Tag: dining

5 Secrets to Living La Dolce Vita

Posted on by Josephine McKenna

Wisps of mist float above a patchwork of vineyards while the early morning sun paints the sky a soft pink. From the medieval village on the ridge above, you hear the sound of church bells as your convertible zigzags past the vines. It may be early, but you’re already dreaming of fresh pasta al dente and a drop of Barolo for a lazy lunch on a sunny terrace.

For Italians, this is perfection. This is la dolce vita.


In The Good Italian II: The Prince Goes to Milan – a short film presented by the Italian menswear brand Caruso – the fictional Prince of Soragna embodies la dolce vita from the moment his Lancia Aurelia sports car pulls up at the entrance of Four Seasons Hotel Milano. Throughout the film and his stay at the Hotel, the prince (played masterfully by actor Giancarlo Giannini) seeks out and enjoys only the finest in food, entertainment, fashion, accommodations and service. He requests perfection in every bite, in every experience.

And he’s not alone. Italians from Florence to Milan have an appetite for only the finest cashmere, the most fragrant basil and the most handsome sports cars. Together, these are essential ingredients of la dolce vita, a unique recipe for life that locals have been perfecting for centuries.

Fortunately, they’re quick to share their secrets with anyone craving to live like an Italian.

“In Italy we always look to share happiness with another human being and try to make the most of that moment. The food, wine and the experience of living – it is only beautiful if you can share it with somebody.”
– Mauro Governato, Four Seasons Hotel Milano

1. “Liguria is to pasta what Naples is to pizza”

Italians are passionate about food. On the street, you’ll hear people sharing recipes and debating about where to find their favourite ingredients. Vito Mollica, Executive Chef at La Veranda and Il Palagio, is particularly proud of his linguine with pesto, a highlight in the film.


Fresh Basil Pesto

No one makes pesto like Italians from Liguria. Vito Mollica, Executive Chef at Four Seasons hotels in Milan and Florence, learned the secrets to making the perfect pesto in this rocky coastal region.

Photography Courtesy StockFood / Julia Cawley

He learned the art of making linguine in Liguria, the rugged coastal region in northern Italy where it originated. “Liguria is to pasta what Naples is to pizza. You won’t understand pasta unless you have been trained by a Ligurian,” the chef says with a smile.

The linguine is one of Mollica’s most popular dishes, and the chef loves to share his special recipe with guests, who can venture into the kitchen for a private class. And like the prince in the film, he is very particular when choosing the ingredients to go with his signature pasta.

“It’s important to use the freshest ingredients and the best technique so we produce something really amazing.”
– Vito Mollica, Executive Chef

“Liguria is a small, hilly region, so they made terraces on the hills to grow their vegetables,” he says. “They don’t produce a lot, but they produce the highest-quality artichokes, asparagus and basil.”

2. Spezzato is the key to great Italian style

Italians dress to impress, and competition is especially fierce on the streets of Milan, the country’s fashion capital. After all, this is the land of spezzato, a word created especially to describe the artful way Italian men mix and match jackets and trousers versus simply suiting up.


Florence fashion

Spezzato, a signature of classic and effortless Italian style, describes the way men and women put together jackets and trousers that complement each other but are not part of the same suit.

Photography Courtesy Tommy Ton / Trunk Archive

 

Here, style is more than just looking the part – you must live and breathe it through a commitment to top-tier fabrics and tailoring, worn with an air of unstudied, effortless elegance. The prince in the film is the picture of Italian swagger, from that first flip of the scarf as he takes off for the Hotel to the moment when he lovingly caresses the suit he knows is perfect for the occasion.

The best way to start crafting your own Italian style identity is to mimic the masters, and, thankfully, Four Seasons Milano is located in the heart of the city’s fashion district – with big-name designers like Salvatore Ferragamo, Dolce & Gabbana and Tod’s only a short stroll away.

Four Seasons Hotel Milano

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Right next to the Hotel, Caruso has an elegant boutique displaying the finest apparel, worn by the prince as he listens to one of the operas of Italian legend Giuseppe Verdi.

At Caruso, hundreds of fine fabrics are available, including cashmere, wool blends, gabardine flannels, houndstooth and even camel’s hair from the Gobi Desert that is specially crafted for Caruso. Perfection can be subjective, so at Caruso, each suit is completely customised down to every last artistic detail, including individual patterns and hand-stitching.

