Elite Traveler Fall 2023

FALL 2023

The Watch Issue

THE PINNACLE OF CREATIVITY, INNOVATION, PRECISION, CRAFTSMANSHIP AND ART — THESE ARE THE MOST EXCITING WATCH RELEASES

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Welcome

Naturally, our Top Watches issue brings up the topic of time. It’s serendipitous that this issue of Elite Traveler coincides with the changing of the seasons: When the leaves turn golden and the crisp fall air sets in, we begin to notice the passing of time more acutely. Now for the seventh year, Roberta Naas, Elite Traveler ’s contributing timepiece editor and expert on all things horological, has been

Elite Traveler around the world For daily updates, follow us on Twitter @elite_traveler and on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest @elitetraveler

meticulously curating this selection of the latest and greatest launches. As ever, Naas implements the strictest criteria for the watches you’ll see on the pages: Any watch included must have been introduced in 2023 or late 2022 (after our previous year’s Top Watches issue was published). All watches have to retail for no less than $10,000, and watches with just a new dial color or a di ff erent material of an existing watch would not be considered. Turn to page 62 to uncover the magni fi cent feats of artistry behind each tick and the exquisite detail on these wearable works of art. Elsewhere in this issue, Naas also speaks to four-time MVP award-winning football player Aaron Rodgers, and she goes behind the scenes at Montblanc to see how the brand’s writing instruments are crafted. As we step into harvest season, we’re thinking of delicious fi ne wines. Elin McCoy looks at high altitude vineyards and the resulting wines; Irenie Forshaw speaks to Telmont Champagne’s charismatic CEO, Ludovic du Plessis, on his ambitions for the future; Becca Hensley looks at the bubbly o ff erings at sea — from an app with a secret champagne button to the sparkling wine that is being aged on the seabed along Norway’s coast. Nicola Leigh Stewart heads to Champagne and to the big domaines to pen an all-encompassing guide to the historical province — which includes a hot-air balloon ride over the vineyards and details on how to book sabrage lessons. If a health-focused retreat is more your scene, then consider a location that you might not immediately associate with wellness: the Maldives. Kim Ayling lands on Velaa Private Island to experience its new wellness village, Eveylaa, along with the paradisiacal island’s many other delights. More of a thrill-seeker? Ramona Saviss details all you need to know for a weekend in Sin City for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix — including a cool $1m package. As ever, we close out this issue with our Flight of Fancy. Dine on a private four-course feast on a stable fl oating pontoon in the Zambezi River as the wildlife of the surrounding bush serenade you.

Alexandra Cheney trackside at The Centenary of the Le Mans 24 Hours race pg50

KimAyling spends a rejuvenating few days at Velaa Private Island’s new wellness village, Eveylaa pg 120

Samantha Coles Editor samantha.coles@elitetraveler.com

Alex Martin tries on the Girard-Perregaux Laureato Green Ceramic Aston Martin Edition pg56

CONTENTS

Top Watches Just 33 pieces of this HM8 Mark 2 watch will be made. The newest release from independent brand MB&F, the auto inspired watch has a world-premiere hidden crown with a double de-clutch system. Page 6 2

On the cover Imageby Diego Merino, a photographer born and raised in Spain who is now working between London and Barcelona

40 Hurtigruten's Polarlys inNorway

elite traveler FALL2023 26 Contents

Discover 35 Object of desire Bugatti has somewhat unexpectedly teamed up with British design studio Asprey to craft a highly limited run of extravagant diamond-encrusted eggs, each of which comes with a collectible NFT The use of brokers for on demand charter fl ights is steadily increasing. Doug Gollan fi nds out why. 38 Yachts When it comes to yachts, bigger most certainly is better. Miriam Cain shares some of the best OTT vessels on the charter market right now. 40 Cruises From ceremonial christening practices to hedonistic day drinking, champagne is fi rmly ingrained in cruising culture — on page 40, the bubbly is fl owing. 42 Wine Elin McCoy takes us to higher ground in pursuit of extreme-altitude wineries that are paving the way for climate crisis-proof vineyards. 44 Jewelry Quiet luxury? Never heard of her. Samantha Coles goes bold with our most coveted maximalist jewels. counterpart. 3 6 Aviation

Influence 48 Aaron Rodgers Zenith watches’s latest ambassador (and a top US football star) discusses the challenges Roberta Naas. 50 Matthieu Bonardel The morning of the 100th Le Mans 24 Hours race, Michelin’s global motorsports director sat downwith Elite Traveler ’s Alexandra Cheney. 52 Ludovicdu Plessis Telmont’s CEO discusses making fi ne champagne, converting to organic practices and working with Leonardo Di Caprio. 54 Craftsmanship We go behind the scenes with Montblanc to discover the unbridled levels of craft that go into creating each of its writing instruments. 5 6 Behindthe Scenes Elite Traveler ’sAlex Martin explores the partnership between Aston Martin and Girard-Perregaux that has so far yielded four of success and his take on time with sell-out timepieces. 58 Elite Traveler Leaders in Luxury Elite Traveler celebrated the launch of the Leaders in Luxury issue at an

35 Bugatti and Asprey have teamed up to craft a line of diamond encrusted eggs

exclusive event at The Ned NoMad in New York City.

