the countryside of Kent. I would storm the antique markets and would set off to buy things from people’s stalls. I eventually set up my own stall and sold my wares to most unsuspecting American tourists (laughs).

DID YOU MANAGE TO TURN A PROFIT? Yes, it was amazing. People were fascinated by this precocious child, decorating a stand and selling all these objects while spinning a story for everything. It became a lot of fun when I started turning a profit.

My interest just grew and grew and I continued doing that until I was about seventeen, by which stage I had made and put away enough money to put myself through drama school, because I wanted to become an actor. My father, who was an opera singer and an actor, didn’t really want me to go that path. But I was determined, so I used my ill-gotten gains from the antique market and put myself into the Lee Strasberg Theatre School and continued my way in doing that by still buying and selling. Then it got a little more interesting when I began buying and selling antique jewelry. It’s much easier; you just put it in your pocket as

opposed to packing boxes of china and bric-a-brac. Unbeknownst to me, those years were really the training ground for who I am today. It taught me where things come from, it taught me how to gather, it taught me to hallmark, origin, period, and it really gave me the foundation for my interior design career.

DID YOU HAVE AN INFLUENCE IN YOUR YOUTH THAT SHAPED YOUR CAREER PATH? One of the great things that happened was our extensive travels because of my father’s business. I really got to see the world from a very young age – all of Europe and Australia, Africa and I think the travel with my parents and them indulging my interests to go and see crazy summer palaces in Russia was a major part of my inspiration.

ARE YOU AN ONLY CHILD? I have three sisters. My youngest sister is 13 years older than me, so I came along at a time when my sisters were all grown up and by the time it came to traveling, I was the only one that did that with my parents. I got to be the one that was most indulged; they indulged my passions and it was a wonderful thing.

WHEN AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME AN INTERIOR DESIGNER? I have always loved interior design and never thought that it was something I could do. I thought you had to be trained and you had to go to 13 Upscale Living Magazine | APRIL 2019

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KOURTNEY KARDASHION - IMAGE BY DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN

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KOURTNEY KARDASHION - IMAGE BY DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN

school and by the time I realized it could be a way to make a living, I had passed that stage.

When I was 22, I moved to LA to continue following my initial passion to be an actor. Like everybody else, I thought I would go to Los Angeles and become a movie star! I ended up working in a coffee shop like everybody else. Eventually, I got cast in a movie alongside Eartha Kitt, playing her boy toy. The producer of the movie and his girlfriend came to this tiny apartment I was renting at the time, which I had decorated with goods from the local market called The Rose Bowl. They loved what I had done with the small space and asked me to come and decorate their new offices, called the Hollywood Film Works.

My initial reaction was that I had no idea what I was doing, but maybe I’ll do this and they’ll put me in another movie. I decorated the whole 5000 square feet with a Casablanca goes to India via Hollywood Flea Market look.

They absolutely loved it. I had just completed this when I got a phone call from a lady, Liz Heller who worked at a record company, asking if I could come and look at her offices in the Capitol building. This was so crazy – I’ve always wanted to be a pop star and I thought if I decorate her offices, she’ll make me into a pop star! I met with Liz, we fell in love; she is still one of my closest friends and I started to work for her. About a month into doing her project, she was getting married at home, and her wedding planner overdosed a day before the wedding; true Hollywood story and Liz called me in a terrible panic ‘what am I going to do’?

I jumped in, went to the flower market, bought big bags of rose petals, flowers, a staple gun and I helped put her wedding together. She asked me to

stay for the wedding and sat me next to a lady called Cheryl Tiegs. I had no idea who she was, I thought she looked like an actress from Charlie’s Angels.

By the end of the evening, it turned out that Cheryl was the world’s first supermodel and an American icon. She hired me to do her house!

Within nine months, the house appeared on the covers of six magazines around the world. I was declared a new design star, opened my offices and that is how my business started 23 years ago.

WHAT AND WHO INSPIRES YOU? Travel is my greatest inspiration. It doesn’t have to be travel to somewhere exotic – everywhere you go, when you keep your eyes open, something will inspire you, whether it’s a bowl of fruit or an incredible palm tree with dew dripping off of it; elements of different things that you see, smell, touch, people that you talk to, somehow it all adds to my palette for inspiration.

Going to new countries inspire me – the smell, the atmosphere, it all builds up in that great dictionary that I keep pulling from. The most important part is to keep your mind open, always.

FOR YOU, WHEN IT COMES TO DESIGN, HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY. I believe it’s imperative to be honest with your client. If they have something that they love, but just doesn’t work, you have to tell them. If there’s an element to their house or their apartment that doesn’t make any sense, trying to work around it, you’re never going to get the perfect results. You have to correct things upfront with people, and I believe that’s the best way to work.

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MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARD PALM SPRINGS HOME - IMAGE BY TIM STREET PORTER

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On the other side, people have things in their lives that they want to keep – things they have inherited or something they collected, but as a designer, you have to know how to incorporate that. You have to have that honest conversation with your client about how you are going to incorporate it and how you will design around it. With honesty, you get useful results.

WHAT ARE / HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN YOUR CAREER? Being creative and running a business. Understanding how to balance your finances and make money whilst being responsible for your employees. It’s important to balance the business and creative side. That’s something I understand every month when my American Express bill comes in (laughs).

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN IMPORTANT LESSONS ALONG THE WAY? The most important lesson for a designer is the understanding of scale and size. If you’ve convinced your client to buy a sofa and it arrives at the house and it won’t fit in the door, or it’s too large for the room, or too small for the room. It’s important to formulate real plans that are to scale to not only the room, but to your client. I have clients that are 6’5 who cannot sit in some groovy low to the floor 1970’s chair. Fundamentally, it’s understanding scale all the way around.

APART FROM DESIGNING THE MOST FABULOUS INTERIORS FOR CELEBRITIES AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, WHAT IS THE FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB? It’s the people. It’s the meeting and getting to know your clients. As a designer, you learn as much about the people you work for as you teach them about the design. I have some extraordinary friendships and relationships that have evolved around our clients’ relationships. Design really does change people’s lives and that’s a useful thing.

YOU HAVE DONE INCREDIBLE INTERIORS FOR THE WHO’S-WHO OF HOLLYWOOD – TOMMY HILFIGER, CHER, ELLEN POMPEO AND MOST RECENTLY, KYLIE JENNER. IT’S PROBABLY EASY TO FORM A FRIENDSHIP WHEN WORKING SO CLOSELY ON SUCH A PERSONAL PROJECT. WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING ON THESE DIFFERENT HOMES? You do become extremely close, because you are working with them in a very personal manner, down to having to work out where your client’s underwear is going to go, it’s that personal. You formulate these incredible relationships.

With Tommy Hilfiger, as a fashion designer, he is used to creating new collections every three to four months. He understands the fast-moving process where we delve in and out of trends and vibes. I’ve worked on three different homes with Tommy, each being a totally different experience and that’s a wonderful thing. People in fashion understand that we have multi-facets to our own person17 Upscale Living Magazine |

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hotel california. photo courtesy of douglas friedman

tommy hilfiger miami home. photo courtesy of douglas friedman

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hotel california. photo courtesy of douglas friedman

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alities, so in Tommy’s case, I created an old English country-house manor and a 1970’s disco house in Miami, showcasing two different sides of his personality, and that’s a fantastic experience to have.

I like an exotic flavor also, so my favorite cities to visit for that are Istanbul, Marrakech, and Jaipur. I love them for the inspiration and just general splendor.

When I first met Cher, she said to me ‘I want to live like the first wife of the Maharajah’. It’s really exciting working on projects like this, especially when people have extravagant personalities like Cher, and they want to continue that in their home life, wanting to create their fantasies. Whether it’s Cher’s Indian palace or Tommy’s disco 1970’s apartment, it’s wonderful to have those directives.

YOUR DOG, DAISY IS THE CUTEST, SWEETEST COMPANION.

With Kylie Jenner’s home, it’s the world’s most seen interior design story in the history of interior design magazines – it has over a billion traceable views already, which is extraordinary. When designing something for a then 20-year-old, you are formulating something for a different era in somebody’s life. She’s thirty years younger than I am and the excitement is that you’re creating a home that works for that age group, for that entertaining, for that lifestyle, for the young mother. It’s creating something that, as an older person, you have lived through and gone through in your own life. You create something that you wish you had for her. Her home is younger in spirit, with a really sophisticated spring board for the rest of her life.

THE FOUR SEASONS PRIVATE RESIDENCES COMMERCIAL PROJECT SOUNDS EXCITING, ALBEIT QUITE CHALLENGING. It’s a very exciting commercial residential property and we’re creating homes for people who we don’t know who they are. You have to come up with a vision that’s acceptable for lots of different people, that doesn’t scare anybody, but also inspires people. We’ve been involved with this from the very concept of who is the buyer, what is the vibe; it’s very exciting to create residential sites where you help formulate the way someone is going to live in the future. The Four Seasons really has a reputation for quality and it’s an evolving company that wants to keep up with the 21st century. We look at every aspect, every element that modern-day luxury can provide. The apartment price range is from $5 million to $55 million. It’s a very high-end experience.

YOUR HOME(S) MUST BE PHENOMENAL! WHAT WAS YOUR DECORATING STYLE FOR YOUR DIFFERENT HOMES? I have different styles going on in each one. The Palm Springs house is a house from the 1960s; it belonged to Roger Moore and then to Hugh Hefner, so it’s got quite a storied past. I’ve decorated the house I feel it would have been in the ’60s, so I’ve collected wonderful vintage furniture from that period from great American and Italian designers, there’s lots of plexiglass, chrome, and shiny surfaces, but also wonderfully organic shapes, things that are very comfortable, because, for me, the ultimate luxury is comfort. It’s very fun, with bright pink and lime green and to balance it, wonderful pale greys that reflect the light.