“Italians are only happy with what they think is the best. You can trace la dolce vita back 2,500 years. The ancient Romans lived such a level of sophistication that it has not been matched. That is who we are, and we do it effortlessly.”
– Umberto Angeloni, Caruso President and CEO

3. Embrace la bella figura

Italians like to create a good impression wherever they go. You might call it showing off; they call it la bella figura. The prince in the film teaches us that the best way to arrive in style is behind the wheel of an Italian sports car – with the convertible top down, sunshine streaming in and opera playing on the radio.


Cruise Lake Como on a Giulietta Spider

In the film, the prince makes an unforgettable entrance at Four Seasons Milano in this red Lancia Aurelia Spider B24. Photography courtesy Sofia Masini

Four Seasons Milano can arrange for guests to take a similar drive behind the wheel of a Giulietta Spider, an Italian classic that experts say is one of the best-kept secrets in the vintage car market.

Hop into the roadster and travel 55 miles (90 kilometres) out of the city, along picturesque, tree-lined lanes and quaint villages, to arrive at the deep-blue waters of Lake Como. Then spend the day zipping around the town’s spectacular pastel-coloured villas, stopping only to admire the views and dine at a lakefront restaurant.

“All you have to do is enjoy the car,” Hotel Concierge Gabriele Conte says of this outing. “We send a mechanic to follow you and to offer personal assistance like taking care of the parking. This is living la dolce vita.”

4. Every moment deserves amore

For Italians, a good meal is not solely about delectable dishes. Flavour goes hand in hand with amore and creating the right setting to indulge in both. After all, the prince wasn’t just after the perfect sprig of basil – he needed the perfect place to share the moment with his niece.


Four Seasons Hotel Firenze takes care of the meal, the magical setting and every detail in between during its Golden Dinner on the Ponte Vecchio experience. The Hotel has exclusive access to the city’s most famous bridge and its only open-air terrace, tucked above the famous jewellery boutique of Dante Cardini. Here, you can enjoy a romantic and private dinner for two.

“You can have a magic moment. We work on every detail so the experience is shared . . . in a perfect way.”
– Vito Mollica, Executive Chef

The crowded streets below are forgotten as soon as the intimate dinner begins with a glass of chilled Champagne. As the sun sets, enjoy a four-course gourmet meal, inspired by the many jewellery stores below, created especially for the occasion by Michelin-starred chef Vito Mollica.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

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5. Everyone is famiglia

Ask any Italian: The best way to enjoy la dolce vita is with someone you treasure, be it family, friends or a soulmate. Yet Italians are also happy to open their doors and offer hospitality to people from faraway places. Everyone is welcome.

“[Life] is only beautiful if you can share it with somebody.”
– Mauro Governato, Four Seasons Hotel Milano


Young couple on roof of Duomo

Anyone can experience and share la dolce vita in Italy, where language is no barrier and everyone is family.

Photography courtesy David Burton / Alamy Stock Photo

For Paul Lydka, Concierge at Four Seasons Firenze, one of his favourite things about living la dolce vita is stopping in an unfamiliar village to order a bread roll with pecorino and prosciutto, along with a glass of Chianti. “It’s very special,” he says. “You’ll find Italians are very sociable. In the villages, they start a conversation even if you only say ‘buongiorno.’ Language is no barrier.”Angeloni echoes this sentiment: “Italians know how to live well – we know how to create pleasure, whether it’s a dish of pasta or a landscape. It is part of our identity, and it is something we have to share.”

Experience Italian culture and la dolce vita through the Florentine Lifestyle and Milano Lifestyle packages on offer at Four Seasons Firenze and Four Seasons Milano today. In the video below, get a taste of the only-in-Italy art, culture, fashion and dining experiences that await in both destinations.

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5 Unexpected Tea and Coffee Cocktails Around the World

Posted on by Amber Gibson

Encountering the unexpected during a journey is one of the many joys of travel. Imagine, for example, sitting in a rooftop bar in China – the country where tea drinking originated and remains a meaningful part of daily culture – and asking the bartender to recommend a local drink. Instead of offering something with tea leaves, as you might expect, you’re served a complex coffee-inspired cocktail with an equally enriching tie to Asian culture.

