The Clotherie Ltd Spring 2012

S P R I N G / S U M M E R 2 0 1 2 • I S S U E 1 5

THE

“PERFECTING THE ART OF DRESSING WELL SINCE 1969”TM

A T U F T S C O M M U N I C A T I O N S P U B L I C A T I O N

MAGAZINE

Welcome to the new Spring/Summer 2012 issue of The Clotherie Magazine. We would like to thank each and every one of you, our loyal customers for your patronage and support.

Spring has blossomed with vibrant colors, showing themselves on the landscape, infashion, and food. Color, per usual, is the name of the game in fashion this spring/summer.As the economy picks up, a renewed enthusiasm of shades is reflected in our newest col-lections.

For men, the color is being picked up in a new and unique way – our shoes. And notjust any shoes. We suggest you start with suede! Suede is showing up in all shoe styles,from classic desert boots with their folded-into-the body tongues and simple lacing, topull-on-ankle boots, to lace-up dress shoes, to this season’s obvious footwear champ, thesoft slip-on moccasin. Just for fun, let your feet get their kicks in suede shades of greys,blues, and tans.

More and more couples seem to be opting for non-traditional marriage venues: aflower-filled garden, around a backyard pool, on a beach beside the ocean. It’s all veryromantic and picturesque, yet it can also present a wedding party and guests with somenovel dressing dilemmas, especially here in the Arizona heat. How to cope with the sun, the heat and the occasional strongbreeze, while still appearing at your absolute best? Those of you facing this situation in the upcoming months might wantto use our little cheat sheet outlining everything you need to know about threaded bliss on page 44.

Check out our NEWS and OUT & ABOUT to catch up on The Clotherie’s latest new additions, including our exclu-sive MADE-TO-MEASURE Canali program, one of only ten in North America. This spring issue is full of great articlesabout travel to Catalina Island, the new Bentley, Spanish wines, our Eton and Robert Talbott collections, and so muchmore. We continue to inform, surprise, and engage you with each compelling issue. Read and enjoy!

As always we would like to thank all of you who partner with us, locally and abroad, for helping to make The ClotherieMagazine possible. We encourage our readers to do business locally with each of the world-class companies represented inthe pages of our spring/summer edition. The very best in customer service can be expected from The Clotherie and all ofour local partners.

The prestigious Esquire Magazine once again voted The Clotherie one of the “Best In Class” retail stores in the nation.We are honored for this mark of achievement. We thank you once again for voting us as the #1 men’s fashion store inArizona. This is the 14th straight year we have been honored with the distinction as the prestigious “Best Men’s Store” byRanking Arizona. Don’t forget to cast your vote this year by logging onto www.rankingarizona.com.

With heartfelt thanks,

Greg Eveloff

2 5 0 2 E . C A M E L B A C K R O A D , S U I T E 1 6 9 • P H O E N I X , A R I Z O N A 8 5 0 1 6 • T E L : 6 0 2 9 5 6 8 6 0 0 • W W W . T H E C L O T H E R I E . C O M

Swedish Attention to Detail

p38 CatalinaWhere lovely things happen to you

Todd Tufts • Editor in Chief, Publisher

Leslie C. Smith • Editorial Director

Vence Vida • Production Manager

The Clotherie Magazine is published by Tufts Communications, 1201 E. 5th Street, Suite 1009 • Anderson, IN 46012T: 765-608-3081 • E: [email protected]© 2012, Tufts Communications. All rights reserved.

2] T H E C L O T H E R I E M A G A Z I N E

issue 15 T H E C L O T H E R I E M A G A Z I N E

p14

p34

p26

p16

1 Welcome

4 Out and About

6 The Clotherie Events

8 The Clotherie News

10 Robert Talbott

14 Lakeside Style

18 Eton

24 Bodybuilding

26 Suede Shoes

30 The Trend

34 The Bentley Continental GTC

38 Travel to Catalina Island

44 Warm Weather Weddings

48 Wine Strong Like Bull

Grand Prize Canali Suit Winner

Patrick Schinzel

David Lorsch & Cindy LubinMark & Abby Curtis Carolyn & Rick Ross


THE CLOTHERIE GRAND RE-OPENING PARTY

THE CLOTHERIE celebrated its Grand Re-Opening Party on Friday, October28th amongst our dearest friends and family from around the world. With theexcitement of the seventh game of the World Series playing in the background anda bevy of Cardinal fans on hand, spirits were high. Guests supped on the delec-table fare of Eddie Matney of “Eddie’s House”. Such delicacies as Swedish meat-balls, salmon cake sliders with Old Bay aoli, flank steak sliders with caramelizedonions, caprese style stuffed tomates,

grilled cheese brioche, Israeli couscous fetoush, tortellini antipasta, and somuch more filled the plates of those mingling under the Arizona sunset. The Clotheriesponsored raffle was a smashing success with Patrick Schinzel the grand prize winner of aCanali suit. Other winners included: Mark Rosenberg (Canali shirt); Pat Devine (CanaliTie); Doug McManus (Agave Jeans); John House (Robert Talbott 7-fold tie; Steve Charney(Zanella Pants); Richard Felker (Nat Nast Gift Certificate); Peter Shikany (Donald PlinerShoes); Mark Woodfiel (Eton Shirt); Richard Doria and William Koslow (Dion Ties).

Throughout the evening the store was packed inside and out with friends and familyas they mingled, socialized, and cheered the Cardinals to an outstanding victory in theseventh game of the World Series.

of the town

The Clotherie’s New Eton Store within a Store

The exclusive presentation of our new Eton store within astore attracted Eton’s President and CEO, Hans Davidson, whotraveled from Sweden to attend the exciting event. Also in atten-dance were Eton representatives Eric Wilkinson, Matt Becker,and Sarah Ölmebäck; Marc Spero of Zanella also traveled fromNew York City to share in the celebration.

Eric Wilkinson (Eton), Hans Davidson (Eton President and CEO),Joan Bellows, Jim Manos, and Greg Eveloff

out aboutA socializing crowd at The Clotherie

Chef Eddie Matney, Shereen Pollak

A few of our St. Louis Cardinal Fans: Nancy Bronska, Lilibet & Jeff Iken

ETON AND NAT NAST TRUNK SHOWS

Trunk shows are always exciting and special events at The Clotherie as weshowcase spectacular lines such as CANALI, ETON, and NAT NAST. Trunkshows allow our customers to select from exclusive merchandise and work withthe top representatives in the business. We were fortunate to have Peter Schmidfrom Canali, Eric Wilkinson from Eton, and Barbara Nast and Ralph Odenbergfrom Nat Nast for these special events.

THE CLOTHERIE and THREADWIZE GROUP “DO” L.A. and TOUR THE AG ADRIANO GOLDSCHMIED JEANS FACTORY!