My home in Los Angeles is a 1920’s Villa that has a mix of Moroccan meets modern experience where it’s very comfortable and it exhibits wonderful collections of mine, juxtaposed with a mix of Moroccan architecture, displaying all of my contemporary photography collections.

They’re very personal spaces, but they’re very curated; I try things out on myself first before subjecting it to my clients.

YOU TRAVEL FOR BUSINESS AND HOPEFULLY PLEASURE TOO. WHICH HAVE BEEN YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO TRAVEL TO THAT HAVE LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION?

She’s my baby girl. I love her to bits. She’s a Wheaten Terrier.

I READ YOUR GUILTY PLEASURES INCLUDE DARK CHOCOLATE, BIG CHUNKS OF PARMESAN CHEESE, PINOT GRIGIO AND PERRIER JOUET CHAMPAGNE. WHAT IS IN YOUR PANTRY? It’s so funny, my pantry has a very English substance – baked beans! I’m so lucky - I have a chef at home who cooks for me and I’ve eaten at some of the best places in the world, but I still love a baked potato with cheddar cheese and baked beans on top.

IS THERE AN OSCAR WILDE ADMIRATION? I love his wit. That moment in history – the whole Belle Epoque era; I love the way people dressed, it’s fascinating. If ever I had a dinner party, my favorite dinner guest would be Oscar Wilde, it would be so interesting, to experience talking to him in person.

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN, APART FROM TRAVELING? I’m a huge movie goer and I love watching movies – they inspire me. I find it very relaxing. I get to vote on the BAFTA during their awards season. I see a couple of hundred movies during the course of the year and that is something that I thoroughly enjoy.

IF YOU HADN’T BECOME AN INTERIOR DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BECOME? AN ACTOR? I was trying to be an actor and would have loved to be a pop star, but I guess you have to have a voice to be able to do that (laughs).

DON’T YOU HAVE A GOOD ENOUGH SINGING VOICE? I think so, but nobody else does.

DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER? You bet I do!

YOUR PLANS FOR 2019 …

We’ve got a lot of projects this year with more hotels and hospitality, which is really exciting. It’s lovely to expand that side of our business.

We have some new launches, one of which is jewelry, because it’s part of my background and it would be great to expand on it. We’re in the fortunate position where we don’t have to take on every job that we get offered – we pick and choose a little bit, so we do the jobs that are right and make sense for my company, but excite us and keep us inspired while keeping us on our toes. It’s important to keep challenging ourselves and not repeat the same things over and over again. We are constantly on the lookout for something new, challenging and exciting. www.martynlawrencebullard.com

My favorite city in the world is Rome. I’ve always gone to Rome for every reason, from the beauty you encounter there to the people, the food, the atmosphere, the sexy ambiance.

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T I M E P I E C E S

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T I M E P I E C E S

BENTLEY & BREITLING

CELEBRATING EXTRAORDINARY PARTNERSHIP WITH CENTENARY TIMEPIECE | BY DELLVIN ROSHON

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nlike other automotive and watchmaking brand collaborations, Bentley Motors’ partnership with Breitling is the world’s longestrunning and most successful and, arguably, the most iconic. This year, the British marquee celebrates its 100th anniversary with the Centenary Limited Edition – Continental GT Number 9 Edition by Mulliner. Breitling also marks the occasion with their 18k red gold Breitling Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition.

Here’s why this timepiece is so important.

The movement is visible through a transparent caseback with Bentley logo; if you get the 18k gold version (and who wouldn’t), the “ONE OF 200” inscription is engraved; “One of 1000” is inscribed on the steel version; and the dial has a white tachymeter scale on a black inner bezel around the dial, with a red tachymeter inscription.

The Breitling-Bentley partnership began in 2002. Bentley commissioned Breitling to create an onboard clock for the 2003 Paris debut of a new type of Grand Tourer (GT). For more than a decade after, the dynamic brand duo went on to deliver special timepieces like the Bentley B06, a “30-second chronograph,” the Bentley B04, GMT, and the Bentley B05 Untime.

And yet, it’s been nearly a century (the 1920s) since the “Bentley Boys” went on a five year 24 Hours of Le Mans winning streak. The Bently Boys were a group of well-healed British motorists led by financier and fellow racing enthusiast, Woolf Barnato. Sir Thomas “Tim” Stanely Birkin, one of the group’s most legendary members, broke numerous records in the No. 9—his own car. In fact, it was his vision that brought the supercharger to a Bentley. The “4 ½ Litre Supercharged” would go on to become widely known as the “Blower” Bentleys.

‘’The highly successful and long-standing collaboration between Bentley and Breitling is an impressive example of how brands with shared values work together in an authentic way to enhance the performance of both,’’ says Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors. “The new Premier Centenary Limited Edition,” Hallmark continues, “is a testament to our globally successful partnership of many years and to our commitment to the future.”

Produced in 18k red gold or stainless steel versions, the Premier Centenary Limited Edition sports a truly unique wooden brown burl elm dial with black subdials (chronograph minute couther at 3 o’clock; small seconds subdial, 9 o’clock). Contrasting subdials indicate Breitling’s flagship manufacture Caliber 01, with a 70hour power reserve.

On the left side of the 42mm steel case you’ll also see a plate with “Bentley” engraved—a subtle nod to the dashboard of the supercharged 1929 “Blower” Bentley. A COS-certified chronometer, the Centenary Limited Edition in 18k red gold boats a brown leather strap with pattern and stitching inspired by Bentley seats.

Bentley masterfully pays homage to Sir Tim in the Bentley Continental GT Number 9 Edition by Mulliner with a wooden insert from his iconic 1930 No. 9 L Mans race car. Set in resin, the insert is placed squarely in the center of the dial of the rotating display.

The wooden dials embody not only the allure of the Premier Bentley Centenary Limited Edition, but a commitment to unparalleled luxury, peerless quality, and extraordinary performance reminiscent of Bentley’s dominance of the Le Mans, the world’s oldest active sports car race. Racing heritage never looked so good. 

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A U T O M O B I L E

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A U T O M O B I L E

MCLAREN 720S SPIDER DEFINING AUTOMOTIVE CONVENTION | BY DELLVIN ROSHON If you’ve ever dream of creating your very own, perfect McLaren, here’s your chance. Luxury high-performance sports car and supercar brand, McLaren Automotive pulled out all the stops at this year’s Geneva International Motor Show with the McLaren 72OS Spider by MSO. McLaren Special Operations (MSO)— McLaren’s bespoke division—used the Geneva International Motor Show to display the ultraexclusive artistic finesse and flair for which the McLaren driving experience is known. Highlighting the advanced aerodynamics of the new Super Series convertible, the 72OS accentuates elements of the car’s aero design in a spectacular fusion of colors.

MSO specialists dedicated more than 260 hours to complete the tri-tone paint elements alone (applied to individual body panels to emulate the flow of air over the 720S Spider’s aerodynamic body while the car is moving).

Parts finished with the tri-tone paint include everything from the front splitter, hood air and front air intakes, to side panels, lower door and lower side air intake panels, door mirrors, and rear bumper.

“Aerodynamic innovation,’’ Darryl Scriven, MSO Chief Designer of McLaren Automotive,

says, ‘’is such an integral part of the 720S Spider that using this new paint design to highlight areas that work hard to manage how air flows over the car—literally how the car’’breathes’’— was the natural approach to take. This is a car that truly merges artistry with the science of aerodynamics.”

Here, each and every aero-inspired accent features a blend of three MSO metallic paints: Cerulean Blue, Burton Blue—as seen on the McLaren 720S GT3—and Abyss Black. The beauty of the 72OS is that the tri-tone paint finish advances McLaren 720S Velocity technology first shown by MSO at Geneva in 2017.

What’s more, the two hues of red perfectly epitomize the sporting aggression of the Coupé, while their new take on the Spider places a more subtle emphasis on the Super Series convertible.

Highlights are set off against Meteorite Grey body paint—the newest addition to the MSO Bespoke range of exterior colors (and developed specifically for this design theme). The tri-tone blend is complemented by 10- Spoke Super Lightweight forged wheels with an MSO Bespoke Abyss Black gloss finish and MSO Bespoke Burton Blue brake calipers.

MSO-defined features chosen for the car include a Gloss Carbon Fibre Tonneau Cover, developed specifically for the 720S Spider and combines carbon fibre treatments to the rear deck with carbon fibre extensions to the upper trim and sills for nearly seamless flow from the cabin to the rear of the car. The treatment also includes the diffuser and B-pillars.

“We wanted the 720S Spider by MSO to have a refined and stylish feel to complement the car’s exceptional breadth of abilities and we feel we have achieved this,’’ Ansar Ali, Managing Director, McLaren Special Operations adds. ‘’It is the perfect demonstration of how the diversity of MSO’s skills base and our commitment to craftsmanship can subtly alter a car’s character.

We are constantly developing new techniques to frame McLaren cars in ways to meet our customer’s inspirations, whatever they may be.”

Launched in 2010, MSO is now the largest part of the McLaren Group with three product families: Sports Series, Super Series and Ultimate Series boasting more than 80 retailers in 30 markets globally. With the 72OS Spider, McLaren’s limitless customization presents a bespoke super car that continuously pushes boundaries and defies convention.

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MERCEDES-AMG’s AMG GT R PRO |By JARONE ASHKENAZI

Mercedes-AMG’s GT R PRO is now available to order and is priced at £188,345 with first deliveries arriving in July. Making use of its 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 engine, the performance car boasts an impressive 585-hp and 700Nm of torque.

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ith a top speed of 198mph, the car goes from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds and delivers 22.8 mpg on the combined cycle and emits 284 g/m of CO2. The GT R PRO enhanced driving dynamics come from its aerodynamic finetuning resulting in more downforce; a new suspension; and lightweight-design bucket seats and wheels.