#CocktailQuarterly, the year-long initiative focused on cocktail trends, techniques and ingredients, turns its attention to tea and coffee cocktails. In celebration, mixologists at Four Seasons hotels and resorts around the world are shaking, stirring, steeping and serving drinks inspired by these classic brews – and working hard to eschew convention with their concoctions.

Here is a taste of the mixologists’ creativity.

Florence: Grog in Florence


Four Seasons Florence Grog Cocktail

The Grog in Florence cocktail is served in a teapot and topped with an edible flower for a beautifully elegant presentation.

 

Coffee is such an integral part of Italian culture that even the U.S. has adapted the Italian vocabulary for its favourite drinks. Whether it’s leisurely sipping cappuccino or a quick shot of espresso at the café before work, coffee is part of every true Italian’s morning ritual.

Excellent coffee is available in plenty at Atrium Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, but when creating his newest cocktail, Grog in Florence, Assistant Bar Manager Luca Angeli was inspired by the oriental flavours of lapsang souchong.

“It’s a different way to serve afternoon tea in a cocktail style.”
–Luca Angeli

This bright, citrusy drink is poured from a classic teapot and sipped from teacups. Ginger-infused rum, 23-year Zacapa rum and Amaro Nonino form the boozy base, while cranberry and lime juice along with house-made lapsang souchong syrup lighten up the drink with fresh top notes.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze

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Beijing: Kopi Luwak Martini


The art of drinking tea originally developed in China during the Tang dynasty, and hundreds of varieties are produced and enjoyed in that vast country today. However, Opus Lounge, the rooftop bar at Four Seasons Hotel Beijing, is getting creative with another caffeinated beverage.

Bartender John Cheng’s Kopi Luwak Martini is mixed with a rare Indonesian coffee, made from coffee cherries eaten and excreted by the Asian palm civet, a small mammal found in Southeast Asia. (Producers and connoisseurs claim that kopi luwak’s flavour is improved by the fermentation that occurs in the civet’s digestive tract.)

At Opus Lounge, bartenders use a Neapolitan coffee press filled with dry ice that diffuses the delicate coffee aroma while Kahlua and Malibu rum add the alcoholic element. The smoking cocktail is finished with an elegant dusting of espresso powder.

Four Seasons Hotel Beijing

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Mumbai: Madras Café


Four Seasons Mumbai Madras Café Cocktail

While you may think tea reigns supreme in India, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai is using South Indian coffee to create this unusually delicious drink.

Like China, India is a major tea producer, and Northeastern India is known for its large tea estates. Travel to the Southern region of the country, though, and you’ll find plenty of coffee. In Mumbai, business is often conducted over one of these brews, and each household has its own favourite blend or preparation of tea or coffee to start the day.

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai embraces the city’s rich history of coffee drinking with the Madras Café. The cocktail, served at AER and San-Qi, combines South Indian–style coffee with curry leaf, passion fruit purée and pineapple juice to make a shaken drink that’s an unusual balance of sweet and bitter, spiked with Absolut vodka and served on the rocks.

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

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Scottsdale: Two Birds With One Stone


U.S. Americans drink three times as much coffee as tea, but Assistant Manager Nick Padua at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North chose to create his latest concoction with organic tea. Inspired by the environmental extremes of the Sonoran Desert, Two Birds With One Stone is a drink that can warm you up on a cold desert night or leave you refreshed after a round of golf under the sun.

At Talavera and Onyx Bar & Lounge, the cocktail is served either hot or over ice, mirroring the desert’s hot days and chilly nights. The innovative drink pairs Rishi Tea’s organic loose-leaf camomile tea with Dewars White Label scotch, sweetened with local Sonoran honey and house-made orange marmalade. The tea-infused cocktail is brewed and served tableside with candied citrus rinds.

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

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Maldives: Kuda Coffee


Four Seasons Maldives Kuda Huraa Coffee

For an island treat in the Maldives, try the Kuda Coffee, which infuses both local and Asian ingredients.

