Celebrity Life
Wedding Planners Share the Future of Destination Weddings in a Post-pandemic World
Fifty metres underground — this is the depth that local winemakers chose when they decided to store 10,000 wine bottles in the Aven d'Orgnac caves, an underground tourist attraction located at the southern end of the limestone plateau of the Gorges de l'Ardèche.
The experiment began in March 2018, when a new storage facility was specially created in a disused access tunnel to allow wine to mature in what amounts to a highly stable and peaceful environment.
A living product that ages best in undisturbed darkness, the wine will have benefited from ideal conditions: A constant temperature of around 12°C and an all-year-long rate of humidity of over 95%.
On December 12, 1,000 bottles of Côtes du Vivarais "Grand Aven 2017" from this treasure trove will be passed from hand to hand by a chain of human volunteers who will bring them back to the surface after two years underground. Thereafter, they will go under the hammer with a range of other local vintages in an auction with modest reserve prices.
Lots on offer will include 150 magnums of Terra Helvorum 2017 starting at 30 euros, 350 bottles of 2015 Terra Helvorum for as little as 15 euros and 350 bottles of Grand Aven 2016 from just 10 euros.
On land and sea
These days, experiments to store wine deep underground are very much in vogue in France. On June 3 of this year, 500 bottles were placed in racks at a depth of 103 metres in caves in Padirac under the watchful eye of Serge Dubs, the Best Sommelier of the World in 1989.
The first of these to return to the surface will be brought up for an initial tasting in the spring of 2021. And let's not forget that this experiment is focused on a very particular wine: A Clos Triguedina Cahors, christened Cuvée Probus, which has been produced to honour the 130-year anniversary of the Padirac Chasm.
Surprisingly enough, this new approach to maturing wine was initially inspired by a find at sea. In 2010, divers in the Baltic discovered a wreck containing what turned out to be a cargo of champagne, which was probably on its way to 1840s Russia.
The wave of experimentation that is now ongoing began when the bubbly, which was made by such houses as Veuve Clicquot, Heidsieck and the now defunct Juglar, was discovered to still be delicious after some 170 years under water.
In Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the French Basque country, winemaker Emmanuel Poirmeur has registered a patent for a process that involves vinifying wine in special vats at a depth of 15 metres under water. For its part, Leclerc-Briant set a record when it vinified one of its champagnes at a depth of 60 meters under the Atlantic in 2012, not surprisingly the vintage was christened "Abyss."
The post Wedding Planners Share the Future of Destination Weddings in a Post-pandemic World appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
Love at First Site: Our Top 5 Destination Wedding Locations
Whether you prefer white-sand beaches or hilltop chateaus, the perfect destination wedding is just a flight -- or two -- away.
Amanoi
Reception at the Beach Club of Amanoi
Set amid the natural beauty of Nui Chua National Park just south of Nha Trang, Vietnam, Amanoi offers the ultimate in luxury, privacy and biodiversity. Accommodations range from one-bedroom villas to five-bedroom pavilions and unique Spa Houses with private pool, hammam and double treatment room. Couples can choose from several options tailored to their specific desires:
- Ceremony at the Lotus Lake, with terraces that descend to the water and provide seating for up to 120 guests
- Reception at the Beach Club, also for up to 120 guests, with open-air dining facilities and a dance floor made of sand
- An intimate celebration at one of Amanoi’s luxurious residences, alongside a stunning infinity pool or on a spacious lawn overlooking the beach
- An indoor reception at the Glass Hall, with elegant modern decor and floral arrangements
Amanoi welcomes small groups and a full buyout. The closest airport is Nha Trang (CXR), a 70-minute drive from the resort, with direct flights available via Hong Kong Express.
Antara Kihavah Maldives Villa
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An underwater wedding in Maldives[/caption]
A private island in a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is ready and waiting to plan your dream destination wedding. The resort can accommodate up to 200 guests at its 80 villas, and a dedicated wedding planner is available to plan every detail, with the only limit being your imagination:
- An underwater wedding with a dive-certified minister and underwater photographer, with rings presented in a white shell
- An intimate ceremony in an underwater venue, on the palm-fringed beach, on a private yacht or over water in a private residence
- Post-dive hair and make-up styling followed by candlelit dinner on the beach and champagne breakfast in bedAnantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is a 35-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport in Malé (MLE).
