This year, high-income families are forecast to place 22% of their
assets in alternative investments, according to Capgemini and Merrill
Lynch, up from 10% in 2002. And that includes wine.
One of Judd Finkelstein's favorite things about being a winemaker at
his family's Napa Valley winery is getting his hands dirty, whether
that means picking the grapes, punching down the cap or working with
the barrels. But being a winemaker these days doesn't always mean
attentively tending to a vineyard -- or even being in the same state
where your wine is produced.
Whoever came up with the expression "life is a beach" probably envisioned something more simple than the Sea Island resort complex, which has been luring vacationers to the tranquil coast of Georgia for almost 80 years.
Ahh, summer is finally here. Take a moment, close your eyes and think of what this time of year means to you.
For most it brings only good thoughts to mind: golden,
sun-kissed skin, crowded boardwalks by the beach and cold ice cream
cones.
Strike while the iron's hot -- it's a well-used expression, and one
that applies to a few celebrities who have started to look beyond the
stage.
Two in particular have started their own unique spirit lines,
and hope to capitalize on their fame by drawing in consumers to their
respective brands.
I had the rare opportunity to sit down with a glass of red -- OK, a
couple of glasses -- and speak with Peter Mondavi Jr., current
proprietor of Charles Krug Winery, the oldest Napa Valley winery and one of the few that has remained in the hands of the same family since the Prohibition era.
"Listen to this music," he says, emphatically pointing toward the
ceiling as if trying to explain a time and place, "this is not Africa."
When we return to his friends, balancing fistfuls of mojitos, he makes
the point again. "Look at these people," motioning at his own entourage
and then at the rest of the crowd, which would not look out of place in
SoHo or SoBe. "This is not Africa either. This is South Africa."
He's a staple in classic Hollywood films, is often British, and appears to know how to handle just about anything.
Over the years, the butler-valet has become a familiar, austere
presence in the wealthy households depicted in books and film. Think
Bruce Wayne's trusted Alfred in the old "Batman" shows or Reginald
Jeeves from the P.G. Wodehouse series.
Ketel One, Grey Goose, Vox and Belvedere: You're fired. Trump Vodka, you're hired. At least that's what Donald Trump is hoping for with his foray into the liquor business. He recently launched Trump Vodka in October 2006, and it's taking off.
Go ahead, admit it: You have never thought about how you would spend
$100,000. Well, it's time to ponder that possibility now that my
employer -- TheStreet.com -- is offering $100,000 to the player who wins our "Beat the Street" game.