While sai (a sweet tea) is a traditional beverage enjoyed by local Maldivians, Indonesian coffee and local ingredients are the staples for the Kuda Coffee cocktail at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa. A kopi toraja variety of coffee from the Sulawesi island of Indonesia is combined with fresh Maldivian coconut, kopi leaf and Sri Langkan arak that add local flair.

In honour of the Resort’s sundowner happy hour tradition, these stirred drinks will be available on a buy-one-get-one basis between 5 and 7:30 pm each evening at Sunset Lounge. Ask Chinnappan for a cocktail class, and he’ll teach you how to make the drink from scratch.

Editor’s note: While some of these coffee and tea cocktails may no longer be listed on the menu, most can be made upon special request.

Read more about #CocktailQuarterly trends, like spicy margarita recipes and spring cocktails.

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

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The 8 Most Glamorous Experiences From Four Seasons

Posted on by Lesley Murphy

A stay at Four Seasons can transport you to a luxurious home away from home for a few days—or, if you’re lucky, a few weeks. These hotels and resorts set a glamorous standard, offering extraordinary, over-the-top adventures around the world. Where else can you gain access to exclusive attractions, fly in a customised Boeing 757, sleep in arguably the world’s most comfortable bed and taste culinary excellence, one unforgettable vacation at a time?

Here are the 9 most glamorous experiences one can partake in at Four Seasons hotels and resorts from Florence to Mumbai. Travellers in search of unparalleled luxury and glamorous getaways, take note.

Toast to good taste from a hidden wine cellar in Paris


Four Seasons Paris wine cellar experience

Photography courtesy Lesley Murphy

As a recent guest at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, I was fortunate enough to join the ranks of an exclusive group of oenophiles who have travelled the 14 metres (46 feet) below ground to tour the Hotel’s legendary wine cellar. Over candlelit French canapés and a glass of Burgundy Pinot Noir, I took in the fascinating history of the George V cellar and sampled from a choice selection of the 50,000-bottle collection of rare wines, which includes a bottle of Terrantez from 1795 and a bottle of (drinkable!) port that dates back to 1900. With a set-up this romantic and picture perfect, it’s not surprising that the cellar sees its fair share of marriage proposals. See more from my glamorous stay in the City of Light, including a tour of the Hotel’s legendary penthouse, on The Road Les Traveled.

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

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Get pampered like a celebrity in Beverly Hills


Pretty Woman Spa experience at Spa at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

Whether you’re a movie buff or just in need of some me time, look no further than the Spa at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the crowd-favourite romantic comedy Pretty Woman, which was filmed at the Hotel in 1990, and there’s no time like the present to live out the fairy tale of Julia Roberts’ character. Indulge with a mani, pedi and bubbly while watching the movie in a relaxing setting, or splurge for the Hotel’s red carpet–worthy treatment: a Sculpted Beauty Wrap, Diamond Luxury Lift Facial (using infused diamond-cut quartz), and sparkling Diamond Manicure and Pedicure.

Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

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Indulge in a 24-carat gold facial in Mumbai


24-Carat Gold Anti-Aging Facial at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

At Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, all that glitters is gold—notably, the Hotel’s 24-Carat Gold Anti-Aging Facial. Gold has been used in skin care and healing for centuries, and even Cleopatra found it irresistible as she embraced its anti-inflammatory properties. Utilising the ancient Indian healing art of ayurveda, therapists massage the precious metal into the skin, reducing wrinkles and leaving you radiant and ready to take on the day. While the treatment comes at a price, the long-lasting after-effects are priceless.

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

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Arrive to your private snow hotel via helicopter in Whistler


Glamping in ice caves at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler

If camping in the great outdoors armed with nothing but a tent and sleeping bag doesn’t suit your style, glamping just might. Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler combines outdoor adventure with luxury amenities during its Glamping experience, which begins when a helicopter takes you to the region’s largest ice field. Explore ice caves via snowmobile before being whisked away to your very own snow hotel full of creature comforts—think pre-warmed duvets, thermal spa experiences and culinary creations from Four Seasons chefs. Wake up rested and ready to ski outside the box thanks to unprecedented access to Whistler Blackcomb’s epic terrain.

Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler

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Shop exclusive designer collections in New York


Behind the Seams fashion experience at Four Seasons Hotel New York

Photography courtesy Thinkstock

Calling all fashionistas: Get ready to walk the walk and talk the talk of haute couture at Four Seasons Hotel New York. Every week might as well be Fashion Week in New York City, which boasts the greatest concentration of design talent in the world. Here to help guide you through it is Kathleen Beckett, former editor at Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, with connections at more than 200 designer studios. Venture to pre-selected studios via limousine, get the exclusive behind-the-scenes look into designers’ latest collections, and learn what’s chic on the streets and runway-ready. If you’re lucky, you might even have a design made just for you.

Four Seasons Hotel New York

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Fly around the world by private jet


Unforgettable vacations on the Four Seasons Private Jet

Four Seasons has found a way to elevate luxury travel to extraordinary new heights with the Four Seasons Jet and a variety of international itineraries, which take travellers to the globe’s most exotic destinations. Reserve one of the 52 seats available on a Four Seasons Private Jet Experience and you’ll enjoy the journey at 30,000 feet just as much as the destination, thanks to the Jet’s luxurious accommodations (think lie-flat beds and international inflight Wi-Fi) and personalised service from the on-board Concierge and Four Seasons chef. Get inspired to take your own around-the-world expedition by following the Jet’s next 24-day tour to nine destinations, including Bora Bora and Istanbul.

Spend a lavish week at sea in the Maldives


Diving with sharks and manta rays on Four Seasons Explorer

Stretch your sea legs aboard the Four Seasons Explorer, the destination’s most luxurious live-aboard catamaran. If you’re in the mood for adventure, embark on a seven-night group research odyssey to observe the Maldives’ most exciting residents—manta rays and whale sharks—in action. Looking for a more private escape? Charter the Explorer so that you and your nearest and dearest can spread out among its well-appointed rooms, dining room, two bars, lounge, library and sun decks, and enjoy personalised itineraries.

Four Seasons Maldives Explorer (Island Cruise)

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Experience your dream vacation in the Seychelles


Four Seasons Seychelles four-bedroom residence villa

Whether you’re looking for adventure, privacy, tranquillity or a party, you can have it all at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles. Available with your three-, four-, or five-bedroom villa, the “Residen-chelles” menu consists of four tailor-made escapes with family and friends in mind. Book the Dream Escape and learn how to surf in the private 88-foot (27-metre) pool, or opt for the Serenity Escape featuring personalised spa treatments and yoga activities. A Family Escape with the entire crew offers private BBQs, arts and crafts, salsa classes, or movie nights under the stars, while the Final Escape caters to group celebrations with spa parties, cooking classes and water volleyball. The best part: All packages are completely customisable to fully satisfy your vacation desires.

 

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles

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Four Seasons Gift Cards: Give the Gift of Their Dreams

Posted on by Alexandra Sheehan

This holiday season, think outside the traditional gift box when choosing presents for friends, family and colleagues. With a Four Seasons Gift Card, everyone on your list is destined for the extraordinary.

Whether it’s a round of golf in a dream destination, a unique fitness class or a gourmet dinner in paradise, an unforgettable experience is theirs to choose – whenever and wherever they wish.

We explored the possibilities and gathered up some of the season’s most memorable and unusual gift ideas. Browse our wish list, then choose your amount and let them discover the gift of their dreams.

Golf with friends

Set up your favourite golfer for a round in paradise. The golf course at Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo is one of the best courses in Costa Rica and ranked among the “Top 100 Courses Outside the United States” by Golf Digest. Designed by Arnold Palmer, it begins atop one of Peninsula Papagayo’s highest plateaus, overlooking the waters of Bahía de Culebra.

At El Bajo, the signature par-4 sixth hole, golfers tee off from 200 feet (61 metres) above the green fairway below. A Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, the golf course lies amid botanical gardens, scenic cliffs and an abundance of wildlife. Lucky golfers have been known to encounter a monkey or two.

Buy a gift card for a round in Costa Rica >

Dinner with a view


Private Island Dinner Experience, Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

The Private Island Dinner Experience available through Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora is one of the most intimate and romantic ways for a couple to enjoy the tropical destination.

Whatever the reason for a romantic getaway to Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, couples can mark the occasion with an unforgettable Polynesian dinner. During the Private Island Dinner Experience, guests take a canoe ride to a small white-sand island – known locally as a motu – for the perfect sunset view and a feast to remember.