Greg Eveloff traveled with members of Threadwize, a group of ten specialty storeretailers from across the country to Los Angeles for four days where they held theirsemi-annual meeting March 11–14. After gathering for meetings, visiting key L.A.stores, and attending the L.A. market, the trip was highlighted with a private tour ofthe Koos Factory, home of luxury denim brand, Adriano Goldschmidt Jeans. AG,founded in 2000, began as a small boutique line and now produces 30,000 jeans perweek. Under the direction of Mr. Ku and his son, Sam Ku, Creative Director, the AGteam has maintained its commitment to the “made in the U.S.A.”label. Each pair of jeans is created with the utmost attentionto detail; each pair of jeans is touched by a minimum offifty people before they are finished. AG AdrianoGoldschmied continues to develop its product linewith genuine vintage appeal and expand distributionthroughout Canada, Asia, and Europe.

Barbara Nast poses with Richard Felker,winner of the $500 NAT NAST Clotherie raffle prize (from grand re-opening party)

Tom Allen looks on as Eton representative, EricWilkinson, displays beautiful selection of Eton swatches

Tom Simon looks on as Barbara displays the wonderful selection of Nat Nast shirts


MOVIE DINING DEALS:Movie-goers can dine-in or take-out and delight in theirfavorite dish every Friday ant participating restaurants:

Black Chile Mexican Grill Happy Hour 3pm – 7 pm 602.955.5593

California Pizza Kitchen Pizza or Half Salad + Cookie + One fountain drink ~ $12 602.553.8382

The Capital Grille Build Your Own Plate $16 Valid only for to-go orders 602.952.8900

Christopher’s + Crush Lounge Full Pizza for Half Price ~ $6 – 8 Available until 7pm 602.52.2344

MOVIE SCHEDULES:April 6th CluelessApril 13th The Sound of MusicApril 20 The NotebookApril 27 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

FACE OF THE FOOTHILLS CASTING CALLApril 14, center lawn 11am - 1pm

UPCOMING TRUNK SHOWS

ZANELLA TRUNK SHOW with Marc Spero and Larry Lentini Date: Saturday, April 14th

HAPPENINGS AT BILTMORE FASHION PARK

Biltmore Fashion Park continues to offer many exciting events and is becoming a popular place not only for its fabulous shopping,but also for social gatherings. With fabulous dining, movies on the lawn, Sunday yoga events, and more, the Biltmore Fashion Park isa perfect place to meet your friends.

MOVIES IN THE PARKBiltmore Fashion Park will once again feature Movies in the Park for nine weeks this spring. The movie showcases classic Americanfilms under the stars on the Center Lawn at 7:30 pm and is free and open to the public. Movies are shown in their original, unedit-ed format. Participating restaurants provide dining deals to movie-goers every Friday night.

The Cheesecake Factory Two Small Plates + Two Fountain Sodas ~ $12 602.778.6501

Seasons 52 Enjoy Four Signature Mini Indulgences To- ‐Go for the Price of Three 602.840.5252

Paradise Bakery Choose Sandwich or Salad + Chips + Cookie + Drink ~ $8.99Call in your order 602.889.3587

True Food KitchenAny Pizza + One Natural Refreshment ~ $12

Zinburger Plain and Simple Burger + Fries + One fountain drink ~ $12 Roasted Chicken Salad + Fries + One fountain drink ~ $12 Valid only for to- ‐go orders 602.424.9500

RED CARPET SERVICEAmeripark is rolling out the red carpet for Movies in the parkattendees! Enjoy the Red Carpet experience available when youvalet park on the south side between Black Chile Mexican Grilland Zinburger. Valet parking is $6 per vehicle.

RETAIL UPDATESDiane’s Beachwear Coming SoonPottery Barn will undergo a full remodel and re-open in the summer.

of the town

THE CLOTHERIE IS HONORED...

...to be selected as one of ten stores in North Americaby CANALI to have a CANALI MADE-TO-MEAS-URE SHOP! Canali’s Made-to-Measure offers excel-lence in suit making through the finest selection ofcut, color and fabrics. Stop by soon to experience theelegant sartorial styling and detailed craftsmanship ofCanali’s Made-to-Measure clothing. The end resultsare truly worthy of Canali’s highest standards of fashion and perfection.

EYEBOBS COME TO THE CLOTHERIE

Great gift idea! Eyebobs are the ultimate “eye” fashion accessory. If you’re stylish, smart, andwant to “make a statement,” then your eyewear should be too.Eyebobs come in a multitude of styles and colors to suit every“frame” of mind, from distinguished to flashy, bold and bright.Eyebobs are so versatile...you can convert your eyebobs into pre-scription eyewear, get sunglass readers for reading outdoors, or

simply look stylish with the fabulous eyewear look of your choice! Founded in 2001 by JulieAllinson, who was in need of reading glasses, she turned her creativity into unique designswith a reasonable price tag. Eyebobs firmly believes your style should be sharp, even if yourvision isn’t. Stop in today to pick up several Eyebobs to suit YOUR style!

ESQUIRE MAGAZINE’S A-LIST…THE STORES THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME!

Esquire Magazine once again honored The Clotherie as one of the finest men’s specialty storesin the country in the coveted Big Black Book (available in early April on newsstands nation-wide). Esquire Magazine is renowned for its expertise, knowledge, and advice in men’s fashionfor over 75 years. The Clotherie, celebrating its 42nd year, is proud to receive this prestigiousaward that “salutes the stores that stand the test of time.” Stop by and see why we’ve beenrecognized as one of the nation’s top retail destinations.

THE CLOTHERIE IS #1 MEN’S FASHION RETAIL STORE BY RANKING ARIZONA

The Clotherie was voted the #1 Men’s Fashion Retail Store byRanking Arizona, The Best of Arizona Business for the 14th con-secutive year. This represents the largest business opinion polltaken in Arizona. The Clotherie is honored to receive this dis-tinctive recognition. Don’t forget to cast your vote this year bylogging onto www.rankingarizona.com.

CHECK IT OUT

VISIT OURWEBSITE www.theclotherie.com for the latest CLOTHERIE news, blog, fashion updates, magazine, and somuch more!

The Clotherie online store at www.theclotherie.com/online-shop which features a wide selec-tion of shirts, trousers, shoes, accessories and more from your favorite designers...new fashionsand exclusive vendors including Alberto, Culturata, Donald Pliner, Eton, Gardeur, J. PaulSkincare and more.

Thanks to all of our FACEBOOK Friends! Pass the word to friends and family so we can con-tinue to grow...catch up on Clotherie news, link to the Online Shop, and so much more!Continue to join us on FACEBOOK or follow us on TWITTER.

of the town

The Clotherie Apparel Collections

for Spring/Summer 2012. . . . .

