The Rider: Arriviste Essentials

Gwyneth Paltrow in Emma, an Arriviste essential.

Arriviste is going on a world tour. Berlin, Paris, Sicilia, Lisboa...anything is possible. Although I could forward a list of demands longer than James Joyce's Ulysses, I prefer to keep to the essentials (as good help is so hard to find).



Life would be undignified without the following...



1: Power Plate. For in-room workouts
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6: Diptyque Figuier Candles

1: Hermes Cashmere Blanket

1 Bottle: Rodin Olio Lusso Body Oil

2 Cases: Ars Poetica Vulcano Aglianico. You may have to fly to Basilicata to source this wine. Contact your private wine agent.

2 Cases: Sanfaustino Mineral Water from Umbria. The best-tasting water on earth.

Crave Worthy: Priorat

From Wikipedia.com:

Priorat is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the famous and prestigious wine of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Priorat. Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are denominated as Montsant. The area is also known for the production of hazelnuts.
Priorat had a steady loss of population during the 20th century, but has recently as of 2004 experienced a more prosperous economy, resulting in an end to this trend. In 2001, the population was 9,196, with only the capital (Falset) exceeding a population of 1,000.

This region of Southern Catalunya is producing some of the most intense, inky red wines you'll find anywhere in Espana. Indigenous varietals such as garnacha commingle with imported grapes of the syrah, cabernet, and merlot varieties, lending a minerally, jammy flavour and velvety mouth-feel.

Fill the Aston Martin (Alfa Romeo if you're Nasty) with a case of this wine the next time you make a trip to Majorca. (Save your white/rose riojas for Ibiza.)

Just be careful you don't overdo the jamon. It is still swimwear season, after all.

xoxo.