The couple will sip Champagne while tasting expertly prepared dishes and fresh seafood. And for dessert? Choose a chocolate Polynesian pirogue or coconut and passion fruit sorbets. Whatever their personal tastes, the executive chef will cater to every need, with the option of adding wine pairings, a private singer or a professional photographer to capture the memories for years to come.

Buy a gift card to give the gift of dinner in paradise >

Cooking classes with local flavour


Cooking school at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

For the aspiring chef in your life, a gift card can be used to attend a class at the open-air cooking facility at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, designed by award-winning Bensley Design Studios in Bangkok to unite architectural influences of northern Thailand with traditional design.

One of the best parts of travelling is the opportunity to taste food all over the world. At the Cooking School at Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, gourmands can immerse themselves in the traditions of Thai cuisine through a variety of Lanna-style cooking classes, plus optional trips to the local market and even vegetable-carving lessons.

Novice and expert chefs can choose their class according to their tastes, whether they prefer to make kaow soi gai (Chiang Mai curry noodle soup with chicken) or tom yum goong (spicy soup with shrimp). After class, students will move to the open-air dining area of the pavilion to savour delectable dishes and spectacular views.

Buy a gift card to show friends and family the flavours of Thailand >

A meditative practice


Yoga at Four Seasons Residence Club San Diego Aviara

At Four Seasons Residence Club San Diego Aviara, active guests can choose from indoor or outdoor yoga classes, as well as other types of classes, at the two fitness centres: Meadows Fitness (open 24 hours) and Summits Fitness.

For the wellness enthusiast, a restorative yet challenging fitness activity often tops their wish list. At Four Seasons Residence Club San Diego Aviara, guests can partake in on-site yoga classes in an open-air pavilion that overlooks the pool. Waterproof cedar floors and adjustable wall screens allow for a safe and private practice.

There’s a class for every pace: vinyasa is typically centred on the flow and the breath, while hatha yoga is a more restorative practice and combining hatha and Pilates provides a strong core workout. Barre is another interesting workout, largely influenced by ballet, utilising a ballet bar for targeted strengthening exercises. Whatever the practice, there’s no better way to get energised for a day spent in the city or by the pool.

Buy a gift card to give the gift of rejuvenating wellness >

A delightful treat


Chocolate at Four Seasons Hotels Istanbul

Ghislain Gaille, the Executive Pastry Chef at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus creates artisan chocolates by adding modern twists to his Grandfather’s legendary recipes. Visit the Hotel’s Chocolate Shop to taste test a bar that combines passion fruit, olive oil, ginger, cinnamon and fig with spices from Istanbul’s Spice Market.

Rather than guessing what treat best suits your friend or family member’s palate, let them choose their own. In the Chocolate Shop and Chocolate Showroom at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, travellers with a sweet tooth can taste and take home artisan chocolates and local specialties prepared by Chef Ghislain Gaille.

For a truly authentic dessert, recommend that they also taste a world-famous Turkish delight, a gelatin-like sweet treat that was first concocted in the 18th century, often flavoured with rosewater or citrus and covered with confectioner’s sugar. Today, the candies are available in many varieties, such as pistachio, coconut and cinnamon.

Buy a gift card for a taste of Istanbul’s sweet side >

Elegant nightcaps


Drinks at Four Seasons Hotel Casblanca, Bleu Bar

Have a friend visiting Morocco? Treat them to a drink at Bleu Bar at the new Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca. Here, guests can sit on the terrace amid ocean views or at the chic bar, where live entertainment can be enjoyed most weekends.

For the person on your list who enjoys a divine cocktail, the chic Bleu Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca is the perfect oceanside spot. Suggest that they use the gift card to order A Tale of Two Cities, a cocktail for two made of caramel Casablanca tea with demerara sugar and lemon, served with violet-infused Earl Grey tea. Cocktails pair perfectly with a plate of fresh, world-renowned Dakhla oysters, from an ecologically protected area where oyster farmers do their work by hand. The new bar, inspired by the sea, is decorated with nautical touches, including seashell designs and curves reminiscent of the waves.