Photo Lotta Källström

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28 elite traveler FALL2023

6 2 Panerai Radiomir Annual Calendar

Contents

elitetraveler.com

Inspire 6 2 Top Watches Our annual Top Watches feature returns, with Roberta Naas meticulously scouring this year’s new releases to bring you the best timepieces of 2023. 8 6 TopCars Alexandra Cheney takes the driver’s seat to compile this year’s Top Cars, each of which represents an industry boldly propelling itself forward.

Explore

104 Topsuites We head to the west coast for a deep dive into the best hotels and suites in Los Angeles, from a rock star-worthy pado ff the Sunset Strip to a historic abode in the Golden Triangle. 114 Destination guides Sip your way around Champagne’s best restaurants, hotels and vineyards, or zip over to Las Vegas for the city’s most momentous event of the year: its inaugural Formula 1 race. 120 HotList Kim Ayling embarks on a wellness retreat in the Maldives while Andrew Harris takes to the North Atlantic Ocean on a Seabourn cruise followed by a retreat to the English countryside.

132 Property A selection of the very best properties on the market right now including two California homes, an aristocratic penthouse in London and a hotly anticipated residential building in NewYork. 13 6 Flight of fancy And fi nally, we head to Zambia, where Chiawa Camp invites guests to dineatopa fl oating pontoon in the middle of the Zambezi River before retreating for a night to the nearby Star Bed — an open-air, four-poster bed set atop a 13-ft tower.

Bean to bar: Behind the scenes at Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse

When Alain Ducasse opened La Manufacture de Chocolat in 20 1 3 , he decided if he was going to make his own chocolate, he would craft it entirely from scratch (“from bean to bar”) using only the highest-quality ingredients. Irenie Forshaw heads to Paris

for a fi rsthand look. The best hotels in the Hamptons Come summer, a trip to the Hamptons is

engrained in the psyche of Manhattan’s elite. When the heat clogs the city streets, New Yorkers leave en masse, fl eeing a few hours east to the far tip of Long Island where the cool Atlantic breeze awaits. Find our top picks of the best hotels in the Hamptons — each of which promises a slice of old-school luxury.

8 6 Lamborghini Sterrato

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elite traveler FALL2023 30

Contributors

London ANDREW HARRIS Travel and food writer

Having been to the furthest reaches of the globe, Andrew Harris’s passport must be among the world’s most stamped. His adventurous journeys began as a teen, when he boldly embarked on a solo trip through Iran and Afghanistan. Since then, he has hiked the Judean desert, sailed the Nile on a felucca and slept under the stars in northwest Australia. From out-and-out fi ve-star luxury to rough-and-ready adventure, few bucket list experiences remain unticked on his list. In this issue’s Hot List, Andrew takes to the seas aboard Venture , Seabourn’s newly launched, purpose-built expedition ship, for an immersive cruise from Edinburgh’s Leith seaport through the biting waters of the North Atlantic and up to the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik — a trip that was, in Andrew’s words, a voyage “into a world of Vikings and Icelandic sagas.” p120

New Jersey, USA ROBERTA NAAS Timepiece editor

London IRENIE FORSHAW Senior writer

With nearly 40 years of industry experience, Roberta Naas is one of the world’s leading watch and luxury goods journalists — and was the fi rst woman timepiece editor in the US. She is a trusted authority on all things watches, and has toured many of the top factories, interviewed revered industry fi gures, and authored several books on the subject. As well as leading Elite Traveler ’s watch coverage, including our annual Top Watches feature you can explore on page 62, Roberta runs her own timepiece website and regularly reports for a number of other respected newspapers and magazines. atimelyperspective.com p62 “We did not reinvent the wheel. Everyone can do it. Everyone should do it!” Telmont Champagne CEO Ludovic du Plessis tells Elite Traveler ’s Irenie Forshaw. He is working to make Telmont one of the most sustainable champagne houses; the goal is to become climate positive by 2030. With help from Rémy Cointreau, majority stakeholder who brought Telmont under its umbrella in 2020, and some star status from friend and business partner Leonardo DiCaprio, Ludovic is well on the way to achieving his goals. And, he still cycles to work on his beloved Brompton bicycle. champagne-telmont.com p52 Damery, Champagne LUDOVIC DU PLESSIS Telmont CEO

Irenie Forshaw joined the Elite Traveler team in 2021 and has since established herself as a respected name in the luxury sphere. As well as the latest travel news, Irenie specializes in food and drink, and art and design, with a focus on pro fi ling leading industry names. Her career highlight to date? Visiting Alain Ducasse’s la Manufacture de Chocolat in Paris (a chef she has sat down with before): “I felt like I’d won the Golden Ticket when I got the invite.” In this issue, she speaks to Telmont CEO Ludovic du Plessis about the house’s bold sustainability ambitions, as well as his friendship with Leonardo DiCaprio. elitetraveler.com p35

Words Kim Ayling

From the Arctic to Antarctica, go beyond your comfort zone. Follow your curiosities, free your spirit and expand your mind with new experiences you’ve never known; polar kayaking, ice fishing, polar diving and so much more.