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AMG electronically controlled rear axle limited-slip differential lock

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Racing stripes in light green

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Parking package including Parking Assist PARKTRONIC;

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AMG Carbon package I including rear diffuser and front splitter in carbon fiber

Standard equipment on the GT R PRO includes a 10.25-inch digital-instrument cluster display and multimedia display, matte black roll cage, 19-inch front / 20-inch rear AMG five twin-spoke titanium grey alloy wheels and carbon ceramic brakes. Other features include:

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AMG Traction Control

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AMG Interior Night package

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Premium package including Burmester surround sound system and Keyless-Go package

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AMG Matt Black Carbon Fibre Trim package

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AMG Track package

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Active Aerodynamics

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AMG Ride Control sports suspension with adjustable damper system

Modified in, “numerous details to deliver even more racetrack performance, the AMG GT embodies the core of our brand, “Driving Performance”, and the agile responses to all driver commands and the overall performance now deliver even more of that incomparable feeling that our racing drivers experience on the track,” says Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes-AMG GmbH. More information on the new limited edition Mercedes-AMG GT R PRO can be found here.

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UNDER THE HIGH PATRONAGE OF H.S.H PRINCE ALBERT II OF MONACO

In Partnership with

ANIBAL ICON

SUPERCAR SHOW INNOVATION WATCHES & JEWELLERY

30MAY 02JUNE 2019 GRIMALDI FORUM

Tickets on sale here

www.topmarquesmonaco.com

Nanis “Dancing in the Rain” Necklace bracelet combination

A craftsman works on the Antonini Cento ring

J E W E L R Y

Annamaria Cammilli Serie Uno rings

SPARKLING ITALIAN GOLD JEWELS WITH DESIGN & GREAT STYLE | BY ANTHONY DEMARCO

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hen it comes to making jewelry no other country does it like the Italians. The combination of hand craftsmanship, fine design, diverse styles and manufacturing innovations has created an industry that manages to produce jewels that have demand the world over. In Italy its 18k gold jewels that rule and the country’s craftsmen and manufacturers have created a myriad of techniques that results in pieces of exquisite beauty.

For example, Vhernier, specializes in producing contemporary hand-crafted pieces in round sculptural shapes with solid materials and plenty of precious gems, such as diamond pavé and big, colorful gemstones displaying a boldness that is unmistakably Italian. Being an Italian company, 18k gold, particularly rose gold, is used for many of their jewels. However, the company shows its innovation in its use of other materials, including woods, unusual stones, fossils and aluminum that are mixed with more common precious materials.

The company has had great success using titanium, most recently with its Velvet collection.

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The showstopper is the Blue Velvet necklace made with blue-colored titanium and shaped into a wave-like pattern; its edges topped with approximately 2,200 diamonds. It has a velvety, plush appearance that was the result of more than two years of research and 300 hours of work.

The company has three boutiques in the United States and they are quite special (their jewels are also in stores around the country), but if you can visit the company’s flagship store in Milan. The interior of the smart, sophisticated contemporary space is bathed in white, beige, brown and wood tones. The company’s jewels are shown in wall displays like paintings. Red curtains divide the showrooms, in which there are at least three. Perhaps the most distinct feature are curved desks and walls that link and encircle the separate rooms, which is like their jewels.

As an example of the diversity of jewels coming out of Italy, a Milan-based jewelry brand with its flagship store nearby is Antonini, which specializes in petite, delicate, urbane and highly refined contemporary gold jewels,

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often matched with colored gems and diamonds. This year, the family owned company is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a new collection, titled, “Cento.” It not only references 100 years but takes its inspiration from a city in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy of the same name with an historic center that resembles that of nearby Bologna. The collection by creative director Sergio Antonini features high polished yellow and white gold in wave shapes with some of the pieces sprinkled in diamond pavé. Space plays into the overall shape as the center of each piece is left open in wave-like patterns. The pieces showcase the malleability of gold in design.

Florentine jewelry brand, Annamaria Cammilli, does things with gold that few would even attempt. It creates its own colored gold ranging from the softness of “Sunrise Yellow,” “Apricot Orange” and “Champagne Pink” to the confident and intriguing “Lava Black” and the sophisticated “Ice White” and “Natural Beige.” The company has become equally recognizable for its soft-texture matte finishes through a manufacturing process that produces gold with a silk-like appearance and feel. Serie

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Honey Bear necklace by Anna Maccieri Rossi

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The Vhernier Blue Velvet necklace

Rings from the Roberto Coin Petals Collection

Uno (Series One), is a new collection that adheres to many of these characteristics. Based on designs of the 1970s, it rectangular shapes with rounded edges that are layered. Its name is derived from the use of a single diamond for each jewel, which serves as the focal point of the shape.

Nanis, an internationally known jewelry brand, produces handmade versatile, transformable 18k gold jewels. All of the pieces are handcrafted in the company’s atelier in Vicenza by master craftsmen. The pieces are known for the hand engraved finish, giving the gold a soft and matte aura. The company’s new collection, “Dancing in the Rain,” is representative of the imaginative jewels, created by the company’s founder, Laura Bicego, combining finely crafted gold paired with pink, blue and white gemstones and diamonds.

Picchiotti is known for its miniature works of art that use exceptional materials and a combination of handcrafted techniques with modern technology. The company produces traditional and contemporary designs that are both exquisite and accessible. The company specializes in

pavé and encrusted finishes for its gold jewels with flora and fauna themes and has passion for rare statement gemstones.

Independent jewelry designer, Alessio Boschi, makes jeweled works of art. His one-of-akind pieces combine old world craft and new techniques to produce true representations of historical and natural themes with exceptional precious materials. One of his newer creations is his Narcissus Bridge ring, inspired by the Greek mythology story of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. The jewel is set in 18k gold, with diamonds, pear-shaped sapphires, tsavorite and a briolette flat quartz that recreates Narcissus’ pool of water. When opened like a locket, an antique micromosaic pendant depicting the piece’s namesake bridge rises up from inside.

Underneath is a mirror so the wearer could fall in love with her image.

One of the world’s best-known Italian jewelry manufacturers and designers is Roberto Coin, and the man and brand who manages to produce an endless stream of finely made 18k gold jewels from unique high jewels to high-quality

mass produced pieces, all with unique design details and many with a variety of colorful gems. Flora and fauna are always an important theme of his products.

Anna Maccieri Rossi is a new Italian jeweler who spent years in Switzerland doing artisan work for luxury watch brands. The jewels she now creates combine the circular shape of watches and employ many of the artisan crafts of the watch world. To this she adds jewelry making techniques and what she calls some “Italian creativity.” For example, her Honey Bear open necklace features the face of bear on a burnished silver 18k white gold disk made of painted and engraved natural moonstone that resembles a marquetry pattern, which is used for high artisan watch dials. The bear appears to be looking anxiously at a honey drop on the other end of the necklace made of amber.

Rossi name in the jewelry world is still growing and someone to look for as her works begin to attract international attention. All of the other jewelry brands are readily available in the U.S.

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B E A U T Y

MARC JACOBS DECADENCE This perfume gets brownie points for the packaging as well. Not only does it look pretty on your vanity, but it also a classic yet unforgettable fragrance.

The sophisticated fragrance is a mix or powdery and woody accords. The top notes are Italian plum, saffron and iris while the heart is of Bulgarian rose and sambac jasmine with the base notes of liquid amber and papyrus wood.

Decadence is Marc Jacob’s first mature fragrance.

CHRISTIAN DIOR FEVE DELICIEUSE Feve Delicieuse is a unisex fragrance. This particular one is from the exclusive collection La Collection Privee. The centre of this scent is the Venezuelan tonka beans. The fragrance is well balanced with the woody accords, vanilla, caramel and cocoa. The best part about this one?

It flatters all the gender in the most beautiful manner. It is nowhere overbearing or strong and piercing.

TOP 10 PERFUMES

MUST HAVE A

part from your mannerisms and style, the way you smell adds as a contributing element to your personality. While everyone has a different choice, there are a plethora of options according to the occasion and time. For people will judge you on the way you smell, here are the top 10 perfumes for men and women that you must try. | BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR

CHANEL COCO EDP Saving the best for the last, Coco is for someone who wants to be a classic, vintage and timeless. The fragrance reminds you of an elegant, graceful, confident and sexy woman.

Launched in 1984, it still rules the hearts of many and creates its place as their signature scent. The jasmine and the Bulgarian rose along with peach and mandarin orange are the first notes that hit you followed by orange blossom and vanilla. Along with Coco, Chane and No. 5 from the same brand are also cult favourites.

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CAROLINA HERRERA GOOD GIRL The chic stiletto will steal your heart.

Perfect for a night out with your girlfriends or for a romantic date. This scent is made for the colder months and more sensuous occasions. The lemon, almond and coffee give zest and confidence of the competitive woman. The middle notes of tuberose and orris offer a rather seductive note.

Vanilla, cider, sandalwood as the base notes with the masculine scent of patchouli.

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YVES SAINT LAURENT LA NUIT DE L’HOMME INTENSE Yves Saint Laurent’s perfumes are always classic yet different.

The La Nuit de L’homme Intense is softer, sexier and less harsh than the original fragrance. It is a Winter/Fall fragrance with Iris being a new note added to the original blend of Vanilla, Tonka, Patchouli, Violet and Sage.

The woody spices add a lot of character while maintaining the mystery of the man.

DIOR SAUVAGE EDP The Dior Sauvage EDP is a fragrance that is taken to the wild, open spaces where there is a clear blue sky. This fragrance is preceded by Dior Sauvage cool spray that a very piercing fresh lemony fragrance, Dior Sauvage EDT. The Dior Sauvage EDP is a more mature, appealing and most lasting version of the lot. The pepper notes are intense and Calabrian bergamot gives it a mature edge.

GIORGIO ARMANI ACQUA DI GIO PROFUMO PARFUM This perfume is a strong yet fresh aquatic aroma with hints of sage, rosemary and patchouli. When you smell this you think of a multimillionaire with a good heart and mind, but works like a shark. The EDP is infused with incense that gives it a much stronger appeal than the EDT. If you like a more young smell you could opt for the third variant the Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Absolu.