AG Adriano GoldschmiedAgave

AlbertoAlden Shoes

Allegri OuterwearArnold Zimberg

Auri ShoesBaade II

Bill Lavin BeltsBorn Shoes

CanaliCitizens of Humanity Jeans

CodiceCorneliani

Culturata ShirtsDonald Pliner

Dion TiesEcco

Edward Armah Pocket RoundsErmenegildo Zegna

EquilibrioEton

EyebobsGardeur

Gendarme CologneGeoff Nicholson Pocket Squares

Georg RothGravati Shoes

HauptInternational Laundry

Italo FerrettiJ. Paul Face Care

Jack Lipson ShirtsJack Victor

John SmedleyLBM 1911

Left Coast TeesMac JeansMason’s

Michael ToschiNat Nast

Original Paperback ShortsPantherella

RaffiRobert Comstock

Robert TalbottRufus Sportshirts

SamuelsohnSand

Tailor VintageThaddeus

Think PensTrussini

Tulliani BeltsZanella

Zegna SportZ Zegna


spotlightrtugal


In today’s world, a man who dresses well makes a defining statement. The style

and quality of a jacket or suit, the artistry of a tie, the appreciation for subtle

details, are nothing less than a personal credo.

Not all credos are equally valid, which is why there are periods in fashion we’d

all like to forget. But true style doesn’t depend on the winds and whims of fash-

ion. Style remains a constant amid the chaos of trends and trial balloons. It is the

solid substance within the most enviable outward show. The fashion pendulum,

inevitably swings, from the plumes and laces of the 17th century cavalier to the

careful pinstripes of the thoroughly modern CEO. But, an appreciation for fine

material, exacting fit, and unstinting workmanship will always guide a certain kind

of man, and such men will inspire other men to new heights. These are the men

Robert Talbott has served since its first day.

When Robert and Audrey Talbott arrived in Carmel, California from a suc-

cessful life in New York City and Connecticut, they brought with them a sense of

eastern tradition and a keen interest in the west’s abundant possibilities.

spotlight


The Talbotts were a company waiting to happen. ThoughRobert had succeeded as a corporate executive, his ambition,since his days at the Harvard Business School in the 1930s hadbeen to manufacture something unique and special. Audrey wasalready doing just that, sewing one-of-a-kind bow ties for theirfriends at Christmas. The next step was almost inevitable: creat-ing a highly personal company to make ties for a select group ofdiscerning men. Robert and Audrey envisioned a company thatwould create high quality neckwear and shirts for men who wouldappreciate superb materials and the details of fine workmanship.They understood their customer as a man who knew the hall-marks of sartorial distinction and whose sense of style came fromwithin.

The business grew slowly at first, but by 1955, Audrey’s handmade bows were in eight men’s clothing shops on the West Coast.The adventuresome couple began traveling to Europe and Asia tofind the best mills to weave their array of fabric designs.

Robert Talbott set the tone that guided the company throughsteady growth. “If you want to be number one in your industry,you must set the pace. You must create the finest product. Youmust be number one in serving your customers. And, you must benumber one in your ability to create a loyal and motivated groupof employees.”

Discriminating consumers, in our often indiscriminate con-sumer age, are taking a stand for excellence. They buy less anddemand more, expecting what they purchase, whether large orsmall — an old master print or a fine merlot — to satisfy themdeeply. They subscribe wholeheartedly to the idea put forward byauthor and critic George Trow that “The idea of choice is easilydebased if one forgets that the aim is to have chosen successfully,not to be endlessly choosing.”

Such people are on a constant quest for what is, quintessen-tially, best in everything. Long before the Talbotts founded theircompany, they shared this sense of everyday connoisseurship.When Robert Talbott took those first “Audrey bows” into retailshops, he intended them for a man whose need for good things heknew well, because he was that man. He was keenly aware that aquiet magic resides in something as simple as a fine necktie andan exceptional shirt, and that, with this magic, a man can preparehimself to face the most daunting day.

In the decades that have passed, as the company grew from alocal cottage industry to a global enterprise, the Talbott belief inthe power of quality has never diminished. Today, Robert Talbotthas become a premiere producer of menswear, respected as acompany that is modern in the best sense of the word — currentand innovative, yet never compromising.

spotlight

T H E C L O T H E R I E M A G A Z I N E [13

The new Robert Talbott 2012 spring neckwear collections are timeless and classic made from beautiful English and Italian

fabrics which it lends the designs an exquisite three-dimensional texture and a high level of sophistication and elegance. The

design layouts follow the flawless movement of nature — a stunning impact for the discerning gentleman’s wardrobe for

spring. Vibrant saturated shades will please the traditional Talbott customer and are a must for all during this season, followed

by softer and interesting fabric combinations, including silk & linen and silk & cotton. These are the perfect match for a more

relaxed attitude.

Add a fun-to-wear bow-tie with whimsical colors, or add a splash of brightness with a boldly silk twill or cotton pocket

square. Pocket squares and bow-ties are always essential components in Talbott’s rich design heritage.

The main colors are sun drenched yellows and gold’s, poppy reds, tropical oranges, sea green teals and aqua’s, citrus shades

of bright lime and apple greens. It’s the perfect mix for a new and lively season.

wear


b y L E S L I E C . S M I T H

LakesideStyleGetting away for the weekend doesn’t mean you have to leave style behind

If you’re really lucky, you possess a lakeside retreat, a cool

place to relax over summer weekends and vacations. If you’ve

got the next best thing, you have a friend who owns a lakeside

retreat. Either way, you’ve got it made in the shade, so do it

justice by dressing appropriately.

While there are no hard-and-fast rules what to wear up at

the cottage or cabin, we do have a few suggestions for you,

garnered from years of personal experience, in combination

with this season’s trend list.

Denim, for instance, is a standard, good to have on cool

nights, as well as any time you want to keep bugs from attack-

ing your body. In terms of cut and color, designers want you to

opt for this season’s off-white jeans. But our guess is designers

don’t spend a whole lot of time sitting on docks, tramping

through the backwoods, or building new outhouses.

Traditional indigo blue would therefore be the wiser choice.

Whatever your selection, though, jean legs should be slim and

straight, yet not pencil thin, and the cuffs rolled at your whim.

A braided leather belt looped around your waistband makes a

nice touch, and one that is in perfect keeping with today’s

style dictates.

Photo Courtesy of BRAX

EVERY DETAIL SETS A NEW STANDARD. From its CUE driver interface—which leaps two generations ahead—to its confident drivingexperience, the bold new Cadillac XTS ushers in new standards in every ingenious detail.Powerful, yet efficient. Stunningly modern, yet meticulously crafted. Tautly proportioned, yetspacious. And with available torque-vectoring All-Wheel Drive and standard Brembo® brakes,the XTS provides the perfect balance between agility and composure.