EDITORIAL Editor Samantha Coles samantha.coles@elitetraveler.com Editor-in-Chief Alex Martin alex.martin@elitetraveler.com Editorial Director Thea Halstead Deputy Editor KimAyling Senior Digital Writer Irenie Forshaw Lifestyle Feature Writer TobyLouch Digital Writer Bea Isaacson

ADVERTISING Group Sales Director Jiggs Patel jiggs.patel@elitetraveler.com SVP, Multimedia - Lifestyle, North America Corey Zaretsky corey.zaretsky@elitetraveler.com EASTERN US/MIDWEST Director Elaine Rizos elaine.rizos@elitetraveler.com Senior Sales Executive MarcRossi marc.rossi@elitetraveler.com Lifestyle Assistant Phoebe Sebring

Contributing Timepiece Editor Roberta Naas Contributing Motoring Editor Alexandra Cheney Chief Sub-Editor Patti Stallard Group Art Director Henrik Williams Designer David Cooper

phoebe.sebring@elitetraveler.com EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA

Sales Director Anit Mistry anit.mistry@elitetraveler.com Business Development Director Karan Kohli karan.kohli@elitetraveler.com Partnerships Director DavidWade david.wade@elitetraveler.com

CONTRIBUTORS Miriam Cain, Doug Gollan, Alex Green, Andrew Harris, Becca Hensley, Nicola Leigh Stewart, Elin McCoy, Iustina Roman, Ramona Saviss PUBLISHING & MARKETING Senior Vice President, Associate Publisher Lorraine Cousland lorraine.cousland@elitetraveler.com CIRCULATION Circulation Director Randy Silverman randy.silverman@elitetraveler.com

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DISCOVER

O’Rea Megayachts are having a serious moment — O’Rea , a 255-ft motor yacht, is newly available for charter via Greek shipyard Golden Yachts. Miriam Cain explores the trend for larger-than-life vessels Page 38

Page 35 Object of desire Bugatti and Asprey Studio have crafted a limited-edition egg collection that comes with an NFT generative artwork. Page36 Aviation Doug Gollan goes for broker. Page40 Cruises Becca Hensley uncorks champagne o ff erings at sea. Page 42 Wine Elin McCoy looks at the impact of cooler climes. Page 44 Jewelry Unleash your maximalist side with these show-stopping pieces.

DISCOVER

Each egg is adorned with miniature dancing elephants — the mascot that appeared on the hood of the Bugatti Type 41 Royale

elite traveler FALL2023 35

Object of desire by Irenie Forshaw

Asprey Bugatti Egg Collection Sometimes an object is so opulent, so outrageously over the top, that you have to question what could possibly have inspired it. Enter: the Asprey Bugatti Egg Collection. The French car manufacturer and British designer haven’t teamed up to create a knocko ff Fabergé (although, admittedly, the diamond-encrusted creation does have a whi ff of Imperial Russia about it). Instead, the new collection stems from something Ettore Bugatti’s father once said to him: “The purest perfect shape of nature is the egg.” It’s not the fi rst time the marque has turned to curved, fl owing lines in its designs. In fact, one of the most distinctive features of Bugatti vehicles — the oval-shaped grille — is also said to derive from the egg. Now, Bugatti has gone one step further, joining forces with Asprey Studio to craft a limited-edition egg collection, producing both a physical object and NFT generative artwork. The precious eggs are crafted from carbon fi ber and encased within a sterling silver diamond weave lattice. Each egg is adorned with miniature dancing elephants — the mascot that appeared on the hood of the Bugatti Type 41 Royale (based on a sculpture designed by Bugatti’s brother Rembrandt). Asprey Studio traveled to Bugatti’s home in France and used a 3D scanner on the hood of one of the few remaining Type 41 Royale cars to re-create the mascot in silver with perfect detail. The eggs are fi nished with a hinged Asprey diamond door that opens to reveal a scene of Chateau Saint Jean (Bugatti’s home in Molsheim), complete with a sterling silver Bugatti Type 41 Royale Esders replica. If you’re hoping to get your hands on one of the extravagant eggs, you’ll need to move quickly. Just 111 eggs will be made, each with an NFT generative artwork coded by Metagood. Most of the eggs will be black (with prices ranging from $20,000 to $50,000), but the fi nal 12 are customizable and will be available in several colors, starting at $200,000. aspreybugatti.com