BLEU DE CHANEL EDT This fresh citrus fragrance is best suitable for springs and summers. The top notes of Lemon, Pink pepper and mint give the perfume an appealing facet.

The middle notes Grapefruit, Jasmine, Ginger, Cedar and Vetiver bind the perfume well to the base note of sandalwood and patchouli. For a fragrance the Eau de Parfum has longer staying power than Eau de Toilette, ironically, most people prefer the Bleu de Chanel EDT over Bleu de Chanel EDP.

VERSACE DYLAN BLUE The Versace Dylan Blue is the younger version of Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio Profumo. The fragrance isn’t very unique or different but will definitely earn you compliments. Both these perfume have a top note of Patchouli, a very earthy, minty and masculine scent.

The Versace Dylan Blue is a combination of C.E.O and a College student.

It’s very masculine but has hints of youth and freshness.

YSL BLACK OPIUM Sexy, Confident and Charismatic. The Yves Saint Laurent’s Black Opium is for the women who want to conquer the world. The top notes of pink pepper, orange blossom and pear give a feminine vibe but it settles into more intense notes of liquorice, coffee and jasmine. Vanilla, patchouli and cedar bind the entire fragrance together giving it a strong character.

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P R O F I L E

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P R O F I L E

DANA ASHER-LEVINE Confidence is the Best Accessory By helÉne ramackers Photos courtesy of Dana Asher-Levine

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eing a personal shopper to powerful women in the spotlight sounds like every girl’s dream come true. For Dana Asher-Levine, her path into this sought-after career has been a blessing to herself and her clients. Known as The Clothing Therapist, she spoke exclusively to Upscale Living magazine about the inner workings of picking outfits for the stars.

YOU REALLY CAN SAY ‘LIFE BEGINS AT 40’ WHEN YOU STARTED A NEW CAREER PATH AS A PERSONAL SHOPPER AND STYLIST TO AMAZING, POWERFUL WOMEN.

DANA, TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

I ASSUME IN YOUR LINE OF WORK, YOU HAVE TO BE SUPER ORGANIZED.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles and am the youngest of three girls. My father passed away due to a heart attack when I was 16 and my mom passed away exactly ten years later from lung cancer. Because of this, my sisters and I are really close.

I went to The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) for one year of college to get my fashion background and then went on to study at American University in Washington DC. After college, I started working in the fashion industry, holding positions in many different areas from sales to production and even worked at FIDM. WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL? My job changes on a daily basis. Some days, I’m shopping for client’s events such as everyday wardrobe, award shows, or weddings. On other days, I am meeting with clients. I have to be able to change directions at a moment’s notice because there is a fashion emergency happening every day in someone’s life.

I call myself a personal shopper, but my job requires that I wear many hats. I get to be a problem solver, seamstress, friend, brand ambassador and master stylist. My clients call me ‘The Clothing Therapist’ for a reason!

I always thought I was going to be a stay at home mom, but sometimes life doesn’t always work out the way you plan it. At 40, my marriage fell apart and I basically had to start over. I had three small children that needed me, so I had to figure out how I was going to support my family.

Shopping was what I knew best, and I owe that familiarity to my mother - she laid the groundwork for my career. She was an amazingly chic woman and taught my sisters and me how to dress with our own personal flair and how to shop till we drop.

I try to be as organized as possible for someone on the go as much as I am. I have a great team who assists in keeping things organized. It also helps that I have a photographic memory. I can remember every single thing I have purchased for every client over the past twenty years. I can also browse department stores and take a mental inventory. It truly is a gift, especially when a client FaceTimes me to see if something goes - I can picture exactly what’s in their closet.

YOU GET TO ‘PLAY’ IN YOUR CLIENTS’ WARDROBES FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. WITHOUT DISCLOSING THEIR IDENTITY, HAVE THERE BEEN SOME REALLY ENVIABLE ITEMS YOU WISH YOU HAD THOUGHT OF BUYING FOR YOURSELF? Yes, and a lot of times I do! I love seeing what clients’ wardrobes have to offer because not only do I learn about their style, but sometimes they teach me about a new designer. I love when that happens because it reminds me that you have to keep evolving, learning, and adapting to the job, clients, and fashion trends.

I SUPPOSE IT COULD BE CHALLENGING FOR BOTH YOUR CLIENT AND YOU TO ‘GUIDE’ THEM IN A DIRECTION OF STYLE THEY ARE NOT USED TO; HOW DO YOU CONVINCE 35 Upscale Living Magazine | APRIL 2019

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THEM TO TRY AND PULL OFF A LOOK THAT YOU KNOW WILL WORK FOR THEM? I never try to change a client’s style. I try to polish or modernize their look without losing their personality. The goal is to always feel comfortable and confident. I want getting dressed to be fun again so they can have the confidence to put together their own outfits.

There’s no greater feeling than leaving the house knowing you look good because when you look good, you feel good.

HAVE YOUR EVER GOTTEN THE LOOK TOTALLY WRONG THAT IT DIDN’T WORK AT ALL? Fortunately, I have never gotten the look totally wrong. Phew! (Knocks on wood.) I bring my clients a ton of options, so they feel good and 100% confident in what they’re wearing.

If they don’t feel good in it, I’m not doing my job. It’s important to find their perfect look because confidence and feeling good is the best accessory anyone can have.

HOW DO YOU NAVIGATE THE LINE BETWEEN INDIVIDUALITY AND PROFESSIONALISM? Everyone is different. Different sizes, different personalities, different styles. I treat each client differently. Sometimes a client might buy the same shirt, but how it gets styled is completely different. That’s what makes this job so creative! I love how one shirt can look so different depending on the person. I embrace everyone’s individuality.

I LOVE YOUR SAYING ‘REMEMBER THERE ARE NO RULES IN FASHION. THE MOMENT THERE’S A RULES, IT’S NOT FASHION’.

Well, I can’t take full credit for that. One of my fashion icons, Michael Kors, said that and he’s not wrong. Fashion is a form of expression and I always want to convey a client’s lifestyle and personality through their wardrobe. Also, I live in Los Angeles, and I love wearing white. Life’s too short, I’m going for it!

DO YOU HAVE CERTAIN BRANDS YOU FAVOR, FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR CLIENT(S)?

Yes, yes! I have many brands that I can’t live without. A few of my favorites are Lagence Jeans, Good American denim, Mother Denim, Gucci, Chanel, Dior, Oscar De La

Renta, Chelsea Passage, Michael Kors, and Zara. But that list could go on...

THE RETAIL STORES MUST LOVE YOU – SHOPPING UP A STORM. THERE SURELY IS A BUDGET THOUGH AND HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO STICK TO IT WHEN FACED WITH SO MUCH OF WHAT YOU LOVE DOING? My clients have different budgets and staying within them isn’t hard. The beauty of my job is that I love what I do. I can literally shop anywhere - Target, Zara, Neiman Marcus, or Dior - and always find great pieces!

YELLOW SEEMS TO BE A FAVORITE COLOR FOR YOU, BUT IT DOESN’T SUIT EVERYONE. WHO SHOULDN’T WEAR YELLOW? My fascination and love for the color yellow began when I was a little girl. My mom decorated my room with yellow velvet wallpaper that had picket fences and kids playing in the background. Since then, yellow has been my go-to color. If you’re not feeling yellow, don’t wear it. Some days it may work for you and others it might not. It’s all personal preference and what makes you feel good.

RISE AND SPARKLE – ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL? I’m a 24/7 girl! There is always something to be done in my world.

A SMILE NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE. SOUNDS LIKE A BRILLIANT CAPTION! ANOTHER WINNER: NOTHING LOOKS GOOD ON YOU IF YOU DON’T FEEL GREAT IN IT! I tell all my clients ‘When you feel good, you look good’.

YOU HAVE THREE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN, AN ADORING HUSBAND AND THE CUTEST FURBABIES. WHO IS DANA WHEN SHE IS AT HOME? I’m the same person at home that I am with Shonda Rhimes, the sales person at Neiman Marcus, or my kids. I try to live as authentically as I can at all times. I’ve been through too much not to be. I love the woman I’ve become and the family I’ve created.

night dinners for my husband, my kids, and their friends. This is my time to relax, reflect, and realize how thankful I am for my health, my family, and my career. Having everyone together is a blessing and it gives me strength going into the next workweek.

My husband David is a Periodontist. We call him ‘Saint David’ because he willingly and lovingly stepped in to help me raise my three kids. I have three furbabies – two Australian shepherds and a Maltese.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO-STYLE? My go-to style or as I like to call it, my uniform, consists of a cute T-shirt, jacket, and jeans by either Lagence or Mother Denim.

Sensible shoes are a must for my job, so I ALWAYS pair my outfit with Gucci slides.

YOU HAVE FLAWLESS SKIN – WHAT ARE YOUR BEAUTY SECRETS? Thank you! Skincare is really important to me. I try to make a monthly visit to Dr. Lancer for a facial. In between visits, I use his caviar lime facial peel. Really any product he has, I LOVE. HOW DO YOU STAY IN SUCH INCREDIBLE SHAPE? I finally practice what all the experts have been saying for all these years - a balanced, healthy diet and exercise plan. For all things nutrition, I follow celebrity dietician Tanya Zuckerbrot’s, the F Factor diet plan; it’s a high fiber/high protein diet. I highly recommend it! It keeps me full and energized for the days that require longer hours. I also try to work out every day with my personal trainer, Wendy, at Detox Fitness Gym in Sherman Oaks.

YOUR PLANS FOR THE REST OF 2019?

For me, 2019 is about giving back and going for it. I have been so fortunate in my career and personal life. I want to give more to my kids, my husband, my friends, and, of course, my clients. I want to share my knowledge with people that want to learn about a career in styling/personal shopping. I’m also starting a blog, which can be found at www.theclothingtherapist.com. Like I said earlier, life is too short, I’m going for it!

My family is always there to love me no matter how overwhelmed or exhausted I may be.

