Category: Articles

The First Wine Spa in the U.S. Brings Vinotherapy to Portland

“The Wine Spa” the first dedicated wine spa in the U.S. recently announced its grand opening. Nestled in the heart of Portland, Oregon, this oasis combines vinotherapy’s therapeutic benefits with a day spa’s indulgent atmosphere. It features ten treatment rooms and four soaking tubs.

In an exclusive partnership with Caudalie, The Wine Spa will offer treatments that utilize their products. This makes it the only Caudalie exclusive spa partner in Oregon, alongside New York and Paris locations.

Offering an array of vinotherapy packages, the spa includes options such as a 20-minute wine soak and massages ranging from 30-50 minutes. Guests can also enjoy facials, Swedish massages, and deep tissue massages, with treatment prices ranging from $125 to $399.

Inspired by the region’s rich wine heritage, The Wine Spa features innovative treatments like vinotherapy massages, facials, and soaks. Vinotherapy, the therapeutic use of grape-based products, offers many benefits for the mind and body. Grapes, rich in antioxidants like resveratrol, possess anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and heart-healthy properties. When incorporated into spa treatments, these compounds can improve skin health, reduce stress, and boost circulation, helping to hydrate, nourish, and rejuvenate the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Committed to sustainable practices, The Wine Spa uses repurposed wine from the region in their soaks, ensuring nothing goes to waste. Their first wine partner, Terra Vina Wines, has provided cases of wine for soaking that were unsellable due to a labelling error. Terra Vina is also crafting wine specifically for The Wine Spa, available in Spring 2025.

Wine lovers will be delighted to find a selection of wines from the Willamette Valley, with new wineries featured every three months. For those who prefer not to drink alcohol, the spa offers a non-alcoholic wine option for both drinking and soaking, ensuring everyone can partake in the vinotherapy experience.

For further details: https://thewinespapdx.com/

The BEST Hostess Gift: Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve Exclusive [Brut] Champagne Gift Pack + Two Flutes

I found this exclusive Nicolas Feuillatte Gift Pack, complete with two elegant flutes, to be a perfect choice for holiday shoppers seeking a sophisticated yet accessible hostess gift it is a harmonious blend of history, quality, and elegance, making it an exceptional choice. Cheers to making every moment special with this exquisite Champagne!

Nicolas Feuillatte’s Réserve Exclusive Brut is a perfect balance between Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay, and at the same time offers remarkable complexity and elegance. This exclusive brut goes perfectly with tasty dishes such as crispy smoked salmon, turkey and on its own as a holiday aperitif!

Wine News: Pouilly-Loché and Pouilly-Vinzelles have their first Premier Crus!

The Pouilly-Loché and Pouilly-Vinzelles ODG (Organisme de Gestion et Défense) have just officially announced the recognition of their first Premier Cru wines. The wines can be officially labelled commencing with the 2024 vintage – the ministerial decrees defining the new production specifications for our two appellations were signed on November 18, 2024, by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

These Premier Cru classifications are the culmination of a long process that began in 2006 in partnership with the INAO (Institut Nationale des Appellations d’Origine). This achievement is rooted in a detailed geological and pedological study of the terroirs, an exploration of the historical significance of the parcels, an analysis of agronomic and winemaking practices, and the recognition of the most renowned Climats (Burgundian lieux-dits) within the appellations.

The production specifications for the new Premier Cru wines are both strict and groundbreaking, notably banning all herbicides and mandating manual harvesting. This is a first in Bourgogne for Premier Cru Climats, reflecting environmental responsibility.

The two appellations, Pouilly-Loché (32 ha) and Pouilly-Vinzelles (52 ha), both exclusively planted with Chardonnay, are true gems of the Mâconnais in southern Bourgogne. Their finest clay-limestone Climats have now been classified as Premier Crus, joining our friends and neighbors from Pouilly-Fuissé, who achieved their Premier Cru status in 2020.

The following have received the much-coveted designation:

New Pouilly-Loché Premier Cru (32 ha)

Les Mûres (7.09 ha)

New Pouilly-Vinzelles Premiers Crus (52 ha)

Les Longeays (7.50 ha)

Les Pétaux (2.76 ha)

Les Quarts (12.45 ha)

Wine Review: Laurent-Perrier Metal Jacket [Petals Edition] Brut Cuvée Rosé Champagne

The Laurent-Perrier Metal Jacket [Petals Edition] Brut Cuvée Rosé Champagne stands out as one of my favorite champagnes, not only for its exceptional quality but also for its unique and elegant metal jacket adorned with intricate petal designs.

Tasting Notes:

Laurent-Perrier’s Metal Jacket Petals Edition Brut Cuvée Rosé presents a refined expression of the house’s signature elegance and craftsmanship. On the nose, it unveils a bouquet of fresh red berries, predominantly strawberry and raspberry, intermingled with hints of rose petals and subtle notes of currant. The palate is marked by a lively acidity that enlivens the delicate fruit flavors, with a touch of minerality adding complexity. The finish is long and crisp, leaving a refreshing impression. The fine bubbles enhance the champagne’s light and airy texture, making it an ideal choice for celebratory occasions.
Score:  94

Technical Details:

Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir

Alc./vol.: 12%

Dosage: Brut

Aging: Minimum of five years on the lees

Serving Temperature: 8-10°C (46-50°F)

The Metal Jacket [Petals Edition] Brut Cuvée Rosé Champagne reflects Laurent-Perrier’s dedication to excellence and luxury. The unique metal jacket, adorned with petal designs, not only protects the bottle but also serves as a tribute to the elegance and refinement that define the house’s creations. This is a standout choice for this holiday season, combining luxury and exceptional taste in one exquisite presentation! 