The precious eggs are crafted from carbon fi ber and encased within a sterling silver diamond weave lattice

DISCOVER

traveler FALL2023 36

More savvy flyers are adding a good charter broker to their portfolio of private aviation solutions. The use of brokers for on-demand charter flights increased by nearly 20% year-over-year, according to Private Jet Card Comparisons , a buyer’s guide to private aviation programs. Brokers say they are not surprised. Here’s why. First, as demand surged, jet card providers changed the rules of their programs, adding peak days, longer booking windows and more surcharges, and increasing minimum flight charges and restricting where rates were guaranteed. At the same time, production is slow, with a backlog of orders for fractional ownership buyers limiting immediate access in many cases. In the US, new customers with NetJets wait over a year for their airplanes to arrive. Recent coverage of financial issues with several providers is making users more apprehensive about giving providers big sums of money up-front, on-demand charter brokers say. For example, fractional operator Jet It shut down without notice; Wheels Up has had to deny bankruptcy reports; and AeroVanti is facing multiple lawsuits from customers alleging they paid over $15m for flights never received. However, it’s deeper than that. Kevin Diemar, a former executive with NetJets who founded Miami, Florida-based Unity Jets over a decade ago, says sophisticated customers want more than just a private jet: “When you are in a jet card, you are typically getting a guaranteed category — GOING FOR BROKER by Doug Gollan Aviation elite

but also local operators. In a long tail industry, he says those personal relationships with operators enable better availability, pricing and, most important, service. “What you see online is not reflective of what’s available, and when you see a price online, that’s a starting price. There is room to negotiate on behalf of the customer, and that’s what we do. If you are booking your flights online, you are overpaying and probably not getting what you want,” he says. David Gitman, CEO of Ft. Lauderdale-based Monarch Air Group, says brokers know which operators are reliable and even the differences within their fleets. He says: “Because many charter aircraft are managed for their owners, it can come down to knowing which aircraft in a fleet to book. Some owners are prone to pulling their aircraft (even after contracting a charter), and there is no way for a consumer to know this.” 365 Aviation is a London-based boutique broker. While it offers a limited fixed-rate jet card in Europe, head of sales Simon Gibson says the broker segment of private aviation is all about relationships. Being small, he says, company executives know their clients beyond just booking flights. In one case, a winery owner from the US was coming to Europe, and Gibson was able to introduce him to another client who owns vineyards in France. unityjets.com; aircharter.co.uk; monarchairgroup.com; 365aviation.com

light jet, midsize jet, super-midsize jet, large cabin jet — and you are getting what aircraft type the provider wants to give you in that category. Tall people don’t want to spend five hours crouched over. But if you look at the super-midsize category, there are big differences in cabin height and width. Some have flat floors and some have wells. Do you want to be able to stand up and socialize? Do you need to talk with coworkers, or will you just sit in your seat the entire time? It can make a big difference in the experience,” hesays. Brokers also dispute the accuracy of media coverage focusing on digital booking apps that claim to be the Uber or Expedia of private jets. “The information needed to provide guaranteed, actual pricing in real time simply isn’t available, so at best, it’s a guess,” says Air Charter Service (ACS) CMO James Leach, whose firm offers fixed- and capped-rate jet cards and a market-priced deposit account, and also books flights on demand. He says the charter market is still an industry based mostly on phone calls, emails and text messages. Only around 30% of aircraft available for charter are even listed in the online platforms brokers use, according to Leach. One of the largest private jet charter market players with over $1bn in annual sales (including cargo and group charters), ACS has offices in more than 30 cities worldwide; that’s atypical in the industry. He says this not only gives its brokers a chance to have closer interactions with customers

The use of brokers for on demand charter fl ights increased by nearly 20 % year-over-year

Photo SFIO CRACHO / Shutterstock.com

DISCOVER

elite traveler FALL2023 38

O’Rea made her debut at the Monaco Yacht Show this fall

Yachts by Miriam Cain

BIG AND BOLD When Oceanco delivered sailing yacht Koru earlier this year, it was the biggest news in yachting — mainly because of her owner, Amazon founder Je ff Bezos, but also because of her jaw-dropping size. At 417 ft in length and with three towering masts that measure more than 230 ft, she is the tallest sailing yacht and among the top 25 largest yachts in the world. Despite her size, Koru still cruises in tandem with a large support vessel to carry even more tenders and toys and, most important, to accommodate her helicopter. While she sounds unique, she is far from alone — the industry has witnessed an increased demand for larger yachts and support vessels in what can only be described as a booming new-build sector. This increase in production and ownership in turn has trickled down to the charter market, which has also seen an increase in the demand for larger yachts.