I always make it a priority to cook Sunday 37 Upscale Living Magazine | APRIL 2019

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HIGHLANDS & CASHIERS NORTH CAROLINA

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T R A V E L

WHAT’S NEW “Bringing you the finest places around the world is what we love to do here at Upscale Living magazine. In keeping with this tradition, we are focusing on introducing you to new kids on the block or accommodation establishments with a relooked lease on life. Grab your travel diary as you want to get to these places as soon as possible!”

| BY HELÉNE RAMACKERS

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T R A V E L

MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH

LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA After celebrating sixteen years of ultra-luxury service and hospitality, Montage Laguna Beach unveiled an extensive, property-wide renovation in March 2019. The flagship property conceptualized by Founder, Chairman, and CEO, Alan J Fuerstman, paved the way for excellence in Montage Hotels & Resorts’ deep-rooted history.

With stunning coastal views overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the heart of Laguna Beach, the resort attracts families, couples, and friends wanting to capture everlasting memories in a luxurious setting.

Beautifully renovated areas include an enhanced lobby and lounge, guest accommodations, and public spaces to further bring a sense of place, luxury, and intimacy to the resort. “Each element of this refresh was thoughtfully-curated from 42 Upscale Living Magazine | APRIL 2019

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the design elements to the detailed touchpoints in each guest accommodation,” said Anne-Marie Houston, General Manager of Montage Laguna Beach. “We have been honored to greet the many guests and locals that have stayed and visited us over the last sixteen years, celebrating their personal milestones and creating memories. We are pleased to welcome back our guests to share new experiences with the same personalized service and luxury hospitality they have always enjoyed from Montage Laguna Beach.”

The new lobby creates a ‘snapshot in time,’ as guests are drawn to the outside immediately, with a framed window in the lobby that overlooks the horizon. The lobby and lounge are warm and inviting spaces featuring Brazilian Cherry wood floors and California coastal lobby

furniture. In the mornings, guests can order freshly baked pastries and handcrafted espresso beverages, and in the afternoons and evenings, guests can enjoy live piano music and signature cocktails while enjoying the sunset views.

The 253 guest accommodations boast an elegant residential feel with a muted color palette accented by vibrant bursts of color – steel blue, violet, yellow and chartreuse – all flooded with an abundance of natural light to highlight modern artwork and contemporary photography on the walls. Polished marble floors and glistening chrome accents, elegant new vanities, and mirrors featuring dimmer-controlled lighting enhance each of the guest bathrooms. www.montagehotels.com/ lagunabeach

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THE RIVER LEE CORK, IRELAND

The opening of The River Club Bar and Restaurant, The Mirror Room and The Cocktail Bar marks the start of The River Lee’s relaunch.

Apart from the hotel’s complete refurbishment, the hotel’s lobby and 182 bedrooms also see a wonderful redesign.

Designers O’Donnell O’Neill worked alongside The Doyle Collection design team, overseen by The Doyle Collection Chairman Bernie Gallagher, to create an atmosphere where modern luxury meets the renowned charm of Cork, a vibrant and artsy city just inland from Ireland’s southwest coast.

The River Club Bar boasts a double-height ceiling complete with wooden beams reclaimed from a whiskey distillery, a long mahogany bar, chevron patterned floor tiles, and frosted glass artdeco style chandelier, brought to life by giant windows

onto the river. This space leads onto The River Club Terrace, where tropical tree ferns, rich textiles, outdoor heaters, and cozy throws help turn it into a balmy urban hideaway – the ultimate venue for brunch or cocktails and small plates in the city.

While those looking for a stylish and sophisticated dining experience can head to The Grill Room, complete with deep teal-paneled walls, curved cognac leather banquettes, golden blown-glass globes casting a flattering light and playful art. This eatery channels old-school glamour and its locally-inspired menus created by head chef Paul Lane are designed to champion Cork produce, much of it straight from the nearby English Market.

ror Room, which is flooded with natural light through floor to ceiling window and views of the rushing waters of the River Weir. The elegant room is complete with Italian wall tapestries, mirrored wall paneling with sage green banquettes, marble-topped tables and mid-century German chandeliers. The final piece of the puzzle for The River Lee’s ground floor is The Cocktail Bar, a chic, modern take on a mid-20th-century bar. The hand-carved mahogany bar has a striking white bar top, and space is rich with different textures. The Cocktail Bar offers a soothing ambiance and is the perfect place to try some of Cork’s rare whiskeys, served in Irish crystal cut glassware. www.doylecollection.com

The refurbishment also includes a new event and group dining space, The Mir-

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TRAVEL

THE DUPONT CIRCLE

WASHINGTON DC, USA Led by Bernie Gallagher, Chairman of The Doyle Collection and daughter of the company founder, the late PV Doyle, the multimilliondollar hotel transformation of The Dupont Circle in Washington DC includes an incredible collaboration with interior designer, Martin Brudnizki and New Yorkbased designer Clodagh. The exciting and chic new bar and restaurant have been designed

by Martin Brudnizki, while Clodagh has redesigned the hotel foyer and created a spectacular rooftop terrace suite. The Dupont Hotel will bring a fusion of both American and European style and service to the city.

Bernie Gallagher, Chairman of The Doyle Collection says: “We are excited to reintroduce The Dupont Circle Hotel following an extensive renovation. The newly completed bar and restaurant 44 Upscale Living Magazine | APRIL 2019

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along with the lobby and rooftop terrace suites will be the culmination of this major investment. The Dupont Circle is one of Washington’s best-located hotels and our vision is for the hotel to become the social hub of this vibrant neighborhood in the center of the city. I am delighted to see this vision for the hotel come to life, alongside Pat King, our group CEO, and renowned General Manager Joel Freyberg and look forward to sharing it with our guests.”

The iconic Bar Dupont, with its panoramic views of Dupont Circle, has been transformed into Doyle by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio – a glamorous clublike bar with a chic mid-century feel. Working with the original 1950s’ architecture of the building, rich walnut paneling, open fires, and flattering lighting, a warm and

welcoming atmosphere has been created. Custom upholstery in shades of rich greens, yellows, and blues will be brought together by geometric patterns, brass detailing and polished surfaces.

The Rooftop Floor transformation will house some of the top suites in the city, along with the creation of a 5,000sq ft Penthouse suite, featuring an enormous garden terrace overlooking the Dupont Circle with views of the Washington Monument. This suite comprises two master bedrooms and a large living and dining area.

Designed by Clodagh, the palette is neutral with a midcentury aesthetic with stylish details such as ribbed glass mirrors, brass, and live-edge wooden pieces. www.doylecollection.com

T R A V E L

train travel vs flying

By RAJ GILL

There is something intrinsically romantic about train travel. Maybe I get the notion from those black and white movies where they depict the fond farewell of lovers on the platform, or just the idea of experiencing glorious Europe while not in the driving seat.

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or my next journey south I opted to travel by train. From Glasgow city centre you can reach the heart of London (Euston station) in four hours and thirty minutes, thanks to the genius of Virgin Trains, and their pendolino service. Door to door that is approximately as much time as it takes via air travel.

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Air travel from Glasgow to London, is a domestic flight and requires you to be at the airport at least 90 minutes before departure, the flight time is approximately one hour and thirty minutes, add in the amount of time it takes to get one’s luggage (additional 30mins) and also to get to London city centre (approx.

1 hour) and it totals to four hours thirty min-

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utes, that is hoping and praying that there will be no delays with air traffic.

The great draw with train travel is that there is not a restriction on luggage or the size of toiletries, or the never ending hoops one has to jump through to comply with air travel restrictions.Â

T R A V E L

There was a time when flying was considered a luxury, these days we tend to take more flights than ever before.

Upon arrival at Euston, I hopped in a taxi, for the short drive to Park Lane; I was staying at the Sheraton for a wee overnighter, before my Eurostar journey to Amsterdam.

Park Lane, London is a much desired postcode. The Sheraton is in the centre of London’s busy hotel and restaurant scene. Despite this and also thanks to the upgrade I decided to take advantage of the lovely surroundings and opted to spend the night in. The perfect choice before my early start.

I was upgraded to a corner suite, overlooking Green Park. The views were stunning, as was the suite. It consists of a large modern lounge area, with a dining area off to the side, an enormous bedroom with an equally large en suite. The only thing that didn’t quite fit right was the size of the bath. It was on the small side for a bathroom of this size, one would expect a bath larger than the standard size.

A soak in the tub and room service was exactly what the doctor ordered. The food is from the restaurant housed in the hotel, Cecconis, which has a reputation of being one of the best Italian restaurants on Park Lane. And I wasn’t disappointed, the pizza was delicious with a side dish of Caesar salad and washed down with some Bolly and I was ready to hit the sack.

Sadly I didn’t have time for breakfast, as I had to hotfoot it down to St Pancras in order to take the 0630 Eurostar train from London to Amsterdam. A new service just recently launched by Eurostar. The first class lounge has been refurbished and it was a delight to check it out. The new 360 degree bar is most definitely a stunning centrepiece. The service in the lounge is outstanding; Leon our waiter even accompanied us down to the platform to ensure that we were all on board on time and with all our luggage.

First class on Eurostar is a joy, the service staff will endeavour to ensure you have a seamless journey. The food on board is by Raymond

Blanc and is as delicious as it would be expected to be. The food and the champagne is the ideal way in which to start a long weekend in Europe, in just under four hours we had arrived in Amsterdam.

So train travel VS flying, I have to say I am a convert. There is something about train travel which makes it much more civilised, and more relaxed. In airports I always feel as if I am rushing through, and flying can be quite confined, seatbelts on, seatbelts off, put your phone in airplane mode, all of these are pet hates. Train travel cuts out all of these pet hates. It’s my new mode of travel for 2019 and I will be selecting train over plane every time. www.virgintrains.co.uk https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/longrsheraton-grand-london-park-lane/ www.eurostar.com

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DESERT MOUNTAIN’S FOREVER HOME Your Scottsdale Dream Home with Views That Go Forever

|By Tim Cotroneo

There are at three immediate “wow” factors greeting visitors at the luxury real estate listing titled Saguaro Forest 244. Let’s start with curb appeal that includes driving up a mountain.