Western Region #1 Cadillac Dealership • Outstanding Customer Service

Paul Glans Allen Hall Charlie Westergreen480-861-7412 602-316-5303 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 20 years with Cadillac Over 35 years with Cadillac Over 15 years with Cadillac

LEGENDSCadillac7901 E. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.Scottsdale, AZ 85260480-483-4000www.legendscadillac.com

THE NEW CADILLAC XTSAvailable Spring 2012

Paul & Sabrina GlansGeneral Sales Manager

wear


Two more lakeshore basics are shorts and

swim trunks; although many guys prefer the

simple expediency of wearing their quick-

drying swim trunks as shorts. Since this piece

of clothing will be getting immersed in

water, hopefully several times over the

course of a day, surface dirt isn’t really an issue, so lighter col-

ors work well, as do softly shaded plaids. However, if you plan

on wearing a patterned top, stick to a single solid for your

shorts. We’d also recommend that men over the age of 25

ditch the to-the-knee surf jams in favor of more tailored shorts

whose hems rise above the patella.

As to tops, you will of course bring along at

least one T-shirt, as a casual shirt, a sun

cover-up and most likely (in conjunction

with a decent pair of boxers) the upper half

of your sleeping attire. Your host, friends and

any other guests there will thus be obliged to see it over and

over again, so make sure it’s a shirt you won’t be ashamed of.

Leave sloganed, “funny” and just plain ratty tees in their draw-

er, and get yourself into a relaxed version made from a per-

formance blend of cotton and poly. It looks fresh, it feels light,

and it is designed to wick moisture away from your body. An

added plus: unless you are a shaved-pec male model, you’re

going to need a good T-shirt to wear under all of this season’s

deeply veed summer sweaters.

More shirts and knits to consider including in your week-

ender bag would be the button-front Henley, a light roll-neck

turtle, and the loose-hanging, short-sleeved camp shirt, either

plain or in one of today’s nouveau Hawaiian prints. Polo shirts,

oddly enough, appear to have momentarily fallen off the fash-

ion map.

For your feet, one pair of canvas shoes is all you’ll really

need. For your head – again, if you’re over 25, toss the base-

ball cap and treat yourself to a snappy, short-brimmed straw

hat. It’s way cooler to wear, as well as to look at. And isn’t cool

what the lake’s all about?


spotlightrtugal

Attention to detail has turned Eton into one of the world’s finest shirtmakers. By a dedicated beliefin quality and craftsmanship, the Swedish shirt success story has spread from the small village ofGånghester in the west of Sweden to some of the world most exclusive department stores and retailers.Today, Eton still remains loyal to its heritage as a specialist shirt manufacturer.

After a recession forced Annie and David Pettersson to close their sawmill in 1928, the couple start-ed to manufacture shirts under the name “Skjortfabriken Special”. The shirts were initially sewn in thecouple’s kitchen and quickly became popular among the locals for their superior quality of fabric andthe elegant cut. The real break-through came in the mid 1950s when an agent traveled to England topromote the collection for the company. This was against the prevailing view in the local area that itwould be impossible to be successful in the British market. The agent managed to establish a handful ofnew retailers, which became the start of a long and successful export tradition. since the new marketfound “Skjortfabriken Special” difficult to pronounce the company changed its name to Eton after therenowned British College. The name that has become synonymous with a high class quality shirt.

Old factory in GånghesterMan to the left is David Pettersson


“We have always stated that we shall make the very best shirts. During the 1980s and 1990s whenwide-ranging lifestyle brands dominated the fashion scene we instead strengthened our position as a

leading specialist shirtmaker. We are very proud to produce all our shirts using selectively chosenfabrics from European manufacturers which we–together with some of the world’s best spinners,

weavers and finishing works–create exclusively for Eton.”

Hans Davidson, CEO of Eton Grandson to Annie and David Pettersson

spotlightrtugal


spotlightrtugal


Combining elegance with function has always been a key part of the Eton philosophy. In the early 1980s eton began collaboratingwith a fabric laboratory in Switzerland to create iron free shirt fabrics. Determined to create a shirt fabric that kept its shape during theday, Eton initiated the development that has set the standard for today’s iron free fabrics. A three week long finishing process consistingof over 30 different stages together with selectively picked long stable cotton, cutting edge spinning and weaving technology forms thefabrics that today have become the signature of Eton.

spotlightrtugal


“Our design philosophysprings from creating

tomorrows vintage-gar-ments. We refuse to fol-

low transient fashiontrends and instead we

want the design to last aslong as the quality ofshirts. We put a lot of

effort in creating the per-fect fit and work a lot

with details to create asubtle and elegant feel.Since we create all ourfabrics, we can experi-

ment with colors and theunique know how that isgathered in Eton to makeit possible to know what

quality and weaving tech-nology suits which color.”

Sebastian DollingerCreative Director at Eton

rags to riches

Every facet of life is governed by rules,regulations and laws, be they natural orimposed by man and bodybuilding is nodifferent! Here are the 10 basic body-building commandments every athleteshould follow to walk along the path ofbodybuilding righteousness.

1) Thou shalt not overtrainOvertraining occurs when your training volume and intensity

exceeds your body's ability to recover and repair itself. It placessuch a strain on your body that it not only affects you physically,but can also manifest mentally and emotionally. From a physicalperspective, overtraining causes you to lose strength, endurance,fitness and even muscle size and tone. It can take weeks, if notmonths to recover, so it is important that you avoid overtrainingby periodising your training programme, include adequate restperiods in your training week and ensure your nutrition supportsa healthy body.

2) Thou shalt go big or go homeT he key to making massive gains in the gym is the intensity ofyour training. Whether you choose to manipulate your rep and setstructure or go as heavy as possible on each set, maintaining theright intensity during every workout is key. The ability to pushyourself to the limit during each session is a factor of both yourmental and physical capacity. Use positive affirmations, goal set-ting and visualisation to make sure you are in the right frame ofmind when you hit the gym, then push your body to the limit byusing the tried and trusted training techniques advocated inMuscle Evolution.

3) Thou shalt supplement correctlyIt is physically impossible for most bodybuilders to eat the rec-

ommended daily calorie requirements from solid food alone. Assuch supplements play an important role in adding quality calo-ries to your diet, while also ensuring that you meet the other rec-ommended daily requirements with regard to vitamin and miner-al intake. Supplements have also been formulated to offer themost effective means of getting the required nutrients your bodyneeds to recover and perform before, during and after training.And always remember that not all supplements are created equal.Quality is always more important and quantity, so research all thetop brands to find out what products are the best performers.

4) Thou shalt honor the sabbath

Rest is the cornerstoneof muscle recovery. Everyserious bodybuilder willknow that the real gainsare not made in the gym,but rather in the hours and days following a muscle busting work-out. This rest period should therefore never be sacrificed for anextra session and the basic principles of rest and recovery shouldalways be adhered to. These include resting trained body parts forat least 48 hours between sessions, especially if you isolate them,as most bodybuilders do. The importance of proper nutrition andsupplementation cannot be emphasised enough! Don't skip a pro-tein shake because you didn't train and don't eat hollow caloriesfrom food that has no nutritive value because its your off day.Your rest day meals are the most important meals, along withyour immediate post-workout meal.