CALEX One example of a larger-than-average yacht joining the global charter fl eet was when Northrop & Johnson announced that the Italian built 219-ft Calex was available. She has fi ve enclosed decks and a partially shaded sundeck, but what is undoubtedly her most impressive feature is the private owner’s deck. Located forward on the upper deck, it has over 1,700 sq ft of private space including alfresco dining and lounging areas and a palatial stateroom. She has a beach club at the stern with a bar, lounge and hammam inside; a wealth of water toy storage; and a dedicated gym and yoga area on the sundeck, along with the standard Jacuzzi, sunbathing and lounging areas. She will spend her fi rst charter season cruising in the Caribbean and Bahamas this winter before heading to the Mediterranean for the summer season. From $680,000 per week for up to 12 guests, northropandjohnson.com

DAR Even prior to Koru , Dutch superyacht builder Oceanco was already known for building some of the world’s largest yachts. With her unique shark inspired exterior pro fi le, the 295-ft Dar isoneof the company’s most recognizable deliveries. She made her debut on the charter market at the end of 2022 and will be available to charter in the Mediterranean for summer 2024. With specially designed glazing and an entire deck dedicated to her owner (or primary charterer), plus an owner’s salon and exterior area with hot tub, she takes privacy to the next level. However, for those looking to socialize and entertain, her wealth of spacious living areas do not disappoint. The bridge deck features a freshwater pool and plenty of lounging and dining areas, while her beach club can be used for relaxing or for convenient access to her water toys. From $1.3m per week for up to 12 guests, edmiston.com

O’REA Making her debut at the Monaco Yacht Show this fall, the 254-ft O’Rea is the newest and shiniest megayacht in the charter market. She is the latest build from the Atalanta Golden Yachts ‘New Generation’ series and is a substantial departure fromthe fi rm’s typically more classic and conventional style. Characterized by a powerful exterior pro fi le, she has a near-vertical bow, streamlined hull and elongated longitudinal windows. Built with charters in mind, the owner’s brief was to blur the borders between interior and exterior areas; this has been achieved with the use of large open-plan areas and plenty of glass throughout, including two glass-bottomed pools that fl ood the decks below with natural light. She also hosts a large spa area featuring a beach club. O’Rea is part of the Greek charter fl eetand is available through Atalanta Golden Yachts.

From $636,000 per week, atalantagoldenyachts.com

www.sunreef-yachts-eco.com | +48 538 573 717 | info@sunreef-yachts.com

DISCOVER

elite traveler FALL2023 40

The Virgin Voyages app requires a mere jiggle of your phone to unveil a secret champagne button

Cruises by Becca Hensley

Champagne cruising

Clockwise One of Hurtigruten’s ships sailing in Raftsundet; restaurant onboardMS Trollfjord; The Panorama Suite on board Seabourn Pursuit

A few years ago I stood on a pier in Nice and watched a ship being christened. A crowd of eager cruisers and avid bystanders had gathered for the momentous occasion, which was lorded over by a prominent journalist overseeing the blessing as its o ffi cial godmother. Anticipation surged through the crowd as a bottle of champagne slid from the heavens on a zip line above our heads. As the bottle grew close to the ship, it shimmied and shuddered — the crowd gasped. Then the champagne slowed to a veritable crawl and hit the side of the ship with the gentlest of bumps — a thump so ine ff ectual, in fact, that the bottle did not break. It just hung limply, having not succeeded in its job to launch the ship with good luck bysacri fi cial wine — not an auspicious beginning. The throngs grew deadly silent. Until, incongruously and a bit inappropriately, I started to giggle, even gu ff aw.

Then everyone laughed, clapped and cheered, and someone on the bow grabbed the bottle and shattered it across the side of the ship. Prosperity was restored. The long-established, superstitious tradition of christening a ship for safe sailing goes back centuries. The Vikings, Phoenicians, ancient Greeks and Polynesians purportedly all had rituals to ensure smooth futures on the water. But champagne only became the cruise world’s ceremonial tour de force in the late 20th century, when Queen Victoria christened theHMS Royal Arthur in 1891 with a bottle of bubbly. Today, cruise companies weave champagne into nearly every aspect of voyages, from naming ceremonies to arrivals to departures, including day-drinking opportunities for hedonism meant to amplify the languor of lazy days a fl oat. Take Virgin Voyages (virginvoyages.com ),whose Virgin Voyages app requires a mere jiggle of your phone to unveil a secret champagne button. Tap it to order up a bottle of Möet & Chandon Impérial, which sta ff deftly uncork for your pleasure no matter where you are on board. Seabourn (seabourn.com) welcomed Seabourn Pursuit , a brand new explorer The long-established, superstitious tradition of christening a ship for safe sailing goes back centuries