Then there’s the gated entrance in which your sole neighbor is a National Forest. Finally, there’s the eye-opening front door to vista view that seems like it goes on “forever.”

F

or a cool $9.9 million the property branded Saguaro Forest 244 in Desert Mountain is all yours including the furnishings. When it comes to the total buying package encompassing this 5-bedroom, 7,500-square-foot residence, Desert Mountain Realtor Kathleen Benoit likes to say, “All you have to bring is your toothbrush.”

The features built into the Forever Home include a disappearing exterior wall, a floating staircase, a dramatic rainfall water feature, radiant heated floors, smart home control system, motorized sun shades, 105 solar panels, an elevator, a climatized glass wine wall holding 800 bottles, and a 25-meter lap pool.

RIDE TO THE MOUNTAINTOP Let’s back up a bit and return to the early morning ride leading up to your first glimpse of the Forever Home. Benoit has sold real estate in Desert Mountain for 13 years and the stories she shares regarding the history of Desert Mountain and specifically the land arching to the Forever Home are like stepping back in time.

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R E A L

E S T A T E

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R E A L

Before Desert Mountain burst on the Scottsdale, AZ, luxury real estate scene back in the mid-80s, the community’s 8,000-acres buttressing the Sonoran Desert were as wild west at they come. The days of ranchers and miners literally fighting over the land have given way to a prestigious golf community that features six Jack Nicklaus signature courses, nine restaurants, a 42,000-square-foot fitness center, tennis courts, and 15-miles of private hiking trails.

As quiet as the environment appears as Benoit’s BMW climbs the mountain leading to the Forever Home, the growing real estate numbers emanating from Desert Mountain are anything but silent. In 2018, 131 new members from 26 states and four countries planted roots in Desert Mountain’s rolling hills located 40 miles north of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

like you’re about to take off from the living room runway and jet out to Pinnacle Peak, Camelback Mountain, and the glittering lights of the Valley below.

When Benoit starts pressing buttons, that’s when the Forever Home comes alive. First a glass wall encompassing the whole southern exposure glides from left to right until it disappears. In a matter of seconds you’re standing, admiring, and breathing in the great outdoors.

Benoit walks over to a master bedroom located to your right and with the flip of a switch the bedroom is suddenly al fresco with more open air. For a dramatic touch she turns on the modern linear fireplace and the room is bathed in a warm glow. The idea of laying your head inside a bedroom with views and ambiance this dramatic is mind bending.

E S T A T E

The Forever Home’s interiors are each personal, yet tastefully connect with the overall design theme in terms of tile, granite, color, texture, and fabric. Smart Home technology and convenience become one as the heat, air conditioning, lighting and security can all be monitored through your phone. At night the fingertip possibilities soar as the light show embracing the infinity pool continue to the city lights of Phoenix located almost 50 miles away.

Before heading back out to her car, Benoit notes that the desert landscape, elevations, and quiet outside the front door is all part of the 2 million-acre Tonto National Forest.

So if the key to luxury real estate is location, location, location, consider that on one side of this 10-acre home are views that go on forever.

On the other side is a pristine national forest.

Talk about a win-win.

OWNING FOREVER

FOREVER VIEWS AND MAKING WALLS DISAPPEAR

TAKING SIDES ON LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

As the sliding glass wall closes, the new potential owner gives in to one last glimpse of forever. Upon observing her client’s expression, Benoit reads his mind and smiles before saying. “The only thing standing between you and owning Forever is a toothbrush.”

Benoit parks on the paved auto court fronting the Forever Home and your eyes are riveted beyond the 16-foot glass windows flanking the front doorway. As she opens the door the home is filled with natural light and it feels

As you stroll through the massive chef ’s kitchen Benoit points out a wine wall that currently holds 800 bottles. Next you step down a glass and walnut floating staircase to more bedrooms in which each features a private balcony and bath.

https://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour. asp?t=2109561&idx=1 https://www.russlyon.com/homes-for-sale/ AZ/scottsdale/85262/42725-n-102nd-st/lid5c2d5db72c17e142367a316f# https://desertmountain.com/

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H O T E L S

PET-FRIENDLY HOTELS | BY HELÉNE RAMACKERS

Going on holiday is, at times, a major undertaking. Having to leave your fur-child at home can be traumatic for both owner and pet, especially when people regard their animals as children. Upscale Living magazine went in search of the Top 10 Pet-friendly hotels in the world so that next time, Fifi or Fido can accompany you on your great adventure.

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H O T E L S

EGERTON HOUSE HOTEL LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

A stone’s throw away from the shopper’s paradise of Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the Sloane Street boutiques as well as nearby museums and cultural institutes namely The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Natural History Museum and The Royal Albert Hall, The Egerton House Hotel is a gorgeous townhouse hotel, perfect for you and your VIP (very important pet).

Offering a particularly special doggy afternoon tea, your pet can join you as you indulge in the most English of traditions! With a selection of beds, floor mats, food and drink bowls, and especially prepared menus, your four-legged companions will be in doggy heaven with the addition of dog sitting and walking services. The Egerton House Hotel is located within close proximity to public parks; the knowledgeable concierge team is always at hand to suggest pet-friendly activities and services, ensuring first-class hospitality at Egerton House Hotel. www.egertonhousehotel.com

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GLENEAGLES

PERTHSHIRE, SCOTLAND Since opening its doors in June 1924, Gleneagles has been one of Scotland’s most iconic hotels and sporting estates. Set beneath the Ochil Hills, in the heart of Perthshire, it has been the must-go destinations for families for nearly a century. With 850 acres of sprawling countryside, this is the ideal place for owners and their beloved canine companions looking for rest, relaxation, and stimulation in these incredible and picturesque surroundings.

With is glorious playground of country pursuits and activities, there is plenty to amuse guests. Dogs stay for free at Gleneagles and all 232 rooms are dog friendly, including the six luxury suites. Small to medium-sized dogs can stay with guests in their rooms while luxury kennels are also available complete with king-sized beds and dog-loving staff on hand. Dogs are even greeted with own pet travel pack, including dog bowls, toys and other useful knick-knacks. www.gleneagles.com

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Courtesy of Catie Ann Photography

H O T E L S

HOTEL CRESCENT COURT DALLAS, TX, USA

Those looking for a ‘paw-fect’ getaway with their furry friends can stay in style at this Uptown Dallas icon within the flourishing 11-acre Crescent Complex complete with doggie bowls, a pet mat and personal bed.

Following an extensive multi-million-dollar renovation, Hotel Crescent Court is Texan luxury at its finest. Combining Dallas sophistication and heritage into an experience that is uniquely Hotel Crescent Court, you can be assured to feel undeniable charm that is quintessentially Texan.

Hotel Crescent Court, known for its ideal location just steps from the bustling Dallas Arts District, echoes the exclusivity of a country club with sophisticated amenities including an immersive 22,000 sq. ft. spa and a state-of-the-art fitness center, as well as the members-only Crescent Club, sparkling rooftop swimming pool and specially-curated programs celebrating the community through unique, indigenous experiences and the most incredible fine dining in Dallas. www.crescentcourt.com

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LE BRISTOL

PARIS, FRANCE A favorite of ‘the great and the good’ since its opening in the heady Roaring Twenties, Le Bristol Paris is the place to stay in the French capital. An illustrious, permanent resident that steals the spotlight is the hotel’s resident Burmese cat, Fa-Raon, resplendent in his bespoke Goyard collar perfectly fitting in with the hotel’s location on the iconic Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

Inviting other furry friends to truly make themselves at home at the Parisian palace, Le Bristol Paris offers an in-room welcome for pets that is every bit as glamorous as for their owners. A handcrafted bed and matching embroidered mat, a gleaming silver dog bowl with chilled bottled Evian water, and special monogrammed cookies stamped with the Le Bristol Paris crest await in the Suite, and in lieu of traditional room service, Oetker Collection’s signature five-star silver in-room dining for pets is available. www.oetkercollection.com

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H O T E L S

MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF

BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, USA A family favorite of Montage Palmetto Bluff is the Canine Ambassador program, which features their beloved English Labrador Retrievers.

River, May, and Cooper sharing the role of bringing joy to all of guests with meet and greets, where they look forward to interacting with everyone and posing for family portraits. These Labradors are truly at home in Palmetto Bluff – loving the broad expanse of the Lowcountry land and water, in keeping with the nature of their retriever breed.

Montage Palmetto Bluff, nestled along the May River, is the perfect destination for a Southern experience with activities on land and on the water. The property is located on 20,000 acres of historic land and offers guests a conservancy tour as well as activities including horseback riding, shooting club, and golfing. On water guests can enjoy a day of yachting, kayaking, swimming, and dolphin watching! https://www.montagehotels.com/palmettobluff/

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H O T E L S

THE LANESBOROUGH

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

The Lanesborough is one of the masterpiece properties of the Oetker Collection at one of London’s most enviable addresses. Overlooking Hyde Park Corner, and adjacent to the grounds of Buckingham Palace, it is one of the city’s most iconic hotels commanding a prestigious location that straddles Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Mayfair, it is home to 93 luxurious suites and bedrooms.

While all room categories in the hotel come complete with their own private butler, there is also a fleet of butlers to assist with dog-walking for furry four-legged friends staying at the hotel too. The Lanesborough happily welcomes most small-to-medium sized dogs to stay with their owners in the room or suite. Pooches in residence receive their own welcome card upon arrival, in addition to a special bed, bowls, selection of waters and toys, and a bespoke ‘woof homemade menu’ replete, with delectable doggy dinners. www.oetkercollection.com

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H O T E L S

THE LOWELL

NEW YORK, NY, USA

The Lowell, long the New York hotel of choice for locals and ‘in the know’ travelers, ensures that all their guests are fully spoilt during their hotel stay, whether they happen to be human … or not. At The Lowell, dogs are welcomed with luxurious in-room amenities, including a sumptuous bed, personalized water bowl and tailored-to-taste treats.

