Photos courtesy of Interiors Addict.com
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Interiors Inspiration
I came across this amazing home thanks to the lovely
blog www.interiorsaddict.com and
have been drooling ever since. This is the stunning home of Megan Hess, the
illustrator of the Sex and the City book cover. She lives in the roof of a
church with her family!
Photos courtesy of Interiors Addict.com
Photos courtesy of Interiors Addict.com
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Room of the Day
Absolutely fabulous! This photograph by Todd Selby is beautiful. I love the way he captured the opulence of this home, the Hermes tableware, the sterling silver tray, the coffee table books and of course the colorful macarons and soft boiled egg. This is the most delectable breakfast presentation I've seen.
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| TheSelby.com |
Friday, January 25, 2013
DIY Creative Wine Crate Ideas!
Last week we had a fabulous time in wine country, so I was thinking of some fun ways to incorporate a little bit of my wine & bubbly experience into my home. Below are my favorite do it yourself ideas. They are simple and fun ways to re-purpose wine crates (new or vintage) into fabulous and functional pieces. My favorites are the planet and the baskets. Can't wait to move my basil & parsley plants to their new home!
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| Uncommon Designs Online |
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| Uncommon Designs Online |
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| The Worst Dinner Guest |
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| DIY Vintage Chic |
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| Love & Moss |
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| The Green Bungalow |
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| Photo by Tom Selby |
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Valentino's Castle In Paris
Valentino is one of my favorite fashion designers. Last night I watched "The Last Emperor" again for the third time, and once again, fell in love with him. His innate sense of style and the manner in which he lives is truly inspirational. The movie accurately reveals his vision and genius by showing the way he talks, dresses, designs couture, and designs his homes. Here are a few pictures of his castle just outside of Paris where he throws lavish star studed parties. Enjoy!
Photos courtesy of Architectural Digest
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Wine Tasting 101: A Quick Guide to Being a Wine Expert
As we begin to pack and prep for our fabulous weekend get away, we are already drooling over all the amazing food and wine we will be having. For those of you who want to learn a little more about wine and wine tasting, here is our go-to guide:
Wine can seem like an overwhelming topic to master that is best left to snotty-nosed sommeliers. But it's much simpler and user-friendly than you might think. With just a few tips and a bit of vocabulary, you'll be talking like a wine expert in no time. Whether you are ordering a bottle of wine at a restaurant or on vacation in wine country, knowing how to properly taste wine is a great way to get the very most out of every sip.
The art of wine tasting is not about drinking the wine. It is about savoring, contemplating and discussing the characteristics of the wine. “Tasting” involves using your senses to evaluate the range of perceived flavors, aromas and general characteristics of a wine.
First off keep in mind that it is all personal. There are no wrong answers. You may taste plum while someone else tastes ash. Just keep tasting and developing your palate and remember to enjoy what you enjoy regardless of what any wine snob tells you.
It's all about the look: Well not really but a appearance and color do tell you a lot about a wine. The intensity of the color of a wine intimates the intensity in flavor you will experience when tasting the wine. Intense, deep color―particularly in a red wine―indicates how full-bodied it will taste. Full-bodied: having richness and intensity of flavor or aroma
Why we swirl: Swirl the glass to release aroma and bouquet, then put your nose just inside the glass and inhale. If you can't detect anything, cover the glass with your hand, swirl, uncover, and immediately inhale. Try to detect the wine's characteristics―is it fruity? Earthy? Floral? Woody? Does it smell good? Is it fruity? Look for the wine’s unique characteristics. Sniff it a second time to see if you get something different from your first sniff. As the wine cascades down the inside of the glass take a moment to observe the “legs” (or tears as the French refer to them) of the wine. An examination of a wine’s legs will give you information concerning its "body". The legs are an indication of the amount of body a wine will have. Younger wines and lighter wines usually very little "leg". Is your wine "light"-bodied or "full"-bodied?
When you sip: Take a small swig and swirl it around to coat your entire mouth so you hit every taste center and get a true sense of the texture. During tasting, consider body and texture, sweetness or bitterness, acidity, tannins, and overall balance. Is the wine lush/creamy or light/crisp? Fruit-forward or smokey and earthy? For red wines some examples of common tastes are– fruity, spicy, woody or smokiness. Flavors that may be found in white wine include fruity, floral, buttery, and earthy. Remember to also concentrate on the wine's "finish"―how long its essence remains on your palate after swallowing. Does it inspire you to take another sip?