style ship, to its ranks this fall. Complimentary champagne is o ff ered throughout its voyages — that includes a bottle waiting for you in your stateroom. Those craving a caviar accompaniment need only phone room service for quick conveyance. Ever linking value to onboard sophistication, Oceania Cruises (oceaniacruises.com) has instituted Simply More, a brand-new concept that promises included opulent amenities, such as pours of premium champagne (as well as top-of-the-line spirits, wine, craft beer and more). As a bonus, Oceania Cruises’s long-standing relationship with Dom Pérignon ensures over-the-top champagne dinners on board both Marina and Riviera in La Reserve. Captivatingly, 130-year-old Hurtigruten Norway (hurtigruten.com) revels in its mission to bring local foods, chefs and producers into its culinary o ff erings via its Coastal Kitchens concept. It has partnered with the UK’s Rath fi nny Wine Estate in Sussex for sparkling, méthode champenoise wine, collaborating to age 1,700 bottles on the seabed along Norway’s coast. The result? The world’s fi rst Arctic-water-aged sparkling wine. The project known as ‘Havets Bobler’ (Bubbles from the Sea) experiments with the theory that sparkling wine will age faster in darkness, amid cold temperatures below the water’s surface. Try it for yourself aboard Hurtigruten Norway’s ships, where the wine reigns as the house sparkling, a favorite with dried, salted cod.

Photos Trym Ivar Bergsmo/Hurtigruten, Agurtxane Concellón/ Hurtigruten, Scott Grummett/Virgin Voyages

DISCOVER

elite traveler FALL2023 42

The Adrianna Vineyard is one of the highest altitude vineyards in Argentina

Wine by ElinMcCoy

TAKETWO// HIGH-ALTITUDE WINES 1. 2020 CATENA ZAPATA ‘WHITE BONES’ ADRIANNA VINEYARD CHARDONNAY Catena produces two world-class chardonnays labeled ‘White Bones’ and ‘White Stones’ from di ff erent plots. My favorite is this one, from vines grown on limestone and fossilized bones. With fl oral and lemongrass aromas, racy acidity and complex, wet stone-and-mineral fl avors, it’s one of South America’s most compelling white wines. From $111, catenazapata.com 2. 2018 BODEGA CATENA ZAPATA ADRIANNA VINEYARD MUNDUS BACILLUS TERRAE MALBEC The best and most expensive of the vineyard’s three malbecs comes from a parcel of vines grown on limestone. Now certi fi ed organic, it’s fresh, sleek and vibrant, with cherry and black pepper notes, and the concentration to age for decades. The name means ‘elegant microbes of the earth,’ for the unique microorganisms in the soil. From $231, catenazapata.com

Climbing higher Dramatic snowcapped peaks in the Andes are the backdrop for the Adrianna Vineyard in buzzed-about Gualtallary, a high-altitude wine region in Argentina’s Uco Valley that sits southwest of the city of Mendoza. The vineyard lies at an elevation of nearly 5,000 ft; average temperatures resemble those in France’s cool Chablis region, but with this di ff erence: Argentina has lots of bright sun. Winemaker Nicolas Catena Zapata discovered this chilly spot in 1992 while hunting for terroirs that would produce more complex wines. His vineyard manager wasn’t sure grapes like Chardonnay and Malbec could ripen there, but Catena took a chance. He was already putting modern malbec on the world wine map at his family’s Catena Zapata winery, named the world’s best wine estate to visit in 2023. He wasn’t thinking about climate change, but his decision to plant the vineyard points to one solution for winemakers facing global warming — climb higher. Everyone knows vines are highly sensitive to rising temperatures, and the decade from 2011 to 2020 was the warmest on record. High-altitude locations are much colder than those closer to sea level. With every 1,000-ft rise in elevation, temperatures drop by about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit. With extreme heat waves now baked into our future, Catena’s risky decision seems prescient.

Even when days are warm, the nights at high altitudes are cold and crisp, as anyone who has ever hiked on mountains after sunset knows. In the Adrianna Vineyard, one of the most studied vine spots in the world, that dramatic day-to-night shift can vary 55 degrees, which helps grapes ripen more slowly and preserves their acidity. The resulting wines have more freshness and complexity, and lower alcohol. With altitude comes intense sunlight, allowing grapes to develop thicker skins and compelling, mineral-rich fl avors. Looking for ways to adapt to climate change, winemakers in regions as far- fl ung as Oregon and South Africa are betting that the best wines of the future will come from vines grown at extreme altitudes. In Italy, the Bo ff a family behind Barolo producer Pio Cesare are growing Nebbiolo grapes in a vineyard at 2,000 ft in the hilly Alta Langa region, best-known for sparkling wines. In Spain, eco-conscious Miguel Torres Maczassek, the head of Familia Torres, has been investing in remote mountaintop plots in the Priorat region at 2,400 ft and in the foothills of the Pyrenees at more than 3,000 ft. He says people called him crazy. Heat waves and successes like Catena’s Adrianna Vineyard spur them on.