While human guests can dine in the hotel’s newly launched restaurant, Majorelle, they have not disregarded the foodie needs of canine visitors. The ‘In-Room Dining Pet Menu’ includes a variety of meals and snacks catering to each dog’s individual needs. For pets with a paunch, ‘The Lean Dog’ is the dish of choice and for furry friends with a distinguished palette, ‘The Sophisticated Dog’ is bound to hit the spot. A variety of side dishes including sardines, rice, potatoes and peas are also available. www.lowellhotel.com

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H O T E L S

THE MILESTONE HOTEL

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM The five-star Milestone Hotel, a quintessentially English mansion-hotel in the heart of London located across from dog-friendly Kensington Gardens, is a great destination in London to bring pets. Upon arrival, pets will receive a tailor-made welcome hamper, which includes a toy, a treat, a Milestone tag and clean-up bags. Special amenities include a choice of a custom-made Milestone Hotel pet bed, cushions duvets and floor mats, a ‘Do Not Disturb/Pet Sleeping’ card, food and water bowl with fresh mineral water, turndown treats and an in-house Pet Menu.

Other services include dog sitting & walking, toys, birthday celebrations, grooming services, litter boxes, leashes, and more. Creating a unique package to ensure your favorite friend has the time of their lives, the head concierge and his capable team will ensure your pet’s needs are catered for in every imaginable way. The perfect place to celebrate your pet’s birthday! https://www.milestonehotel.com/

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H O T E L S

THE OYSTER BOX

KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA Skabenga (meaning hooligan or vagabond in Zulu), a Tabby cat, has been a permanent resident at The Oyster Box, for more years than anybody can remember. Having wandered onto the property as a stray, he was fed tasty, expensive titbits by guests and with life so good … who can blame him for never wanting to leave!

During the renovation operations, when the hotel was closed for two years, he was cared for by a cat-lover and brought ‘home’, shortly before the property re-opened. Over the past few years Skabenga has really given meaning to the saying, that a cat has ‘nine lives’. On one occasion, he ‘disappeared’ from the property…and miraculously re-appeared a few days later, in good health, thanks to the contact details on the brass name-tag around his neck. We never did find out where that adventure took him to … if only cats could speak! www.oysterboxhotel.com

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H O T E L S

THE TWELVE APOSTLES CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

Four-legged furry friends have long known that the favorite place to stay in style when visiting Cape Town is The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa - the hotel of choice for pampered pets (and their distinguished owners).

Taking five-star service to another level, the specially designed Pet Menu, created by Executive Chef Christo Pretorius, in collaboration with veterinary nutrition specialists, is available to order from Room Service or in The Leopard Bar. At The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, canine and feline guests receive a special welcome from resident cat Ingwe (‘leopard’ in Xhosa), who since her arrival in 2013 has taken over the portfolio of ‘Pet Manager In-charge’. Pets stay for free and are accommodated with their owners in dedicated pet-friendly rooms, with a range of pet beds, comfortable bedding and blankets, special pet bowls and a ‘Pet In Residence’ sign on the door. www.12apostleshotel.com

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C U L I N A R Y

NOBU MATSUHISA

Doing Everything from the Heart

| BY | BY HELÉNE RAMACKERS PHOTOS COURTESY OF NOBU MATSUHISA

After a recent whirlwind visit to Cape Town’s One&Only in celebration of a decade of his namesake restaurant Nobu, Nobu Mathuhisa tells Upscale Living magazine why it’s important to do everything from the heart.

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C U L I N A R Y

NOBU, CAN YOU RECALL WHEN YOU DEVELOPED A LOVE FOR CUISINE? WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE FOODS IN YOUR FORMATIVE YEARS? When I was a child, I used to remember the tap-tap of the knife on the chopping board and the scraping of the pot against the burner as my Mum was preparing miso soup and pickled vegetables every morning. This is common in Japanese family cultures and each family has a slightly different recipe. My Mum made us good food and inspired me to do the same, she first sparked my interest in cooking.

YOU OPENED YOUR FIRST RESTAURANT IN 1987 IN BEVERLY HILLS. NOW NOBU IS A WELL-KNOWN BRAND ALL OVER THE WORLD. WHAT IS THE RECIPE (NO PUN INTENDED) FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

TIONS WHERE YOUR RESTAURANTS ARE BASED, OR DO THEY DIFFER REGIONALLY AND SEASONALLY? Guest experience is really important to me, especially our most loyal customers. Apart from these signature dishes though, I’m keen to always keep the rest of the menu moving and evolving so we have two sides to the menu – Nobu ‘classics’ and Nobu ‘now’. We also change our menus from city to city, based on what’s in season and can be sought out locally.

As I travel almost ten months a year, I’m always learning of new techniques and ingredients, which continue to inspire new dishes.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR IN YOUR LINE OF WORK? I SUPPOSE PATIENCE IS ALSO A VIRTUE?

ING EXPERIENCE WHEN PATRONS GET TO MEET YOU? As our guests give thanks to me, it is equally important to greet and thank in return. Without our guests, Nobu would not be where it is today.

YOU MUST HAVE HAD SOME MEMORABLE GUESTS OVER THE YEARS – HAVE ANY OF THEM STOOD OUT FOR YOU? HAVE THERE BEEN NOT-SODELIGHTFUL GUESTS AND WHAT HAS THAT EXPERIENCE TAUGHT YOU? No guest is the same. I have met many interesting people over the years, each with their own stories. I like to share my experiences, and this is how we as people learn, by sharing our stories.

Nobu around the world is about good food and good service – one ingredient (no pun intended too) I feel is key to our success, is ‘kokoro’, doing everything from the heart.

Humor in the kitchen is the same as any family.

I am patient, but challenge the team fairly and will always believe it’s important to enjoy what we are doing or we lose the essence of why we are doing it in the first place.

ANY PEOPLE – FAMOUS OR NOT – THAT YOU WOULD STILL LIKE TO COOK FOR?

WHAT CAN PATRONS EXPECT WHEN DINING AT NOBU? HAVE YOU STANDARDIZED THE CULINARY EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE 40 LOCA-

YOU TURNED 70 IN MARCH – CONGRATULATIONS! ARE YOU STILL VERY HANDS-ON AT NOBU AND DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IT ADDS TO THE DIN-

YOU HAVE A LONGSTANDING FRIENDSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP WITH ACTOR ROBERT DE NIRO; YOU CO-OWN THE NOBU RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS.

My mother.

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C U L I N A R Y

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WHAT MAKES THIS PARTNERSHIP WORK? Bob started out as a Matsuhisa customer. He complimented the food saying it was incredible and asked if I ever wanted to open a restaurant in New York. At first I said no, but he was persistent and the rest is history.

Bob is not only my business partner, but he is my family. We have a very good relationship as we share the same goals and vision for the business, which includes good food and good service, and this partnership has only gotten stronger throughout the years.

YOU PROBABLY SPEND A FAIR TIME TRAVELING. WHICH PLACES HAFE LEFT LASTING IMPRESSIONS? I travel for ten months of the year. Everywhere I travel, I experience new languages, unfamiliar smells and new ingredients to incorporate into new dishes.

THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA, SPECIFICALLY CAPE TOWN. WHAT WARMS YOUR HEART ABOUT THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY?

Each time I stay at the One&Only Cape Town, I experience what you could call ‘real’ South African hospitality. The warmth of the people is what makes each journey memorable and I take that with me when I leave.

PLANS FOR THE REST OF 2019?

I generally like to live in the moment as you never know what is around the next bend, but what I do know is that cooking is my whole life and I love seeing customers at Nobu restaurants all over the world eating, drinking, smiling and laughing. I’d love to continue bringing people joy through simple cooking that comes from the heart, as well as being there to support my staff and see them grow. I’m a strong believer that those who keep working hard to increase the quality of their offering, and let things grow organically, will naturally have opportunities come to them. www.oneandonlycapetown.com https://noburestaurants.com/

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W I N E S + S P I R I T S

35TH ANNUAL CLASSIC WINES AUCTION “SAVOR THE EXPERIENCE” |By TRACY BEARD

A large envelope arrived in my mailbox in late February. Inside was a black spiral-bound book with numerous pages describing every aspect of the upcoming event. As I read about the featured wines, gourmet cuisine, silent and live auction items and information about the five nonprofit beneficiaries — Metropolitan Family Service, New Avenues for Youth, Friends of the Children-Portland, YWCA Clark County and Unity Center for Behavioral Health — I brimmed with excitement. The 35th Annual Classic Wines Auction, selected once again as one of Wine Spectator’s Top 10 charity wine auctions in the U.S. for 2018, was only days away. This event is renowned for its phenomenal fundraising, incredible food and delicious wine.

THE RECEPTION AND SILENT AUCTION On the evening of March 2, 2019, my daughter Brittney and I entered the Oregon Convention Center and admired the tables overflowing with silent auction items. Roaming about with a glass of champagne in hand, we perused the items and speculated as to how much money each lot would raise for the benefiting recipients.

Guests flowed into hallways. Women wore stylish evening gowns and precious jewels while most of the men were quite debonair dressed in tuxedos with black ties. People flocked toward the auction tables and wrote in their bids or meandered over to one of the 16 wine tasting stations.

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Music by DJ Short played in the background, and guests feasted on pork and beef meatball sliders, cauliflower soup, grilled lamb meatballs, and hamachi tostadas with avocado, chile morita, and peanut salsa. Tarts, composed of caramelized onions, niçoise olives, and tomato conserve, and ahi tuna sundaes, assembled with black garlic, sriracha aioli, and puffed rice, were on display for hungry attendees.

