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Acclaimed Chefs Celebrate Southern Food at Upcoming Florida Film Festival
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FINALLY GETS ITS WORLD CLASS WINE AUCTION
By Anthony Dias Blue
Southern California wine collectors were beginning to develop an inferiority complex. Auctions of fine wines had been taking place for years in New York and even Chicago, but western oenophiles had to be content with bidding by phone or, in some cases, gassing up the private jet.
But all this is in the past since SPECTRUM WINE AUCTIONS has arrived right in the affluent heart of Orange County. Clearly wine lovers were ready for the challenge as they greeted the first scheduled auction last November with unbridled enthusiasm. The auction realized $3.5 million and represented a 100% sell-through (meaning every lot was sold). This kind of performance is un-heard of by a first-time auction house - especially in an economic climate such as we are experiencing currently. Their next live auction is scheduled for April 24th; another follows in June.
SPECTRUM, which is headquartered in Irvine, California, is not a newcomer to the auction business. The company owns a number of auction operations and has a substantial track record in fields other than wine. They are one of the leading auctioneers of arms, armor and historical memorabilia, they frequently auction coins and currency, and they operate one of the nation's largest stamp dealers.
Nevertheless, auctioning wine is a complicated and exacting procedure. This process has had to become doubly rigorous as a result of the concerns of many collectors about the authenticity of the fine wines they seek to acquire. Some recent incidents involving some questionable wines - thought by some to be counterfeit - have evoked some nasty accusations and have resulted in angry law suits. To avoid such unpleasantness, SPECTRUM puts consigned wines through stringent examination. Wines begin by coming from well-regarded and trusted cellars. They are then carefully examined by experts. Bottles that pass these screenings are then submitted for 360-degree bottle imaging, so that potential customers can have to opportunity to examine each bottle entirely.
For their First auction, SPECTRUM turned to Aubrey McClendon, an Oklahoma City billionaire who is co-founder and CEO of Chesapeake Energy a huge natural gas producer that was feeling some pressure from the current economic unpleasantness. McClendon is an avid collector whose vast collection is maintained under impeccable conditions. After careful examination and authentication of his wine by SPECTRUM's Mario Scullati, Director of Sales and Consignments, an arrangement was negotiated for SPECTRUM to handle the sale of a portion of the McClendon collection. "Aubrey cuts to the core of what's important in collecting," Scullati points out. "He collects the best vintages in depth of cases and large format sizes, approaching his collecting seriously and methodically without being tempted by lesser vintages."
The first auction was such a huge success that Aubrey McClendon decided to offer more of his great collection for another auction. Meanwhile, SPECTRUM had been introduced to Dr. George Primbs, Santa Barbara resident and co-founded and chairman of the board of Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE), a charitable organization that provides worldwide medical, surgical, and educational services through volunteer ophthalmic surgeons with the primary objective of restoring sight and transforming lives.
"My collection started in 1959 which was a banner year in France and I started collecting," Dr. Primbs explains. "Then 1961 came on the scene and it was impossible not to mortgage the house to get those wines--possibly the best of the 20th century. However, there was 1962, 1966 then 1970 which has yet to come around; then 1975 and then of course 1982, then 83, 85, and 86, then 1990 and omigosh all the French wines became fabulous as they adopted modern technology, so how could a collector not get excited about those wines."
Dr. Primbs explains what drives wine collectors: "Once you become a collector, you seek more and more. It is human nature to acquire those things you value, and now I call them my Liquid Assets! Why not collect those things you can look at and then consume years after you decided what to collect? I share with my friends and their birth years are in my collection so we have a great time looking through my cellar."
Another SPECTRUM innovation is to hold its live auction in Southern California and, simultaneously, in Hong Kong. Because all import taxes on wines were removed recently, Hong Kong has quickly become the wine center of Asia. Crown Wine Cellars on Shouson Hill, where the auction is held, is the center of Hong Kong's wine community; the cellar, located 20 meters underground, is a former munitions bunker and a UNSECO historic site.
The second SPECTRUM live auction will take place at Charlie Palmers at Bloomingdale's in South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa (and simultaneously in Hong Kong). In California it begins at 8:00 PM on Saturday, April 24th, and continues until all 858 lots are sold - most likely in the wee hours of Sunday morning. The auction is open to all comers and will be extremely entertaining as huge sums change hands and many featured bottles are opened and consumed. Being at the auction is a great place for someone just starting to collect wine; it's an amazing learning opportunity.
For those thinking about starting a collection but more comfortable easing into buying wine, SPECTRUM runs two online auctions every month at SpectrumWine.com. At these auctions the prices are less than at the live auctions but the wines are subjected to the same level of intense scrutiny.