Château Saint-Martin & Spa
The garden terrace reception is like a page out of a fairy-tale
Awarded the title of “best romantic luxury hotel in the world”, this hilltop chateau in the French Riviera has been the site of many a fairy-tale wedding. Couples can reserve all 52 suites for an exclusive wedding weekend with the best the Côte d’Azur has to offer:
- A rose-scented ceremony in the 12th-century chapel or garden terrace
- Rehearsal dinner in a private salon and lunches in the olive grove with local Provencal dishes and wine
- Choice of eight event spaces for reception
- Pampering and wedding-day preparations at the indulgent spa
- Lodging in the Honeymoon Deluxe Suite in the chateau’s ancient tower Château Saint-Martin & Spa overlooks the village of Vence, France, a 20-minute drive from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE).
Four Seasons Nam Hai
A cruise through the charming villa of Nam Hai
With its beachside setting and easy access to ancient Unesco sites and the charming old town of Hoi An, the 100-villa Nam Hai resort caters to a wide range of tastes and wedding styles. Couples can opt for bespoke services or the signature wedding package, which includes:
- Choice of ceremony venues with bamboo blessing arch and white rose petals
- Reception for 50 guests with pre-dinner cocktail reception and three-tier cake
- Two-night stay in a one-bedroom pool villa, private honeymoon dinner and 60-minute spa treatment for the bride and groomThe Nam Hai sits on the east coast of Vietnam between Da Nang and Hoi An, and is a 35-minute drive from Da Nang International Airport (DAD).
Hotel de la Ville
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The rooftop terrace of Hotel de la Ville at sunset[/caption]
The newest jewel in the Rocco Forte Hotels crown, Hotel de la Ville occupies an 18th-century palazzo overlooking the Eternal City. Its 104 rooms andsuites are some of the largest in Rome, with contemporary furniture and decor by Olga Polizzi and Tommaso Ziffer. The team can assist in planning a romantic ceremony in one of the city’s centuries-old churches, arranging a photo shoot in front of the Spanish Steps or majestic Colosseum, not to mention arranging the perfect celebration:
- An intimate gathering for up to 50 people on the rooftop terrace
- Cocktails and canapés overlooking the Spanish Steps
- A gala dinner in the inner courtyard, one of two banquet rooms or one of two private dining rooms with adjoining terrace
Hotel de la Ville is a 45-minute drive from Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and a 30-minute drive from Ciampino Airport (CIA).
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5 Of The Most Expensive Wedding Venues In The World
With the peak of wedding season upon us, you’ll want to know all about the best and most expensive wedding venues in the world!
Everyone likes a wedding, even more, if the venue is absolutely stunning. There are thousands of incredible venues all over the world but today we’ll be showing you five of the most expensive ones.
You can expect to read about some of the most outstanding places, that would make for a great destination wedding!
Continue reading 5 Of The Most Expensive Wedding Venues In The World at Luxxu Blog.
Haiku Mill: Wedding in the Tropics
By Melissa Sorge —A Flourishing Maui Venue with Old World Charm A property that once served as a Hawaiian sugar mill has been restored into an elegant castle as rich in history as it is in beauty and charm. Located off the Road to Hana on the north shore of Maui, Haiku Mill is […]
The post Haiku Mill: Wedding in the Tropics appeared first on VUE magazine.
Elizabeth Taylor Palm Spring Home
Secluded behind prominent walls in the elite Old Las Palmas neighborhood stands the finest single family home estate in Palm Springs once known as Elizabeth Taylor estate, one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Era. Built in the 1930s, this Spanish estate features unparalleled living spaces of guest suites, a four-room master suite, […]
The post Elizabeth Taylor Palm Spring Home appeared first on Upscale Living Magazine.