5) Thou shalt never take lifting form and technique in vainWhile going as heavy as possible and ensuring proper intensity

are vital, so is maintaining proper form and technique. If theweight is too heavy and you sacrifice form to lift it you will getinjured. Proper technique also ensures that you work through afull range of motion to activate and incorporate the maximumnumber of muscle fibres during each lift. Even when you doincorporate special lifting techniques, like forced reps, there is stilla need to keep correct form and use lifting best practice.


b y P E D R O V A N G A A L E N

theCommandmentsof Bodybuilding

6) Thou shalt enjoy the bounties of the earthThe processed food of today will never deliver the nutrients our bodies need to grow, so whenever possible select natural and organ-

ic food products. A general rule of thumb is to avoid any food that cannot go off or doesn't spoil.

7) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's training routineThere is not one-size-fits-all training technique or diet. Everybody has their own genetic make-up, muscle type and bone structure.

As such, we all respond differently to training stimuli and nutrition, so trying to horse-shoe your buddy's training programme into yourregime may not always be the best option. Try different things and experiment with training techniques, programmes and diets to findwhat suits your body and physiology best.

8) Thou shalt stay humble in the eyes of your fellow bodybuildersThe bodybuilders who think they know it all will never achieve greatness. Speak to just about

every top athlete in SA and you will find that they are a humble bunch who continually searchfor the latest information regarding the sport. They are also, more often than not, willing to sharetheir experience and knowledge with everyone. So don't be the jackass who thinks he is toogood to help out a novice or share a few training tips with the youngsters in the sport.

9) Thou shalt respect the gear.A healthy dose of respect and a thorough understanding of what gear is out there and how

best to use it could save your life. Let's not be na ve about this; steroids and other perform-ance enhancers get used so, while we don't advocate their use, we always try and promoteresponsible and safe use through education. Do your homework before you start a cycle orcourse, don't be afraid to speak to others who have successfully used gear and don't ever sac-rifice quality over price, or think that increasing your dosages will deliver better results. Ahealthy dose of common sense and respect will keep you in this sport for a lot longer!

Pedro Van Gaalen is the managing editor of Fitness magazine (South African edition) and Muscle Evolution magazine.

rags to riches

trend



suede

colorful shoes are all the rage

DO STEP INTO MY BLUE (OR RASPBERRY OR MOSS GREEN) SUEDE SHOES… and more news about this season’s coolest footwear, including how to coordinate it with the rest of what you wear

As we say in the title, suede. Suede, suede, suede. Suede for all shoe styles, from classic desertboots with their folded-into-the-body tongues and simple lacing, to pull-on ankle boots, tolace-up dress shoes, to this season’s obvious footwear champ, the soft slip-on moccasin.

While many of these suede shoes can be found in more routine light brown hues – a warmtan, biscuit or hazel, for instance – this spring and summer we are asked to expand our colorrange into new frontiers. So, just for fun, let your feet get their kicks in suede shades of cinna-mon, aqua, butter yellow, pale blue, berry, moss and mint green.

trend


And Other Sharp Moves You Can Make –

Today’s dress leather footwear mainly sticks to clean, classicstyles, such as sleek oxfords and slip-ons, shoes that comple-ment today’s lean, tailored silhouette. Notice, though, howtheir soles have now grown heavier in order to correctly bal-ance the slimmer line of the trousers.

More leeway is available in the casual-dress shoe depart-ment. One nifty option is the 1950s-style penny loafer, com-plete with a copper cent inserted into the strap across thevamp. Another 50s fave – plain lace-ups in white buckskin,better known as “white bucks” – is also strolling back into ourwardrobes. Two-tone shoes make particularly cool, in-the-moment choices. This category includes such classic keepers asspectators and saddle shoes. Yet look as well for new-fangledofferings, featuring a light contrast leather stitched directlyatop the shoe’s upper, rather like old-fashioned spats.

Finally, for casual footwear, sandals are perennial summerstaples. But forget the fancier gladiator and fisherman ver-sions; the simple Jesus sandal is what you want. Two broadleather straps that cross over the arch and attach to a leathersole – this is the kind of straightforward style best suited tomodern design lines.

You’ve bought the shoes. Now, how to fit them in with therest of your attire? The trick here is to sprinkle your ensemblewith other colors that visually match your shoes’ softness. Forexample, place a light gray Prince of Wales sport jacket over anultra-light, V-neck sweater vest in olive, over an open-neckedshirt in dusty rose; below, choose ecru-shaded pants and a pairof rust-colored suede oxfords. Or you can wear a pale blueshirt under a pale peach cotton knit, don bone-white denimsrolled at the cuff, and put butter yellow mocs on your socklessfeet.

Drop by Eddie's House for All Night Happy Hour,

delicious dinner, creative drinks. a great place

to hang...your Eton shirt. We are ready to make

your nights a little more exciting.

7042 E. Indian School Road in Scottsdale

480-946-1622

www.eddieshouseaz.com

Open Monday-Saturday

trend



and the winner is...The J.P. Towers Awards for top spring/summer trends

Overall Consumer Satisfaction Rating …The Deconstructed Jacket. Suit or sport jacket, this sea-son offers a sub-set of light, unlined, tailored pieces withhigh shrug-on value and extended slouchy chic capabil-ities. Owners are encouraged to add to the relaxed air bypushing jacket sleeves up their forearms, Miami Vicestyle.

Most Improvement in a Mid-20th-Century Style … The New Hawaiian Shirt. Typical tropical palm patternsstill stick around, but they are now presented in bigger,darker, leafier prints against blackened backgrounds,with only a flash of bright color here and there, for con-trast’s sake. Who knew that Hawaiian shirts could comeacross as so edgy?

Best Salute to American Mode …A tie between the Baseball Shirt and the Baseball Jacket.Both feature inset Raglan sleeves, whose diagonal seamsform a triangular line stretching from the neck to theunderarms. Good for ease of movement, great foremphasizing a nice set of shoulders, and even better formaking a proverbial 97-pound weakling look kind ofpumped up.

Biggest Little Collar of 2012 …The Band Collar. Against stiff competition from thesmall, rounded club collar, plus the occasional straight-up Nehru and fold-down Mao (saluting the world’s twohottest economies), this no-collar-at-all shirt collar per-forms equally well whether buttoned right up or leftloosely undone.

Photo Courtesy of ALBERTO

The Onda in Black Techno, by Michael Toschiade OnTh ack Technn Bla i l Toaehcby Mino ihcos

trend



Best Dual-handled Bag in the Over-two-feet-in-length Category …The Large Dual-handled Hold-all. As suits get slimmer, bagsare getting bigger. They really have to, because they nowhold all the stuff that would otherwise throw off the line ofyour suit. Smartest choice is the rectangular hold-all withsoft leather sides.

Most Popular Pattern of the Season …The stripe. Sure, plaids have their place but the stripe –whether thick or super-thick – proves more versatile,appearing in navy-and-white nautical knits, bands on deeplyveed varsity sweaters and cardigans, chalk stripes in suitings,diagonal stripes on repp ties, plus racing stripes runningdown the arms and legs of a whole whack of athleticallyinspired jackets, shirts, pants and shorts. This is, after all, anOlympic year.

