I come across a lot of interesting stories that are interesting, but don’t command an 800+ word blog post. I hope you’ll enjoy these updates in the worlds of wine, perfume and style.
Haute Wine
If you are an avid Chanel fan you probably know Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel’s long time designer, is launching a a namesake collection with online retailer Net-A-Porter today. The build up to this collaboration has been nothing short of frenzied, with looks leaking out to the press, a Karl look-a-like contest and a find Karl mobile app search for the elusive designer. It’s all tongue-in-cheek good fun.
But what you may not know is that Lagerfeld’s signature will don more than clothing and sunglasses. The fashion house best known for bottling Chanel No. 5, not wine, owns three wineries in the Bordeaux region of France, according to a Wine Spectator report. One of these, Chåteau Rauzan-Ségla, a grand cru classé winery in the Margaux region, is celebrating its 350th anniversary by releasing its 2009 Bordeaux with a label designed and signed by Karl Lagerfeld himself. According to a spokesperson for Chanel, Lagerfeld calls this a “one-off, a one time only” happening. It makes sense, as Chanel is very quiet when it comes to its winery holdings. Lagerfeld re-interprets Rauzan-Segla’s label, which features the chåteau on the winery’s estate. His signature on the label is your only clue to the wine’s Chanel pedigree; there are no interlocking Cs to be found. The wine should be available beginning March 2012 (priced $86 to $119 online) and hopefully with release parties as befit a Chanel creation.
Heard it on the Grapevine (I mean e-book line)
Getting ready to launch a wine on Facebook or Twitter? That’s so yesterday. In this digital age you also need an e-book. Rusack Vineyards, a Santa Barbara area winery, announces its inaugural bottling of Island Wines from Catalina Island. Indeed, it’s news that anyone is growing grapes and making wine on Catalina Island, off the coast of southern California. Rusack introduces us to this with a beautiful e-book about it. While video stories from wineries are important, this is a new item in the tool box. Well done.
Pillow Talk
The most highly anticpated wine book of the year 2012 will be Margrit Mondavi’s memoirs, at least in the wine world. Along with her husband, wine giant Robert Mondavi, Margrit created America’s wine culture, establishing California and the United States as industry leaders. Robert passed away in May 2008, and Margrit carries on the Mondavi legacy. She gives writer Janet Fletcher a rare, open and frank view of her life with Robert. Janet says “it’s a beautiful book.” We all await with baited breath until the book is released in summer 2012.