If they prefer afternoon tea to nightly drinks, mention the Hotel’s Mint, a lounge where they can enjoy gourmet French pastries on comfortable sofas amid traditional Moroccan décor.

Buy a gift card to give the gift of a seaside cocktail >

A meet and greet with modern artists


Songzhuang Artist Village tour

Located in the eastern suburbs of Beijing, Songzhuang Artist Village is a home of more than 2,000 top artists and their studios. Send your most creative friends there to attend an artist-led tour.

Photography China Photos / Stringer / Getty Images

Give friends and family with a passion for contemporary art the chance to meet China’s most talented artists, as well as see their work. Four Seasons Hotel Beijing offers guests the opportunity to Go Inside Beijing’s Creative Scene with an intimate look at these inspiring creators. During the experience, guests join China’s leading artists for a tour of Songzhuang Artist Village. After the tour, guests can share a gourmet lunch with the artists at their home or studio, or in the surrounding orchard and gardens.

Buy a gift card for an intimate cultural experience >

Aquatic adventures


Water sports at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles

After venturesome travellers get their feet wet snorkelling in the waters outside Four Seasons Resort Seychelles, they’ll want to try surfing or stand-up paddling. The Introduction to Surfing class is complimentary, but guests can use a gift card to purchase more lessons or rent boards to take on the waves on their own.

If you’re shopping for a venturesome traveller, a water-sports rental at Four Seasons Resort Seychelles will give them a fun way to get active on the water. Guests can choose between a smooth stand-up paddleboard ride and a thrilling surf experience on the Indian Ocean, each of which provides an exciting and effective workout. Expert Tropicsurf instructors are available to offer paddleboard tutorials and teach beginning surfers the fundamentals, while students can progress at their own pace.

Buy a gift card so loved ones can make a splash in the Seychelles >

A great night’s sleep at home


Four Seasons Bed – Oahu Suite, Hawaii

The signature Four Seasons Bed (available for purchase with a gift card) is the centrepiece to any sleep sanctuary. While its patented GelTouch foam centre absorbs heat to keep you cool at night, pocketed coil motion separation provides optimal support.

Give any Four Seasons fan or frequent traveller the ultimate gift: the opportunity to take home the brand’s world-renowned sleep experience. The signature Four Seasons Bed, developed over 50 years in partnership with experts and guests and available for purchase with a gift card, features a choice of unique mattress toppers to deliver the ultimate in customised comfort. Recommend that they add signature Four Seasons linens and pillows for unparalleled luxury.

Buy a gift card to give the gift of a sounder sleep >

Courtney Guadagno also contributed to this article.

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A Guide to Orange Wine

Posted on by Jeanette Hurt

Orange wine

To craft an orange wine, white wine is skin-fermented in a qvevri, or citron-shaped clay vessel, resulting in dried-fruit notes with nutty and caramel aromas.

Photography Thinkstock

Aromas of apricot fruit tickle the nose, but a sip reveals heavier tannins, and a rich, almost velvety mouth-feel lingers. Not quite white and not quite red: Viniferous conundrum, thy name is orange.

“Orange wines are the new black,” says Shelley Lindgren, co-owner and wine director of San Francisco Bay–area SPQR and A16 restaurants. “The only problem is that they can be grossly misunderstood. There really is no definitive way to characterize orange wines, because they are essentially a white wine produced with a red-wine sensuality.”

Orange wines are the new black.

The definition of orange wines has been debated frequently at forums like this year’s RAW wine fair in London. Fundamentally, their classification derives not from the type of grape used but from the winemaking process. Orange wines are white wines that are skin-fermented like reds. But unlike red wines, which are fermented for a period of 10 days to one month, orange wines can be fermented from two weeks to seven months.

“Orange wines have the freshness of whites with the structure of reds,” says John Wurdeman, owner of Pheasant’s Tears winery, which has vineyards in the Kakheti and Kartli regions of the country of Georgia. “So they can be compared to both white and red wines, but they are their own genre.”

Georgia is considered the birthplace of orange wine. Referred to as the original winemakers, Georgians have used citron-shaped clay vessels, called qvevri, to make wine since 6000 BC. These vessels were lined with molten beeswax and buried in the ground to stabilize temperatures. Over time, as viniculture spread, qvevris were replaced with barrels, which gave way to stainless steel tanks. The exception: Qvevris are still used to make orange wines.