El Mirador at Adrianna Vineyard

Photos Gordo Monton, Horacio Paone, Mauro Roll

DISCOVER

Jewelry A roaring rebellion against quiet luxury, this season is all about over-the-top, statement-making pieces MORE IS MORE by Samantha Coles

Harry Winston Royal Adornments The Maharani Necklace Harry Winston has long enjoyed a relationship with royal families (the founder himself was known as the King of Diamonds); the brand’s latest collection of high jewelry, called Royal Adornments, takes inspiration from historic pieces and pays homage to the story behind each one — “it’s regal, rede fi ned,” according to the house. In 1953, Winston purchased a pair of cabochon emerald and diamond anklets from the Maharaja of Baroda, and redesigned them so they could be worn as one larger necklace. The two-strand necklace was part of Winston’s Court of Jewels exhibition and was subsequently purchased by Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor. The Duchess wore the necklace to the Paris Ball — where she had an intriguing encounter with its original owner, the Maharani of Baroda — and never wore the necklace again. In the late 1980s, in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, a new type of tourmaline was discovered — a copper-rich type that resulted in stones in striking shades of blue, green and purple. In Harry Winston’s Maharani Necklace, a 9.39-carat pear-shaped Paraíba is the centerpiece of a two-row necklace composed of white and yellow diamonds. A second trillion-shaped Paraíba of 4.19 carats joins the two strands. The central Paraíba is framed by an inner halo of yellow diamonds and an outer halo of pear-shaped diamonds. Price on request, harrywinston.com

Chopard Red Carpet Collection cu ff Chopard has a lengthy partnership with the Cannes Film Festival — the Palme d’Or, the most coveted award of the festival, has been crafted by Chopard since 1998. And every year, the famed jewelry house reimagines its Red Carpet Collection for the event. Caroline Scheufele, Chopard’s co-president and artistic director, has designed no less than 76 high jewelry masterpieces. On Scheufele’s many travels, she jots down inspiration in her diaries; this unbridled curiosity translates into magni fi cent pieces. This cu ff bracelet is set in Fairmined-certi fi ed ethical 18-karat white gold and titanium, set with an oval-shaped garnet (12.11 carats), oval-shaped mandarin garnets (10.79 carats), rose-cut yellow-orange sapphires (129.55 carats), brilliant-cut yellow sapphires (1.01 carats) and brilliant-cut diamonds (12.12 carats). Price on request, chopard.com

elite traveler FALL2023 45

Mikimoto Mikimoto of theoce thegradie collection the stand theweare Priceonr

o body necklace o’s latest high jewelry collection, called Praise to the Sea, is a celebration ean and all its wonders. Drawing inspiration from the water’s surface and ent of colors from dappled shallow waters to the unexplored deep, the n’s designs encapsulate the ocean’s majesty. This body necklace is one of -out pieces from the collection — a head-turning creation that drapes er’s back with Ayoka pearls and 23.23-carat diamonds. request, mikimoto.com

Davidor Arch Florale High Jewelry earrings

Davidor’s Arch Florale collection is inspired by the beauty of nature, and these divine 18-karat white gold earrings are crafted from four arch cut diamonds and arranged around a brilliant diamond to createa fl oral-esque pattern. The dangling pear-shaped 18.17-carat (tw) rubellites add a touch of whimsical vibrance (and they can be detached to create a new look). $225,000, davidor.com

Fendi Triptych High Jewelry Gravitus double ring in yellow sapphire Fendi recently unveiled Triptych, the debut high jewelry collection by the house’s artistic director of jewelry, Del fi na Delettrez Fendi. The collection was revealed at Fendi Couture Autumn/Winter in Paris and, as the collection’s name suggests, it is split into three ‘chapters:’ Roma Rosa, Gioiello Giallo and Bianco Brillante. This fabulous double- fi nger ring is from the Gioiello Giallo chapter and has an oval-cut yellow sapphire that appears to magically fl oat above the fi ngers. Price on request, fendi.com

Shachee Fine Jewellery x Gem fi elds hummingbird on sakura ring Unveiled at Journées de la Haute Joaillerie in Paris earlier this year, Gem fi elds’s playful new collection of rings is the result of collaboration with fi neandhigh jewelry designers. Gem fi elds, a world-leading responsible miner, worked with fellow designers who hold the same values. This pretty 18-karat gold ring sees a delicate hummingbird resting on cherry blossoms with 3.78-carat, no-heat sphere cut rubies and 0.48 carats diamonds. $4,325, gem fi elds.com

christopherai.com | shop at christophercollection.com 2023 Southeast Architect of the Year

INFLUENCE

Montblanc writing instruments Taking the time to handwrite a letter is something few people do these days. But it is an art — something Montblanc understands. Roberta Naas fi nds out about the fi rm’s process for creating one of its famed writing instruments Page 54

Page 50 Matthieu Bonardel The global motorsports director sat trackside with Alexandra Cheney during Le Mans 24 Hours centenary race to discuss the pressure of racing. Page 52 Ludovic du Plessis TheCEOof Telmont Champagne speaks with Irenie Forshaw about searching for vineyards on his bicycle and teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio. Page 56 Craftmanship Girard Perregaux and Aston Martin have discovered just how similar haute horlogerie and supercar production can be. Alex Martin takes a closer look at the result of the collaboration.