Softest Shoe in the Mid-to-high Luxury Range …The Suede Moccasin. Why try to fight it? This shoe is every-where and goes with everything. And its new pastel hues –mint green, aqua blue, butter yellow, rose pink – are so soft,they’re an extra pleasure to put on.

Greatest Initial Quality in a Casual Jacket …The Harrington Jacket. This waist-length garment with itsfold-down collar and distinctive red plaid interior surfacedat innumerable designer showings. A British style, adoptedby American Ivy Leaguers, the jacket takes its name from itsbest-known proponent, Ryan O’Neal’s character in the1960s TV series Peyton Place.

The ONLY dry cleaner in

Arizona recognized as one

of the nation's p

remier cleaners b

y independent,

non-compensated, authoritative third partie

s.

and furious

Have you ever wondered what itwould be like to legally drive fasterthan 100 mph? What about 150 mphor possibly 200 mph? If you could,would you have what it takes to makeit happen?

As someone fortunate enough to have driven faster than 200mph on numerous occasions, when it was completely legal, ofcourse, I can attest to the thrill it provides watching pavementrush past at 293.33 feet per second. It requires the utmost con-centration, a keen focus on the road ahead and a capable vehicle.

The Bentley Boys from Crewe in the United Kingdom havealways had a thing for speed and a new model is certain to keepthis tradition going strong for years to come. My test drive takesplace in the country of Croatia, just outside the port town ofRovinj on the Istrian Peninsula. It is a setting of pristine beaches,crystalline waters and historic architecture.

What separates the Continental GT series from its rivals is theease with which it manipulates any road surface. Many exotic carsrequire you to compromise in one area or another; an overly stiffsuspension, no back seat room, a viewing angle lower than thefront bumper of a Ford F-150 pickup truck. Driving a Bentleyinvolves none of this. Just sit back and enjoy warp speed in com-plete comfort.

Performance takes root in the form of a 6.0-liter, twin-tur-bocharged W12 engine. This is the same engine featured in thecoupe that highlights 567 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm and 516 lb.-ft. of torque @ 1,700 rpm.

The response you get when stepping on the accelerator is puremagic! Matched with a 6-speed automatic transmission, 60 mphflashes past in a mere 4.5 seconds. Getting to 100 mph requiresjust 10.9 seconds while top speed crests at 195 mph. All this andthe 12-cylinder engine is FlexFuel compatible (gasoline, E85bioethanol or both in combination).

To keep up with the added power, significant changes have alsobeen made in the areas of drivability plus exterior and interiordesign.

New for 2012, the Continental GTC improves on-road per-formance with a 40:60 rear-bias torque split for the continuousall-wheel drive system. This improves understeer when accelerat-ing out of a corner and provides the much appreciated thrill ofmaintaining control by throttle steering. Both front and rear trackhave been increased for added performance.

I experience this firsthand rounding a tight right-hander onCroatia’s famous two-lane back roads. The rear end snaps out sud-denly as we take a 45 mph turn at a substantially higher rate ofspeed. My reaction is near instantaneous and the ContinentalGTC is quick to compensate keeping us pointed in the rightdirection. My driving companion asks if we can do that again.Heart pounding in my chest, it is one of those moments I willalways remember.


2012b y J E F F V O T H

The Bentley Continental GTC

Exterior styling cues show a penchant for celebrating the success of the 2nd generation Continental Coupe and Convertible.

But Bentley has never been known to rest on its laurels.

and furious


and furious


thebenchmark

by whichall others

are measured

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is less intrusive than in thepast, yet highly effective at harnessing the best traits of the pow-erful W12 engine. Ventilated front and rear disc brakes, withoptional cross-drilled Carbon Silicon Carbide, bring the 2,495 kgContinental GTC to a rapid stop.

Exterior styling cues show a penchant for celebrating the suc-cess of the 2nd generation Continental Coupe and Convertible.But Bentley has never been known to rest on its laurels.

A new powerful double horse-shoe motif graces the trunk;crisp lines accentuate sexy curves as I walk around and study thecar under a bright Croatian sun. Every edge and seam is perfectlycrafted. It’s as if Bentley wrapped the new Continental GTC inthe finest Savile Row suit and painstakingly ironed in all the creas-es. Uniquely jewelled headlamps feature LED day-time runninglights.

Supremely comfortable cobra style front seats utilize a new NeckWarmer system that works surprisingly well even in severe cross-winds. The centre console highlights improved storage for keysand cell phone as well as an unusually large cubby hole.Cupholders are larger and re-positioned for easier access. Safety iskey with five airbags and the latest Roll Over Protection System(ROPS).

The 2012 Bentley Continental GTC sets the standard for allglamorous convertibles to follow. While it may not be the mostoutlandish when compared to Aston Martin, Ferrari orLamborghini, it is by far the easiest to live with. In the end, thatis the truest measure of an exotic sports car.

2012 Bentley Continental GTC

Wheelbase: 108.1 inOverall length: 189.2 inOverall width: 87.7 inOverall height: 55.2 in Engine: 6.0-L twin-turbocharged W12Transmission: 6-speed automatic with QuickShiftBrakes: 4-wheel discFuel (capacity): Regular (90L)Warranties: 3 years/ unlimited km (basic) Competitors: Aston Martin DB9 Volante, Jaguar XKRConvertible, Maserati GranTurismo Convertible, Mercedes-BenzSL63 AMG, Porsche 911 Turbo Price as tested: $235,332 CDN

and furious


dreamin’

Catalina Island, or Santa Catalina as it's traditionally called, is technically part of California. But when I set foot on the island's shoresafter an hour-long ferry ride, I felt like I had been transported to the other side of the world. Just 22 miles away from the traffic, smogand pollution of Los Angeles, this idyllic island is about as physically and culturally different from LA as Monte Carlo minus the expen-sive cars (or any cars for that matter)! In fact, there are only 800 full-sized vehicles on the island, and there's a 15-year waiting list forresidents to be issued a permit to own a car a sharp contrast to the motor-driven society I had just escaped.

Tourists and locals alike get around on golf carts or by taxi but most traverse Catalina's main town of Avalon by foot. At one squaremile, nearly every point of interest in town is less than a 10-minute walk from Avalon's signature 'Green Pleasure Pier' (and yes, it real-ly is green).

The Catalina Express (our boat transportation to the island) docked at the main harbor a five-minute walk from the Pavilion Hotel.My hubby and I arrived just in time for the 5 p.m. wine and cheese tasting. After loading our plates with artisanal cheeses and filling ourglasses with perfectly chilled Chardonnay, we joined the other guests at the ocean-side lounge, set against a botanical oasis of green palms,oversized birds of paradise and beautiful purple flowers.


b y A M Y P A T U R E L

Island History and All that JazzCatalina was home to a small Native American tribe before

Europeans happened upon it in 1542. In 1919, the Wrigley family(of chewing gum fame) acquired the island with the intention oftransforming it into a vacation paradise. They succeeded, I thoughtas we traversed the pedestrian walkway en route to Catalina's grandcasino, Avalon's most noted landmark and another Wrigley master-piece. Built in 1928, the massive round structure with gracefulcolumns never actually housed a casino, but it was a fixture in thebig band heyday. All the greats from Benny Goodman to GlenMiller performed there. Today, it operates as a museum, a venue formusic festivals and the island's only movie theater.