 

People who are looking for something new are really surprised by orange wines.

The unusual aging process, which extracts phenols, tannins and antioxidants, produces orange-tinged hues that range from golden honey to deep amber. The colour varies with the type of grapes used (Pinot Gris, Rkatsiteli and Grenache Blanc, to name a few), the length of time spent in skin fermentation, and the method of aging, says Jessica Bell, a certified sommelier and wine educator who has consulted for Georgian wineries. “This is the oldest way of making wine,” Bell says. “But people who are looking for something new are really surprised by orange wines.”

While they’ve always been the wine of choice within Georgia, this method of winemaking didn’t attract much interest elsewhere until Italian winemaker Josko Gravner visited Georgia in the early 1990s. He returned with some qvevris and made Georgian-style orange wines using Friuli grapes, thus drawing more attention worldwide to orange wines.

Besides Italy and Georgia, Slovenia and Croatia also make orange wines, and over the last five years, adventurous winemakers in the United States have gotten in on the action. “People making orange wines, by their nature, are more experimental,” says William Allen, winemaker and owner of Sonoma County’s Two Shepherds winery. Allen himself made orange wine from a blend of Roussanne and Marsanne grapes in 2011. He even makes an orange-style wine from a grey grape called Trousseau Gris—it looks like a rosé but tastes like an orange wine.

In the Willamette Valley of Oregon, Johan Vineyards winemaker Dan Rinke and winery owner Dag Sundby spent the spring of 2007 tasting Italian orange wines like Gravner and Radikon. “We kind of fell in love with them, and we were taken by their uniqueness,” Rinke says. “We make a Pinot Gris, so I suggested trying to do a little something different with it.”

Their trials have resulted in very different types of orange vintages. “The ’09 had a lot of lees in it, and it smelled like pumpkins,” Rinke says. “The ’11 and ’12 vintages have hints of baking-spice aromatics. We’re now starting to do a fraction of it with carbonic maceration [the fermentation of grapes in a sealed vessel full of carbon dioxide], and that tends to bring out more cinnamon and nutmeg notes.”

As a genre, orange wines tend to have dried-fruit notes like apricot and peach, as well as a lot of nuttiness and caramel aromas. “Orange wines are great to use in pairings,” says Emily Larkins, wine director at Craigie on Main restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “They’re amazing wines to use as a bridge between different elements on the plate.” Larkins says these wines work well with caramelized onions, nuts, cheeses and game birds, thanks to their richness in texture.

That tactile aspect turns some people off. “They’re wines that tend to showcase texture rather than fruit,” says Jared Hooper, LA-based writer turned sommelier. “Those who favour orange wines love the style, but detractors claim the uniqueness of the terroir and the grape is lost—that the elegance of the grape is masked by the winemaking process.”

Orange wine aficionados, however, believe winemakers are just beginning to explore this process, and the wines are cropping up in places such as Chile and New Zealand. “They’re not for someone who orders Sauvignon Blanc every day,” Bell says. “They’re for an adventurous wine drinker, someone who’s open to something new.”

Winemakers to Try

Pheasant’s Tears
Kakheti and Kartli, Georgia
The wines here are all farmed organically and vinified naturally, “with nothing taken away and nothing added,” says winery owner John Wurdeman.

Alaverdi Monastery Cellar
Telavi, Georgia
Orthodox monks continue to use an 11th-century wine cellar and traditional Georgian practices to produce their orange wines.

 

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Pyramid Valley Vineyards
North Canterbury, New Zealand
“This biodynamic winery uses something like a qvevri, but they don’t bury it,” says U.S.-based wine importer Chris Terrell.

Gravner
Gorizia, Italy
Josko Gravner’s orange wines are some of the best-known in the world, but he prefers the term “amber,” and he does use sulphites to refine his wines.

 

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Johan Vineyards
Willamette Valley, Oregon, U.S.
Drueskall, made from Pinot Gris, means “grape skin” in Norwegian. Winery owner Dag Sundby hails from Norway and exports his wines back home.

Two Shepherds
Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
Boutique Sonoma winemaker William Allen calls his skin-fermented wines Centime, after the French word for “cent.” Santé!

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