Southern Californians who collect wines should be grateful that SPECTRUM WINE AUCTIONS has opened up shop in their neighborhood. They now have a great opportunity to buy fine wines with confidence.
http://www.SpectrumWine.com
He has been representing his home country of Scotland in one form or another since he was thirteen years old. From his storied acting career, which included
roles in Mel Gibson's Braveheart, as well as 5 years spent at the BBC, to his status as one of the world's leading Burns speakers, Andrew is the perfect
representative for a whisky as distinctly Scottish as the Balvenie.
Throughout his entire career, Andrew has remained fiercely loyal to his Scottish roots, and has dedicated his time to promoting Scotland and its exports throughout the world. First establishing himself as an in-demand Burns
speaker, which led to his appearance as Robert Burns at the Epcot Center in Florida, Andrew also founded Scotland's leading agency for extras and background artists. After selling the business to pursue other projects, Andrew went on to form one half of 3rd Degree Burns, the Robert Burns themed entertainment company, which has been featured at events around in the U.S.A, Canada, the U.K. and Ireland, promoting the legacy of Scotland's legendary poet.
Andrew arrived in the U.S. in 2005, where he worked as a PR representative and Media Ambassador for Visit Britain - the National Tourism office for England, Scotland and Wales. During this time, he continued his promotion of all things Scottish and cultivated his deep love of Scotch whisky, while educating the public on distillery tours and the significance of Scotland's greatest export.
In his current role as Western USA Balvenie Ambassador (based in San Francisco), Andrew has the privilege of sharing the Balvenie story with enthusiastic Americans from San Antonio to Seattle and from California to Colorado.
How do you feel about your role as Balvenie ambassador?
It's an unbelievable honor to represent The Balvenie. The true hard work (the magic) is done back in Speyside by some of the most dedicated, hardworking craftsmen on earth and I'm the one who gets to tell their story. For me, the story is all about the people back in Dufftown and about the personal experience of drinking a fine single malt. I like to put it into context for people: explain the love, care and attention that goes into the production of every drop and what at least 12 years in a cask will do to whisky, how it
develops.
How do feel about living in California? It must be a pretty different atmosphere compared to Scotland.
Very different, but in a good way. It's one of life's greatest educations to live in a place far removed from your upbringing, your comfort zone. I
spent over 3 years in New York before moving west, so you could say I'm breaking myself into American life gently, or not! There's not a day
goes past when I don't day dream about being back in Scotland, to see my family, catch a football (soccer) match or to enjoy a bowl of
my mum's soup. The language barrier is always interesting - I often get into full swing in a presentation, describing something about whisky production or about Scotland and a word I've said has been misinterpreted in the front row (often as something not altogether clean) - seriously I wish they laughed that
hard at my jokes - those are always lost in translation. The US is
a great place to be, there's such an embracing, positive spirit
here. People are always interested to hear about where I'm from
and of course to learn more about our greatest export. There's
no greater example to use when talking about Scotch whisky
than The Balvenie - the craftsmanship and traditional methods of
production employed at the distillery leave me with no shortage
of conversation fillers!
How do you think Americans differ in their views on Scotch whisky compared to those of Scottish people?
Beyond being one of the most complex and diverse spirit categories, I think most Americans view Scotch as shorthand for a people, a place, a time - something that helps them escape from everyday life. As a very patriotic Scot, I've always been proud that our 'water of life' has been one of those global iconic symbols of our national identity and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. Americans have an amazing appreciation for Scotch and the availability of single malts in this country has always impressed me. Long may it continue.
What is your favorite part of your new role?
The people. No two days will ever be the same and you never know who you'll be having a conversation with tomorrow. In previous jobs I've had to earn respect or time with people before being able to convince them of something. In this job, the convincing is done the moment that sweet honeyed Balvenie hits their lips. My job is to help them understand what's in the glass and ensure that every sip is an unforgettable experience. Slainte Mhath (Good Health) and, drink responsibly! To contact Andrew and learn more about the world of the
single malt Scotch, visit www.thebalvenie.com
RECENT AWARDS
International Review of Spirits
Gold Medal:
The Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt ScotchWhisky
The Balvenie "Signature" Batch 2 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Balvenie Portwood 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Silver Medal:
The Balvenie (Scotland) 12 Year Old Doublewood Single Malt Scotch Whisky
San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Double Gold Medal:
The Balvenie 21 Year Old Portwood Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Silver Medal:
The Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Balvenie 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch, Rum Cask
The Balvenie "Signature" Batch 2 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Bronze Medal:
The Balvenie 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch, Doublewood, Speyside, Scotland
About William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent
family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded
by William Grant in 1886. Today, the super-premium spirits company is run
by the fifth generation of his family. Among the most recent accolades for
the well-awarded company, William Grant & Sons was honored as the
"Distiller of the Year" for the third time in four years by the prestigious
International Spirits Challenge.
Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with super-premium brands including Stolichnaya vodka, the world's best-selling single malt Scotch whisky Glenfiddich, The Balvenie range of handcrafted single malts, Grant's blended Scotch, Hendrick's® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Spiced Navy Rum, the award-winning Milagro® Tequila, Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur, Licor 43, BOLS Liqueurs, Galliano, Lillet and Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur.
For more information on the company and its brands, please visit
www.grantusa.com
The Margarita King
From the Oscars to Oprah
By Carly Zinderman
After spending over twenty years in the restaurant industry, Giovanni, the reigning Margarita King has left the dining arena to conquer the cocktail, with The Margarita King: The World's Best Margarita, the next big thing in the spirits industry.
The Margarita King - the only ready-to-serve premium margarita cocktail to win three gold medals from the Beverage Testing Institute of Chicago. Overcoming immense challenges to come up with the perfect recipe from the perfect blend of ingredients in the perfect bottle, the Margarita King has used his tireless energy to make the perfect margarita for every occasion and in the process, has created a new niche in the liqueur market. He has built a story to sell the Margarita King brand and his customers have reacted positively, with a universally enthusiastic - wow!
Using a premium blend of liquors, natural citrus and real sugarcane, The Margarita King comes pre-mixed and ready to party. The Margarita King has been on popular TV shows, including Oprah, stirring up fun for one of her famous parties. He can also be found shaking up cocktails at many of Hollywood's hottest parties and awards shows.
From the Grammy's, Oscars and Golden Globes telecasts where Giovanni has reigned and poured for Usher, Gwen Stefani, Pam Anderson, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, Paris Hilton, Beyonce, Terrence Howard, Nelly, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Donald Trump, Hugh Hefner, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Outkast, Black Eyed Peas, Jessica Alba, Forrest Whittacker, Cedric the Entertainer, Christina Aguilara, Quentin Tarantino, and many others as well!
Giovanni, first began his quest for the best margarita cocktail in a bottle by searching for the best tequila - the best that matched perfectly into a margarita. He knew that just by mixing the finest quality tequila did not necessarily give you the tastiest margarita. With a background in mixology and a palate that never quit, he was able to find the right blue agave tequila and the blood orange liqueur that blended in with sugarcane and lemon and limejuices. The Margarita King promises, "When you taste it you'll know the difference."
Drink recipes and more at: www.themargaritaking.com
AsomBrosoTM: Tequila's Best of the Best
The prestigious ROBB Report Magazine awarded AsomBrosoTM "The Best of the Best" tequila. Wine Enthusiast gave AsomBrosoTM Anejo a rating of 95, and Anthony Dias Blue of the Bon Appetit Tasting Panel awarded AsomBrosoTM tequilas collectively, "the highest scores ever awarded in my tasting evaluations." Pretty amazing for a new kid in town, and fittingly, "amazing" is what AsomBrosoTM translates to in English.
AsomBrosoTM is requested at Hollywood insider parties and events with the likes of Brooke Burke, P. Diddy, Paris Hilton, and The Beach Boys. Featured on The Today Show, AsomBrosoTM has also been spotlighted in dozens of magazines including Playboy, Maxim, and Dining Out. The distinctive tequila has made cameo appearances in feature films such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and Sueno starring John Leguizamo and Elizabeth Pena, as well as on TV's, My Wife and Kids.
The launch of AsomBrosoTM represents the culmination of President/CEO Rick "Ricardo" Gamarra's personal quest, which began with a chance round of private-stock, "old style" tequila at a friend's home in Guadalajara, Mexico, and culminated with his acquisition of his own tequilary along with specialized tequila making equipment. Because of the stringent regulatory controls over the product, and the sophistication of its manufacturing process, it took Gamarra three years to bring the project to fruition. Gamarra, or Ricardo, as he is known in the industry, is the only "gringo" to have his own tequilary in the actual town of Tequila located in the Guadalajara area.
Two things separate AsomBrosoTM from the rest of the tequila on the market. The first is the old-world approach to its preparation, which not only calls for the multiple distillation and special filtration of the juice of the properly selected, baked and aged agave, but also, in the case of Anejo, requires a five-year maturation term in special French Oak barrels, which gives
AsomBrosoTM Anejo its distinctive taste and aromatic profile. The second is its distinctive packaging. Patterned after a decanter found in an 18th Century European castle, each AsomBrosoTM bottle is hand-blown and numbered, and the Anejo is also available in a cedar lined humidor box.
The AsomBrosoTM line of ultra premium tequila is available at select restaurants, bars and retailers throughout California, and will soon be available in various other states. With his philosophy of quality in lieu of quantity, Ricardo Gamarra has strategically positioned AsomBrosoTM as the tequila of choice among discriminating consumers.
The Dry Platinum Martini
- 2 parts El Tesoro Platinum Tequila
- 1/2 part Dry Vermouth
- Garnish with a lemon twist
Check back for more recipes.
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