A taste of France from Napa Valley
Denise and Stephen Adams, owners of the historic Château Fonplégade in the legendary Saint-Émilion wine region of Bordeaux, have brought their desire to craft inspiring wines of the highest quality to the Napa Valley with the launch of AdamVs. Latin for “borne from our red earth,” AdamVs reflects the estate’s highest elevation blocks that are composed of lava-derived, iron-rich red soils on Howell Mountain, 2,000 feet above the valley floor. The biodynamically farmed mosaic of 10 small vineyard blocks on the 80-acre estate creates a rich tapestry of elements from which to craft wines of balance, structure and distinction. Originally purchased in 2008, Denise and Stephen replanted nearly a third of the vineyard. As of the 2018 vintage, the Adams are now bottling, exclusively, 100 percent estate-grown wines. Each vintage AdamVs ferments, and ages, as many as forty small lots to create three wines: AdamVs, QuintVs and Téres. For information visit adamvs.com or call 707.965.0555. You also can purchase online at wine retailers. The bottles range from $70 to $200 each. (Pictured above)
St. Pete female-founded skincare brand hits retail
Namaka, a Hawaiian-inspired, St. Petersburg-based vegan skincare brand founded by two locals, is headed to the big leagues and launched in retail mogul Urban Outfitters this summer. Friends and founders Alix Brett and Lauren Albano, two creative directors turned beauty entrepreneurs, launched Namaka in January 2019. Namaka offers high-end vegan, and cruelty-free products, each formulated with a unique complex of plant-based botanicals inspired by the natural elements of Hawaii, along with vitamins and skincare ingredients. But beyond the formulations, and fun packaging, Brett and Albano’s main agenda is to empower adventurous, bold women with products that enhance their natural beauty and deliver “happy skin.” Namaka launched its products at Urban Outfitters and Beauty Bridge this summer. Products range from $20 to $36. More: namakaskin.com.
IWC Schaffhausen adds new models to Portugieser family
IWC Schaffhausen has added attractive new models to the Portugieser family of watches. A compact, automatic style in the iconic Portugieser design, a new model with the perpetual calendar, a nautical sports chronograph, with an elegantly proportioned case, and the first watch fitted with a tide indication.
These are the highlights of the new collection, all of which are equipped with IWC-manufactured calibers and further enhance the unique appeal of the Portugieser family. The Portugieser Chronograph Boutique Edition starts at $17,800, the Portugieser Yacht Club Chronograph starts at $19,900 and the Portugieser Perpetual Calendar Boutique starts at $37,900. More: iwc.com.