INFLUENCE THE BIG INTERVIEW

Aaron Rodgers on dealing with success

Easily one of American football’s fi nest quarterbacks, the 39 -year old Aaron Rodgers recently shared his thoughts on the challenges of success, his desire to lead the New York Jets to victory and his take on time in an exclusive interview with Elite Traveler ’s Roberta Naas

Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Rodgers. Amidst the hustle and bustle of a Zenith watches photo shoot, where he serves as a brand ambassador, we conducted the interview in a luxurious penthouse suite in Hoboken, New Jersey. Despite the commotion surrounding him, Rodgers expertly juggled the multitude of distractions, a testament to his ability to focus amidst chaos — a skill that has undoubtedly contributed to his status as one of the greatest quarterbacks of our time. With his move to the New York Jets, Rodgers is set to embark on a fresh chapter in his career. As long-su ff ering Jets fans eagerly await the forthcoming NFL season, all eyes are on Rodgers and the team. In fact, he expressed his determination to make a profound impact on his new team, both on and o ff the fi eld. “I didn’t come here to just be mediocre. I came here to win a championship. The biggest challenge with the team is going to be handling success,” Rodgers said as the photographers were capturing the moment. “There are going to be successes, and we need to learn how to win. We need to learn how to expect to win, and when it comes, we’ve got to handle it the right way. You have to celebrate the moments, but you have to check yourself and have those around you check you as well. That’s where accountability comes in. We all need to hold each other accountable and take the sensitivity out of it, so we can come together and do something special.” With a quick wit and a good sense of humor, Rodgers quipped with me as we discussed various topics, including how he manages his time. He also noted that he surrounds himself with the people who mean the most to him and those who can keep him on track. “You can choose how to spend your time and who to spend it with, but the one thing about time is you can’t get it back. It’s like currency, you have to be aware of how you spend it. Time is fi nite, and there’s beauty in that.” “My sports idols made me dream of being the best. That’s what I thought about, and I set mygoals to fi nd ways to achieve some of that success”

Renowned for his exceptional skills on the football fi eld, Aaron Rodgers has long been a fi gure of debate, with some labeling him controversial, while others admire his candid nature. From sporting a scru ff y look to stealing the spotlight as one of the best dressed celebrities at the recent Tony Awards in New York City, Rodgers is a man of intriguing contradictions. However, one undeniable fact remains: his unparalleled talent. After an illustrious 18-year tenure with the Green Bay Packers — including leading his team to numerous victories and a Super Bowl win — Rodgers has now embarked on a new chapter as the quarterback for the New York Jets, poised to propel the team to unprecedented heights. During his remarkable 18-season stint with the Green Bay Packers, spanning from 2005 to 2022, Rodgers consistently showcased his abilities in the fi eld, shepherding his team to triumph after triumph. His leadership skills and unrivaled quarterbacking abilities propelled the Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 2011, capping o ff an outstanding 2010 season. Additionally, Rodgers earned the prestigious title of NFL MVP four times, solidifying his place among the league’s greatest. His statistical achievements in the quarterback position are nothing short of astounding, cementing his legacy in football history.

Zenith Chronomaster Sport Men’s Stainless Steel Watch is Rodger's most-worn watch

When I asked him what the longest moment of his life was, he didn’t hesitate to recall Super Bowl XLV when he led the Green Bay Packers to victory; he said: “Half time at the Super Bowl. That was a long time.” One of the factors contributing to Rodgers’ success in his football career is his unwavering dedication to the game and his pursuit of perfection. He says he always wanted to be a top player, even when he was younger. “When you’re young, you’re not dreaming of being a mediocre player. You’re dreaming of being the best. All of my favorite players were some of the best in their sports. I was a huge Michael Jordan fan, and he is one of the best basketball players of all time. I was a huge Joe Montana fan, and he is de fi nitelyone of the top fi ve quarterbacks of all time. So, my sports idols made me dream of being the best. That’s what I thought about, and I set my goals to fi ndways to achieve some of that success.” For a moment, Rodgers observed the room, taking in the city views outside, the camera crew, his ‘people,’ and the few lucky fans in the room. He