Historical Background

Laurent-Perrier Estate was founded in 1812 by André Michel Pierlot and has grown to become one of the most esteemed champagne houses in the world. The estate is located in Tours-sur-Marne, in the heart of the Champagne region, and has been guided by a dedication to tradition and innovation over the centuries.

Laurent-Perrier is renowned for its pioneering spirit, especially in the production of rosé champagne. The house’s Brut Cuvée Rosé was first created in 1968 by the visionary Cellar Master, Bernard de Nonancourt. Unlike many other rosé champagnes, Laurent-Perrier’s Brut Cuvée Rosé is made using the saignée method, which involves allowing the grape juice to remain in contact with the skins until the desired color is achieved. This technique imparts a rich and distinctive character to the wine.

Sustainability and Craftsmanship

The estate is committed to sustainable viticulture practices. Laurent-Perrier emphasizes the importance of biodiversity in its vineyards and has adopted measures to minimize its environmental impact. The house’s meticulous approach to winemaking includes hand-picking grapes and employing traditional methods in its state-of-the-art facilities.

Global tourism set for full recovery by 4Q with spending growing faster than arrivals

Around 1.1 billion tourists travelled internationally in the first nine months of 2024, as the global tourism sector recovered 98% of pre-pandemic levels. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer by UN Tourism, a full recovery from the biggest crisis in the sector’s history is expected by the end of the year, despite economic, geopolitical and climate challenges.

Four years after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought global tourism to a standstill, the Barometer reflects the sector’s remarkable recovery, with most regions already exceeding 2019 arrival numbers from January to September 2024. The report also shows outstanding results in terms of international tourism receipts, with most destinations with available data posting double-digit growth compared to 2019.

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili states:

“The strong growth seen in tourism receipts is excellent news for economies around the world. The fact that visitor spending is growing even stronger than arrivals has a direct impact on millions of jobs and small businesses and contributes decisively to the balance of payments and tax revenues of many economies.”

Tourism Performance by Region

International tourist arrivals grew strongly in the first nine months of 2024, driven by strong post-pandemic demand in Europe and robust performance from large source markets globally, as well as the ongoing recovery of destinations in Asia and the Pacific. Increased air connectivity and visa facilitation also supported international travel.

The Middle East (+29% compared to 2019) continued to enjoy record growth this nine-month period, while Europe (+1%) and Africa (+6%) also exceeded 2019 levels.

The Americas recovered 97% of its pre-pandemic arrivals (-3% over 2019).

Asia and the Pacific reached 85% of 2019 levels as compared to a 66% recovery in 2023. Asia and the Pacific has experienced a gradual though uneven rebound in arrivals since the region reopened to international travel in 2023.

The summer season in the Northern Hemisphere was generally strong, with arrivals worldwide reaching 99% of pre-pandemic values in Q3 2024.

A total of 60 out of 111 destinations surpassed 2019 arrival numbers in the first eight to nine months of 2024. Some of the strongest performers in arrivals during this period were Qatar (+141% versus 2019) where arrivals more than doubled, Albania (+77%), Saudi Arabia (+61%), Curaçao (+48%), Tanzania (+43%), Colombia and Andorra (both +36%).

Tourism receipts show extraordinary growth

A total of 35 out of 43 countries with available data on receipts exceeded pre-pandemic values in the first eight to nine months of 2024, many reporting double-digit growth compared to 2019 (in local currencies), well above inflation in most cases.

Among the best performers in terms of earnings were Serbia (+99%) where receipts almost doubled (compared to the same months of 2019), as well as Pakistan (+64%), Romania (+61%), Japan (+59%), Portugal (+51%), Nicaragua and Tanzania (both 50%).

Among the world’s top earners, Japan (+59%), Türkiye (+41%) and France (+27%) all recorded double-digit growth through September 2024. Spain (+36%) and Italy (+26%) also reported strong visitor receipts, through August. The United Kingdom recorded 43% higher earnings, Canada 35%, and Australia 18%, all through June 2024. As for the United States, the world’s top tourism earner, it reported 7% growth through September.

Data on international tourism expenditure reflects the same trend, especially among large source markets such as Germany (+35% compared to 2019), the United States (+33%) and France (+11%).

Strong expenditure growth was also reported by the United Kingdom (+46%) Australia (+34%), Canada (+28%) and Italy (+26%), all through June 2024. Available data for India shows a surge in outbound spending from this increasingly important market, with 81% growth through June 2024 (versus 2019).

International tourist arrivals are expected to reach 2019 levels in 2024. International tourism receipts had already virtually achieved pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

Full report can be found: https://www.unwto.org/news/global-tourism-set-for-full-recovery-by-end-of-the-year-with-spending-growing-faster-than-arrivals

 

Source:  UN Tourism