The Luxury Almanac
Escape In St Tropez
St Tropez, synonymous with the 3 S-Sea, Sex, and Sun- the bling bling place to be in summer also offers a natural environment. St Tropez is beautifully situated. From Cap St Tropez and Cap Lardier, the peninsula offers bays, capes, and gulfs. Enjoy hours of walking on the sand or on the rocks along the seaside path and admire the beauty of the Mediterranean landscape.
Literature prepares and comes along with your journey. Colette (1873-1954) wrote La Naissance du Jour (Break of Day) in her enchanting house “la Treille Muscate” in St Tropez. The book is the homage of a daughter to her mother and also magnifies the Mediterranean surroundings. La Treille Muscate is a small house with a terrace covered with wisteria and a garden open onto the sea, where Muscat grapes, fruit, vegetables, honey flowers or plants, and butterflies live together.
From 1925 until 1939, Colette spent every summer in her house but she would decide to put it up for sale when she first saw some yachts in the Gulf. She was a real symbol of freedom and fantasy; today Colette is recognized as a woman who is committed to protecting the environment and its regional heritage. Her book “La naissance du jour” published in 1928 allows us to put some words on a Mediterranean ambiance that still exists.
To continue your trip….
WATCH.
“Et Dieu créa la femme” directed by Roger Vadim. This iconic movie created the myth of Brigitte Bardot. 1956
“Le Gendarme à St Tropez” with Louis de Funes. 1964
“La Piscine” with Alain Delon, Romy Schneider and Jane Birkin. 1969
EAT.
The excellent cake: La Tropézienne.
WEAR.
The famous locally made shoes Les Tropéziennes by K. Jacques.
SEE.
The Annonciade Museum was built in 1922 in an old chapel in the port of St Tropez. You can find artworks from pointillism, Nabis, and Fauvism art movements from the first part of the 20th century.
STAY.
At Cheval Blanc St Tropez, La Ponche, Pan Dei Palace, Lou Pinet, Airelles Chateau de La Messardiere
(copyright Cecilia Pelloux)
The Ultimate Beauty Travel Kit By Dr. Lara Devgan
Image courtesy of Dr. Lara Devgan
“The key to an optimal travel skincare routine is to keep it simple, effective, and adaptable to your on-the-go needs”.
Prioritize sun protection, hydration, and high-efficacy products to ensure your skin stays healthy, glowing, and well-protected throughout your various adventures.
The Dr. Lara Devgan Scientific Beauty products that always stay in my travel arsenal are my Vitamin C+B+E Ferulic Serum, Hyaluronic Serum, Platinum Long Lash, Platinum Lip Plump SPF 30, and of course, my SPF Beauty Bundle.
Vitamin C+B+E Ferulic serum provides optimal protection against the harmful effects of free radicals and is a potent skin brightener and pigment corrector. Hyaluronic Serum is an ultra-hydrating serum that boosts collagen and elastin production and will soothe post-sun skin. Platinum Long Lash for beautiful and voluminous lashes without mascara, and Platinum Lip Plump SPF 30 to stay plumped and protected all year around.
Finally, my SPF Beauty Bundle is comprised of my SPF 44 BB Cream, SPF 50 Concealer, and SPF 50 Dusting Powder for all of your sun protection needs.
By incorporating these essentials into your summer travel routine, you can ensure that your skin will remain radiant, healthy, and protected throughout your adventures.
Image courtesy of Dr. Lara Devgan www.drlaradevgan.com
Summer Wine: Chateau Minuty Rose et Or 2022
Image courtesy of Minuty
Château Minuty is located between sea and earth in the heart of Provence. Part of LMVH portfolio since last spring, the family property has been owned by the Matton-Farnet family, for four generations, for 85 years, since 1955. Chateau Minuty is part of “Crus Classés des côtes de Provence”.
The vineyard is remarkabily exposed on the slopes of the villages of Gassin and Ramatuelle overlooking the Gulf of St Tropez. Chateau Minuty benefits from a temperate climate and highlights a southern wine variety. Chateau minuty includes red, white and rosé wines.
Our choice: Minuty cuvée “Rose et Or”. The cuvée Rose et Or was born in 2009 and represents the elegance and delicacy of the rosé wines of Provence. The three big terroirs of the Domain have been genuinely blended to incarnate the Minuty signature. Today, Minuty is definitely a sure value and a guarantee of quality for the Côtes de Provence appellation in St Tropez.
Tasting & Sommelier's Opinion
This rosé looks very pure, pale pink with its crystalline effects. The nose is very intense and sunny, expressing ripe fruit aromas of vine peach, pear and pink melon.
On the palate, this wine is complex, with great freshness and finesse, full-bodied, spherical and fruity. Traces of young peaches and a hint of saltiness call the taster back to the glass. This young rosé seduces with its remarkable persistence.
A great bottle for summer and winter, to accompany an entire meal.
This highly expressive, mouth-watering rosé is a veritable concentrate of Grenache. The careful preservation of the grapes is a real factor of freshness and aromatic clarity. This wine is never coarse or austere, but round and supple.
Variety of Wine
White grenache 90%, Cinsault and Mourvèdre 10%, sometimes Tibouren.
Terroir
The three big terroirs of the domain: Gassin, where the chateau is located, with its crystal clear shales. Vidauban, the historical site with its deep red clay soils and Ramatuelle on the sand and its sea view for the lightness.
Vinification
The grapes are 100% from the property, manually harvested. Certification in HVE (Environmental high Value) over all the property since 2019. 160 hectares.
The grapes are hand-picked at the right stage of ripeness, 100% free-run juice selected. These free-run juices are collected by gravity in stainless steel tanks, then subjected to meticulous settling and alcoholic fermentation with drastic temperature control. No malolactic, like with all Minuty rosés.
Alcoholic strength: 12,5%
Maturation time: 3 years
Wine pairing
Serve at 8°/10°c in summer and 12°c in other seasons.
Excellent as an aperitif, it goes very well with Provençal specialties such as grilled fish, stuffed fish or the inevitable bouillabaisse! It also goes well with fish tartar, sushi, grilled Madagascar shrimp, spicy Indian or Asian dishes (pad thai). With fresh, young hard cheeses (Emmental, Comté, Beaufort, Gouda, Cheddar...) And for dessert, a wonderful match with strawberry salad with basil or exotic fruit sorbets.
Image courtesy of Minuty