Dena Roche

Only have two days in London? Check out our Ultimate Guide to 2 Days in London for insider tips to maximize your time.
London is the land of royalty, history, afternoon tea, and fish and chips. It’s also my favorite city in the world. Since I first visited as a 16-year-old, I felt at home here. If we lived past lives, I was lucky enough to live one in London. Even though he grew up in Europe, my husband never visited this amazing city.
On a recent whirlwind two-day trip, I enjoyed introducing...

Nestled in the mountains, THE OMNIA is a luxurious mountain ski chalet in the Swiss Alps. With stelllar views, it’s Zermatt at its best.
After arriving in car-less Zermatt by train, my husband and I are picked up in a vehicle that I joke looks like a tuk-tuk station wagon. We’re whisked through the crowded streets before turning down a small side road and barreling towards a glass door that opens at the last minute and deposits us in THE OMNIA hotel’s cave-like entrance. I must say I felt lik...

If you love bubbles, you no doubt know all about Italy’s famous Prosecco. But if you’re looking for a Champagne alternative, you need to raise a glass of Italy’s lesser-known bubbly, Franciacorta.
Franciacorta is Prosecco’s older, more sophisticated sister. While Prosecco is fruity and easy, Franciacorta is more complex and made in the methode champenoise tradition, rendering a sparkling wine that is similar in structure, aromas, and tastes to Champagne.
What's in This Article:
History of Fra...

After a long day at work, for many of us there’s nothing better than curling up on the sofa, glass of wine in hand, and binge-watching a favorite guilty-pleasure TV show. Whether your television preferences lean towards thrillers, the latest must-watch dramas, or laugh-out-loud comedies, we’ve got the perfect wine pairing to match your streaming style. Here are eight of our favorite TV shows of the moment, and our picks for the best California wines to go with them.
Emily in Paris + Bubbles
E...

How smart design allows for luxury aging in place.
Like it or not, everyone gets older. And while we can’t stop the clock, almost 80 percent of Americans want to stay in their own home as they age. Unfortunately, less than one percent of homes today are designed to allow that. That’s where Bonnie Lewis comes in.
Scottsdale-based Lewis is one of just a handful of Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists (CAPS) in the country that are also professional interior designers. At her firm, Bonnie J. Lew...

How spas are using the latest tech to create innovative spa treatments.
Since technology has pervaded every aspect of life, it isn’t a surprise that it’s changing the spa experience. While spa goers expect innovative spa treatments that deliver, they also don’t want to lose the pampering atmosphere spas are traditionally known for. The best luxury spas around the world blend both, offering high tech services without losing high touch.
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale
FOUR SEASONS RESORT SCOTTSD...

Refreshing summer wines that beat the heat. Use our curated list to pick out the best wines for summer.
When the dog days of summer hit, it’s time to forgo the big, bold Cabernet and reach instead for a lighter, refreshing summer wine to enjoy poolside or with an al fresco meal. This summer instead of uncorking your standard Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay, get creative and try some unusual varietals and best wines for summer from around the globe.
TALAMONTI | TRABOCCHETTO 2020 PECORINO SUPERIORE ...

Grgich Hills Estate celebrates as wine icon hits the century mark.
In the wine world, a great vintage only gets better with age, as do legends in the wine world. This year, Napa’s Grgich Hills Estate is celebrating the 100th birthday of founder Mike Grgich.
Grgich became an ICON in wine when—as the then winemaker for Chateau Montelena—his 1973 Chardonnay stunned the world by winning the 1976 Judgement of Paris. In this blind tasting by the most renowned French wine judges, Grgich’s Chardonnay...

Fractional vacation ownership is revolutionizing second-home ownership.
Fractional ownership is powered by powerful proptech that allows for owners from all around the world to happily co-own a single luxury property. This new ownership model began popping up in 2020 and has grown in popularity ever since.
Fractional ownership is exactly what it sounds like-owning a share of a property with other luxury travelers. Each share equates to how many weeks per year you can use the home. If you’re t...

From Top Gun standout to maverick winemaker, Hal Schmitt has flown a unique path to becoming owner of Volatus Wines in Paso Robles, California.

DOGFIGHT DAYS
As a teenager, Schmitt had his sights set on the military, not merlot. He attended Notre Dame University on a Navy scholarship, participated in the ROTC program, and immediately entered the Navy after graduation. During his 15-year naval career, Sch...

Sparkling Champagne alternatives for your next celebration.
The next time you’re ready to pop the cork to celebrate an anniversary, birthday or simply making it through the week, skip the tried-and-true Champagne and reach for one of these sparkling Champagne alternatives.
PÉT-NAT
Nothing is trendier in bubbles right now than Pét-Nat, short for petillant naturel, a French winemaking term that means naturally sparkling. While Champagne is made with three main grape varietals, pét-nats allow th...

Calistoga is known for wellness and wineries, a perfect pairing if ever there was one. The quaint town in Napa Valley boasts hot springs, mud baths, and some of the best wineries in Napa. Here we explore six Calistoga wineries and a bike tour that rise to the top with the wine tasting and tour experiences they offer guests. From wine tours through caves to a tour on two wheels, here are the top winery tours in Calistoga to seek out.
Pony on over to Tamber Bay, a family-run winery and ranch ju...

Chef Samantha Sanz spinning a new era at elements at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain.
Since opening more than two decades ago, under the direction of celebrity chef Beau Macmillan, elements at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain has wowed Arizona foodies with classic fine dining with an Asian flair. After 23 years in the kitchen, Macmillan passed the reins to Chef Samantha Sanz ushering in a new era at this ICONIC Scottsdale restaurant.
Just 33-years-old, Chef Sanz already has two James Beard nominatio...

Temecula’s Somerset winery is using a 6,000-year-old technique to make wine.
If you think you know how wine is made, think again. Somerset Vineyard & Winery in Temecula, California, is reviving the ancient art of making wine in terracotta pots instead of oak barrels or stainless-steel tanks.
Six thousand years ago, the Georgians began using amphorae, clay vessels, to age wine. In Georgia the egg-shaped amphora are known as Qveri. The process caught on in other countries with Italy and Greece ...

One of the most iconic trains in the world, Switzerland’s Glacier Express, running between St. Moritz and Zermatt, received a lavish makeover this season with the introduction of Excellence Class.