THE DINNER AND LIVE AUCTION The climax of the evening began with a performance by LoveBomb Go-Go featuring impressive acrobatics and lively music. Executive Chef Allan Wambaa presided over dinner while the live auction commenced. Chef Wambaa’s experience includes working as the personal chef to the royal family of Saudi Arabian Prince Fahd bin Khalid Al-Saud. He spent time in the

W I N E S + S P I R I T S

kitchen at Seattle’s Palisade Restaurant, and he worked as the executive chef at Benaroya Hall with chef Wolfgang Puck.

The four-course dinner commenced with a jumbo prawn and Dungeness crab tartare Napoleon with avocado cream, pepperonata, micro arugula, lemon oil and black caviar. Three different wines were served: a rich and luscious 2017 Rombauer Carneros Chardonnay with aromas of vanilla, crème brûlée and butter, a 2016 VGW (Very Good White) Chardonnay that I found well-rounded with oak exhibiting notes of pineapple and guava, and a pale pink 2017 Domaines Ott Chateau Romassan Bandol Rosé parading notes of citrus fruit.

The second course was a delicious pan-roasted muscovy duck breast with purple Peruvian potatoes and a spiced pomegranate citrus coulis.

Chef paired this dish with two red wines, a well-balanced 2013 Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir with notes of cinnamon and berry and a dense and fruit-forward 2015 LignierMichelot Morey-Saint Denis VV. Three Cabernet Sauvignons arrived at the table with the third course of Lamb Osso Bucco with Milanese risotto, fried lacinato, and balsamic cippolini onions. The wines consisted of a 2013 Doubleback from Walla Walla Valley in Washington that displayed hints of cassis and licorice, a 2014 Silver Oak from Alexander Valley in California that offered up subtle traces of chocolate and vanilla, and a rich and luscious 2015 Woodward Canyon Artist Series from Washington that revealed notes of blackberry.

The dessert, an assortment of bite-size treats — blood orange chocolate cake, lemon lavender mascarpone cheesecake and brandied cherry goat cheese bavarois — arrived with no accompanying wines.

THE EVENING COMES TO A CLOSE The evening ended with Nightcap, an afterhours party with Hit Machine playing energetic dance music. Moonstruck Chocolates provided tasty treats, and the smore cart fired up marshmallows into the late-night hours.

IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY The 35th Annual Classic Wines Auction procured over $3 million. These funds will be added together with monies raised at each winemaker dinner series along with the upcoming Corks & Forks event. Due to outstanding attendee participation and generously donated auction lots like the Mercedes-Benz 550, trips and cruises to Europe, domestic wine tours, and a variety of other exciting contributions

both large and small, radical changes will continue to take place in the community.

performed for the recipients. It is a privilege to play a small part.”

Since its inception in 1982, the Classic Wines This auction and its supporting events fund Auction has raised nearly $50 million for local five noteworthy local nonprofits. Join in the nonprofits. Luis Vargas, the owner of Modern fun and plan to attend next year’s 36th Classic Adventure and live auction donor of a trip to Wines Auction.  Tuscany and Rome with a private meeting with Pope Francis, said, “Do something good in your own backyard. This event is a singular opportunity here in Portland, Oregon, to gather around the energy of a monumental event that makes such a big difference in one night.

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W I N E S + S P I R I T S

THE NEW PURGATORI WINERY IN COSTERS DEL SEGRE, SPAIN |By RAJ GILL

W

hen one is invited to visit Purgatory, the general reaction would be “no thanks”.

However this was an opportunity to visit the new winery “Purgatori” in Costers del Segre, Spain.

The winery is located in the historical ‘Mas de L’Aranyó’ that dates back to 1770, when the monks of the Abbey of Montserrat settled in the property as penance. If they were caught misbehaving they were sent to the remote estate to work under extreme heat and harsh working conditions as punishment, it was an inhospitable place, far away from the monastery. Their job was to work the land and provide the abbey with grain, oil, meat, etc. They quickly realized that the area was perfect for grape-growing and began to make wine, which they also delivered to the diocese

The Familia Torres has kept the name and reinvented the estate as their most recent winery addition, and it is the first time that the winery has produced its namesake wine “Purgatori” overseen by fifth generation winemaker, MiguelTorres Maczassek.

They purchased the farmhouse and its 870 hectares in 1999 and reintroduced winegrowing on the estate. It currently has 200 hectares of organically certified vineyards and 100 hectares of olive groves. The continental climate, the striking shifts in daytime and nighttime temperature and the distribution of the vineyard on three different levels make the Les Garrigues estate one of Familia Torres’s finest in terms of quality. In addition, it provides an excellent site for conducting field research with revived ancestral varieties and studying how the vines adapt to climate change.

The vineyard has a 200-meter slope that rises to a maximum elevation of 550 meters. Each of the three vineyard lots is hand-harvested at optimal ripeness and manually processed in separate batches to preserve the integrity of the fruit. The combination of steel and concrete enhances the wine’s complexity, with the former emphasizing the fruit and the latter benefitting the wine’s maturation and evolution. The wines then age in French oak for 15 to 18 months prior to their release.

Familia Torres has been in the business of making premium wine and brandy since 1870. Rooted in the Penedès near Barcelona for more than three centuries, Familia Torres historically has wineries and vineyards in the Penedès, Conca de Barberà, Priorat, and Costers del Segre. Today’s fifth generation is focused on recovering ancestral varieties and continuing to make wines from

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unique and special vineyards. Familia Torres is a member of the Premium Familiae Vini, an association of 11 wine families who are among the most prestigious wine producers of their regions.

“Almost twenty years ago, we took a chance on this region and its harsh climate by planting vineyards here again,” says Miguel Torres Maczassek, “Over the years, we have seen how Mediterranean varieties like Garnacha and Cariñena have adapted exceedingly well. Six years ago,

Purgatori became the first wine made from this vineyard. The inauguration of the new winery marks the culmination of a very promising project that has led us to restore the old winery built by the Benedictine monks in the 18th century.”

The Torres family view it is a tribute to the monks who made wine at this farmhouse under extremely harsh conditions – hence the name Purgatori. And now they are making wine here, just like the monks did, and they wanted to

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reflect this link to the past by connecting the new winery and the old farmhouse. 

E V E N T S

DJ Wilson

Tom Gerrie of Cristom, Tricia and Mark Cooper

35TH ANNUAL CLASSIC WINES AUCTION Celebrating 35 years in 2019, Classic Wines Auction is one of the top longest-running charity wine auctions in the U.S., ranking in the Top 10 of U.S. Charity Wine Auctions by Wine Spectator Magazine, raising, since its inception in 1982, nearly $50 million for local nonprofits and benefited more than one million individuals in the community. |By TRACY BEARD

Kathryn and Chris Hermann

KR Rombauer and David Duncan, Silver Oak

Charissa Caldwell and Andrew Plummer, Mercedes Portland

Reception Chef Sara Hauman

Conon Samuel

Duncan and Cindy Campbell

Mealby Allan Wambaa

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E V E N T S

Christian Loeer, Stephan Luca, Jan-Kas van der Stelt, Janin Ullmann and Kostja Ullmann

Stephan Lucas drives the new Range Rover Evoque

“THE NEW RANGE ROVER EVOQUE�

Celebrity guests welcomed the new Range Rover Evoque in the Off-Location Bridge Studios. The second generation of the British lifestyle SUV was presented for the first time to the public in Germany. On April 6th, the German Jaguar Land Rover dealers will start their sales run then everyone will be able to convince themselves of the modern design and the innovative technologies of the new compact premium SUV

Mister Germany 2019 Sasha Sasse

Julia Froehlich, alias xlaeta and DJane Wana Limar

Paul Richter and his girlfriend Vanessa Schmitt

Kostja Ullmann, Julia Hartmann, Stephan Luca and Axel Stein

Djane Wana Limar, Mandy Bork and Aylin Koenig

Verena Wriedt

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THE GLENLIVET WINCHESTER ASSETS |By JARONE ASHKENAZI

T

he Glenlivet Winchester Collection Releases $25,000 50-YearOld Single Malt

The Glenlivet Winchester Collection Vintage 1967, a blend of rare single malts, just announced the release of its third and final installment of The Glenlivet’s premier Winchester Collection. Sharing 50 years of its rich history, the $25,000 edition of rare single malt is available in handcrafted bottle and case designed in partnership with award-winning British designer Bethan Gray.

“This rare release pays homage to The Glenlivet’s accomplished Master Distiller, Alan Winchester, and to the valued heritage of the brand.

Looking towards the next 50 years, we hope to continue to open up the scotch whisky category with expressions that can stand the test of time,” says Sona Bajaria, Vice President of Marketing, The Glenlivet, Pernod Ricard USA.” Adorned with a Dhow pattern that surrounds the bottle, each bottle is engraved and hand-painted, making each one a collector’s item. Taking inspiration from the rolling hills that surrounds the Glenlivet distillery in Scotland, each hand-blown decanter is a true testament to the craft of design and glassmaking at the highest level, using multiple surface and

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engraving techniques including the classic Italian ‘inciso’ done with a contemporary twist. The hand-stained birds-eye maple case is made using solid copper overlays that reflect The Glenlivet’s charred barrels and copper stills.

“By collaborating with the talented Bethan Gray, we have been able to epitomize not only Vintage 1967’s luxurious quality but also the craftsmanship that led to its creation. The result is a beautiful and captivating bottle that ensures Vintage 1967 is a feast for the eyes as well the palate,” says The Glenlivet Master Distiller Alan Winchester.

Making up the contents of its beautiful bold flavor are malts from several rare oak casks. A process of maturation over a 50-year period took place resulting in a precious amount of rare liquid that remained for bottling in June 2018. With a rich and fruity nose, notes of apricot jam and sweet ripe peaches, and a hint of toasted almonds, its smooth taste brings flavors of fondant orange and milk chocolate flavors, velvety texture and a long, and a luxuriously sweet finish.

Only 150 bottles of this remarkable Speyside single malt have been made and they are currently on sale around the world in limited distributions. 

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3/4/19 10:47 AM