As we strolled along Crescent Avenue, we discovered plenty oftempting dining options, but Avalon Grille stood out as a unique,upscale pub serving up comfort food with a creative twist. Forme, Toasted Head Chardonnay with grilled salmon on a bed oflentils and spinach. For him, Guinness paired with beef brisketand smoked cheddar macaroni and cheese (and a few stalks ofgrilled broccolini for color and nutrients). The grand finale: Sauted strawberries served with a puff pastry filled with vanilla beanice cream and dusted with chopped almonds.

After dinner, we wandered into souvenier shops, small, family-owned bookstores, high-brow art galleries and low-brow bou-tiques all located on just one square mile of real estate. I wasenchanted with a place called Two's Company. The shop's strik-ing jewelry was set with semiprecious gems like blue topaz andperidot, purported to relieve stress, protect against negativity andheal the heart. Who couldn't benefit from that, I thought, as Iplunked down a buck fifty for a shiny new ring. But perhaps ourmost delectable stop was Lloyds of Avalon Confectionary. No visit

to Avalon is complete without Lloyd's caramel apples, tantalizingsaltwater taffy that tugs at your fillings and jalapeno peanut brit-tle this spicy number was just what we needed to cut the sugar!

For a perfect end to the evening, and a guaranteed good night'ssleep, we indulged in a massage by the sea. Set on quite possiblythe most beautiful stretch of shoreline I've ever seen, these mas-sages go far beyond the standard 60-minute rub down. Under themoonlight, skilled therapists kneaded out our knots and smoothedout our muscles while the ocean breeze and the sound of gentlewaves lulled us into a deep relaxation a great prelude to a roman-tic evening (if you have more practical pursuits in mind, footreflexology is available, too).

Adrenaline CanyonThe next morning, after fueling up on strawberry waffles

smothered with whipped cream at Sally's cozy waffle house, weset out for our two-hour stint as Tarzan and Jane. The tour beganback at Descanso Beach, where for two dollars a day, beach goerscan lounge amidst the palms sipping on cocktails. Tempting, butwe had a date with a few thousand feet of steel cable.

Before I knew it, we were on board a Mercedes Unimog (thinkupscale mini-bus) with three other couples en route to the top ofHogsback Ridge. When the bus stopped eight minutes later, wesaw the first of five zip lines. One by one we were connected to apulley, eventually sliding down 3,671 feet of steel cables that runfrom the top of Hogsback Ridge, about 600 feet above sea level,down to Descanso Beach below. We zipped down the mountainat 45 miles per hour in a zig-zag like fashion at one point dangling300 feet above a cactus-filled canyon. Every line was different,and all five had their perks.

dreamin’


dreamin’


The first line was the shortest, so you can get comfortable! The second was the longest and offered unsurpassed views of the island,provided you could wriggle your body to the side to get a clear shot. The third had the steepest drop. The fourth afforded us an oppor-tunity to reach for the leaves. And the fifth was a free-for-all no form required.

For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, Catalina offers plenty of active pursuits from hiking and biking to eco-toursthat include both. The Santa Catalina Island Conservancy owns nearly 90 percent of the island's rugged interior, so the only way to accessthe protected area is to book an eco-tour where you'll see ravens, bald eagles, goats and buffalo that have been roaming here since 1924,when they were brought over from the mainland for the filming of 'The Vanishing American.' The ironic twist: Scenes featuring thebison ended up on the cutting room floor, and due to cost overruns, 14 animals were left to roam Catalina. With no predators, the bisonpopulation has ballooned to more than 150 animals.

Ocean AdventuresWhile it's tough to top

Catalina's land activities,the island does offer a widevariety of water sports andeven a few underwateradventures you can enjoywithout getting wet. Thewater in Catalina is shock-ingly cold in the fall, so weopted for the UnderSeatour. Basically, you board aboat that doubles as anunderwater vessel withwindows on all sides thinkDisneyland's FindingNemo ride but with real fish. In fact, every passenger has a per-sonal view for the 45-minute cruise through an area calledLover's Cove. Savvy boat operators drop fish food along the route,so it's not surprising that the finned attactions come out in droves.We saw bright orange garibaldi (native to California and protect-ed in California waters), neon fish (characterized by an iridescentblue stripe that stretches from nose to fin) and spotted calico bass(a popular catch for fisherman on the island).

If cruising in a mock submarine sets off your claustrophobicalarms, consider snorkeling, kayaking or parasailing. We opted forthe latter, but Catalina, like many islands, is notorious for foggymornings. When we started prepping for our 11 a.m. parasail, werealized we might be entering a no-fly zone. As luck would haveit, the fog lifted just in time for a noon flight. The weather wasperfect and the view was incredible.

'This is SOOO cool,' my husband exclaimed, as we sailedthrough the sky side-by-side, quite literally on cloud nine.

Since the driver lets you take off from the boat and reels youback in, the danger of flying is minimal, though we did get a thrillwhen he slowed down just enough for our chute to drop to sealevel. When our feet skimmed the water, he punched the engineuntil we were soaring high again. We were like two giddy kids onour first merry-go-round. Besides the serene escape 500 feetabove sea level, the ride offers a new perspective of the island andthe opportunity to capture some incredible photographs.

After parasailing, there wasjust one more thing weneeded to check off theCatalina-must list beforereturning to the smog andtraffic of LA sip on a frothyBuffalo Milk (don't worry,it's not what you think).This creamy concoction ofvodka, Kahlua, freshbananas, dark cream ofcacao and a splash ofcoconut milk has been anisland favorite for decades.After downing one dock-side, I was sated, happy and

fueled for the 45-minute ride home and thrilled to have discov-ered one Catalina tradition I could take with me.

Recipe1/4 shot Creme de Cacao, dark1/4 shot Creme de Cacao, white1/2 shot Kahlua1 shot Vodka1/2 shot Cream1/2 piece Banana1 sprinkle NutmegFill with Ice1 splash Whipped cream

Mix: Fill a tall glass with ice. Blend ice with cream, banana andalcohol until smooth. Top with whipped cream, sprinkle withnutmeg, serve and enjoy.

Escape RouteGetting to Catalina is quick and easy. There are three boat

companies that service the island with daily departures from LongBeach, San Pedro, Newport Beach and Dana Point. Travel time bysea takes about one hour. Helicopter service is also available fromSan Pedro and Long Beach and will get you on the island in lessthan 15 minutes.