Taking the time to consider what characteristics you like and dislike in wine will help to deepen your appreciation for wine and further the enjoyment of your wine experience!
Wine can seem like an overwhelming topic to master that is best left to snotty-nosed sommeliers. But it's much simpler and user-friendly than you might think. With just a few tips and a bit of vocabulary, you'll be talking like a wine expert in no time. Whether you are ordering a bottle of wine at a restaurant or on vacation in wine country, knowing how to properly taste wine is a great way to get the very most out of every sip.
The art of wine tasting is not about drinking the wine. It is about savoring, contemplating and discussing the characteristics of the wine. “Tasting” involves using your senses to evaluate the range of perceived flavors, aromas and general characteristics of a wine.
First off keep in mind that it is all personal. There are no wrong answers. You may taste plum while someone else tastes ash. Just keep tasting and developing your palate and remember to enjoy what you enjoy regardless of what any wine snob tells you.
It's all about the look: Well not really but a appearance and color do tell you a lot about a wine. The intensity of the color of a wine intimates the intensity in flavor you will experience when tasting the wine. Intense, deep color―particularly in a red wine―indicates how full-bodied it will taste. Full-bodied: having richness and intensity of flavor or aroma
Why we swirl: Swirl the glass to release aroma and bouquet, then put your nose just inside the glass and inhale. If you can't detect anything, cover the glass with your hand, swirl, uncover, and immediately inhale. Try to detect the wine's characteristics―is it fruity? Earthy? Floral? Woody? Does it smell good? Is it fruity? Look for the wine’s unique characteristics. Sniff it a second time to see if you get something different from your first sniff. As the wine cascades down the inside of the glass take a moment to observe the “legs” (or tears as the French refer to them) of the wine. An examination of a wine’s legs will give you information concerning its "body". The legs are an indication of the amount of body a wine will have. Younger wines and lighter wines usually very little "leg". Is your wine "light"-bodied or "full"-bodied?
When you sip: Take a small swig and swirl it around to coat your entire mouth so you hit every taste center and get a true sense of the texture. During tasting, consider body and texture, sweetness or bitterness, acidity, tannins, and overall balance. Is the wine lush/creamy or light/crisp? Fruit-forward or smokey and earthy? For red wines some examples of common tastes are– fruity, spicy, woody or smokiness. Flavors that may be found in white wine include fruity, floral, buttery, and earthy. Remember to also concentrate on the wine's "finish"―how long its essence remains on your palate after swallowing. Does it inspire you to take another sip?
Taking the time to consider what characteristics you like and dislike in wine will help to deepen your appreciation for wine and further the enjoyment of your wine experience!
Wine Tasting Terms
- Vintage-
A vintage wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown
and harvested in a single specified year.
- Horizontal Tasting-
Tasting wines from the same vintage is “horizontal” tasting. You can
compare wines from the same vintage but different wineries.
- Vertical Tasting-
Tasting wines from a single winery, but from different vintages.
“Vertical” tasting emphasizes the differences between various vintages of
the same wine type from the same wineries
- Blind tasting-
the vintage, winery, year of the wine or bottle are not able to the
tasters. It is common for the wine to be poured into a separate container
before tasting.
12 Categories and
their aromas.
- Chemical – Includes aromas like
sulfur and petroleum
- Pungent – Aromas like alcohol
- Oxidized – Aromas like
acetaldehyde
- Microbiological – Aromas like
yeast and lactic acid
- Floral – Aromas like
Pelargonium geraniums and linalool
- Spicy – Aromas like licorice
and anise
- Fruity – Aromas like
blackcurrant and apricot
- Vegetative – Aromas like
eucalyptus and artichoke
- Nutty – Aromas like walnut and
hazelnut
- Caramelized – Aromas like
butterscotch and molasses
- Woody – Aromas often imparted
by oak like vanilla and coffee
- Earthy – Aromas such as
mushroom and mildew
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Hotels We Love: Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley
We are preparing for this weekend and our fabulous getaway to Napa Valley! It's going to be an exciting weekend packed with private wine and champagne tastings, fun parties, brunch at Bouchon, and best of all: dinner at the world renowned The French Laundry. This will surely be an epic holiday weekend, and here are some pictures of one of the most beautiful hotels in Napa Valley, the stunning Auberge du Soleil. Enjoy!
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