Amy Paturel is a health writer in California and a blogger for SELF.com. She holds masters degrees in nutrition and public health, both from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts.

dreamin’


wear



More and more couples seem to be opting for non-traditional

marriage venues: a flower-filled garden, around a backyard pool,

on a beach beside the ocean. It’s all very romantic and pictur-

esque, yet it can also present a wedding party and guests with

some novel dressing dilemmas. How to cope with the sun, the

heat and the occasional strong breeze, while still appearing at

your absolute best?

Those of you facing this situation in the upcoming months

might want to use this little cheat-sheet outlining everything you

need to know about threaded bliss:

Tradition

Traditional formalwear goes hand-in-hand with a full-length

wedding gown. If you’re the groom, this means donning morning

dress (stock tie and vest, gray cutaway jacket and striped trousers,

dress hosiery and highly polished shoes) for daylight hours, a

tuxedo or even full white tie and tails for an evening ceremony.

For outdoor weddings, however, the groom and male guests also

have the elegant option of a cool, off-white, tropical-weight din-

ner jacket, black trousers, white shirt and black bow tie. Copy

Bogart’s nightclub attire in Casablanca and you can’t go wrong.

warm weather

Get it right — or get ready to hear about it for years afterwards.

wear


Informal

If the bride prefers to wear a swank suit or shorter, cock-

tail-length skirt, the dinner jacket still works, as do more

informal options. A light gray linen suit paired with a pas-

tel-shaded tie will do nicely for the groom; ditto the male

guests, who may choose to dispense with the tie altogeth-

er. If going this latter route, don’t Forrest Gump it by leav-

ing your shirt buttoned all the way up, and don’t Night at

the Roxbury it by unbuttoning too far down. Open just the

collar and top button for that right negligent, yet still

respectful, touch.

Casual

Of course some couples choose the strictly casual route.

In this case, all groom and guests need is an attractive shirt

worn untucked over light, and lightly shaded, tailored

slacks, plus a pair of closed-toe sandals on their sockless

feet. This season’s shirt selection should make it easy to

find that perfect top. Small collars such as the rounded club

or the fold-down Mao don’t demand a tie; indeed they look

great left open-necked. And the band-collar shirt, last pop-

ularized in the 1980s but now trending back heavily,

wouldn’t know what to do with neckwear if it saw it.

As you can tell, tying the knot doesn’t mean having to tieyourself in a knot over details like the right wedding raiment.The above advice represents all you really need to know, savefor a few, final notes. If there’s a chance you’ll be stuck forhours outside in the hot midday sun, guests are advised towear a hat, taking it off only for the actual ceremony. Anundershirt and good antiperspirant are also recommended.And groomsmen, please, try to convince your womenfolk thatboutonnieres are meant to be simple, uncomplicated flowers,not a fussy ornamental vegetal arrangement that takes up halfyour jacket lapel.

to riches

As a kid, I explored the woods across the street from my par-ent's house in midtown Atlanta. To me, this expansive forestbegged to be wandered, poked and prodded. As I got older --although the public land holdings didn't shrink -- the foreststrangely transformed into a smaller park and now I giggle abouthow my young Davy Crockett adventures tookplace over a measly six acres. How perspectiveschange as we mature.

My intellectual pioneering now takes place in thevast forests of wine regions. Ten years ago, before Ipoked and prodded the nether-regions of Spain, Iwas only familiar with the larger, well-known areasof Rioja, Ribera del Duero and Sherry. Slowlythough, I dug into the affordable red Garnachas ofJumilla the dark and dusty juice of Priorat the fra-grant and tart Albari o whites of R as Baixas. And Icontinue to uncover regions that we Americanshaven't tried much of. Like Toro, a quality-designatedDenominaci nes de Origin (DO), northwest of Madrid. Perhapswe weren't ready to try these massively concentrated,Tempranillo-based wines. Or maybe, since the DO wasn't estab-lished until 1987, the wineries of Toro region weren't ready forthe big show. They are now.

Winemaking in Toro dates back to the first century B.C., whenthe ancient Greeks settled in and taught the natives how to crafta party beverage from the sandy, rocky soils not fit for much else.This soil came in handy later on when, in the late 1800's, muchof Europe's vines were devoured by the root-eating louse phyl-loxera. Toro's growing environment warded off the pest and manyof the vines throughout the region are ancient, still producingsmall quantities of fruit.

Toro translates as "bull" in Spanish (not 'lawnmower,' whichmight spring to mind), and if bulls could be bottled as wine with-out the ASPCA being involved, they would be the massivelyrobust, full-bodied red wines of Toro. They are not for the faint ofheart. History says Columbus took Toro wine with him on his1492 journey to discover America, thinking it could survive thetrip. I'm not surprised.

Like most Spanish wines, wineries in this region employ fivequality level designates, based on how long the wine sits in oakbarrels (from least to longest): Joven, Roble, Crianza (or Crianca),Reserva and Gran Reserva. This usually dictates price as well, butnot necessarily value. Keep in mind when seeking out Spanish

wines, the best ones aren't always the oldest.Toro wines are made from the Tinto de Toro

grape, a colloquial synonym for a diminutive versionof Tempranillo, the fruit of wines from Rioja andRibera del Duero. The government regulations ofthe DO only allow for Tinto de Toro (red),Garnacha (red, same as Grenache) Malvasia(white), Verdelho (white) and Moscadelle (white)to be grown. This fruit thrives in the extremeweather of Toro -- hot, sunny and dry with littlerainfall. In essence, it's like a spa for thick-skinnedwinegrapes.

Being a young DO, Toro only has about 50 wineries and notmany export to the U.S. yet. One you can find is Numanthia, amodern, high-end, multi-award-winning winery established in2000. They organically farm a large vineyard of old, bushy vines,using no pesticides to preserve the health of the soil. ManuelLouzada, winemaker since 2006, has had an illustrious career fer-menting juice all over the globe, calling them wines "to eat with afork and knife". Indeed, each one of his creations are lovely, meatyand bursting with black fruit. You might call them intense andthey most definitely need some fatty food to tame the tannins.Cellaring for several years is highly recommended or shop for theoldest vintages you can find. At a recent tasting, out of threewines (2006 Termes, 2006 Numanthia and 2006 Termanthia) myfavorite was the rich, concentrated Termanthia: ripe plum, blackcherry, great acidity, layers of soft fruit, oak, cinnamon, cocoa andcedar. Elegance defined.

If you're a fan of elegant yet forceful reds, delve into Toro. Yourinner bull will rejoice.

Taylor Eason, the former wine critic at the Creative Loafing newspapers, blogs aboutall things alcohol at tayloreason.com.


b y T A Y L O R E A S O N

Wines Strong Like Bull

M a d e i n I t a l y

a r t i s a n a l m o d e r n s u s t a i n a b l e

DIONS T Y L E • Q UA L I T Y • S E R V I C E

w w w . d i o n n e c k w e a r . c o m

The Clotherie Ltd Spring 2012

Documents

Transcript of The Clotherie Ltd Spring 2012