Liz Palmer

01/11/2026

January 2026 Reset: Top Wine Spas to Start the Year in Balance (Part I)

January is the month the world exhales; vineyards are dormant, travel slows, and intention takes the lead. 🍇✨

For those craving a reset rooted in quiet luxury, I’ve rounded up 10 of the world’s top “Wine Spas” where wellness meets terroir, and every ritual feels both grounding and luminous. 🌿💆‍♀️🍷

From Bordeaux’s iconic vinotherapy to Tuscany’s thermal pools, Champagne’s winter calm, and the sun‑drenched energy of Mendoza, these destinations offer more than pampering - they offer recalibration. 🌍🕊️

Explore Part I at www.liz-palmer.com - your January 2026 reset begins here! ✨📖

01/05/2026

Happy New Year! Wine Lovers and Travellers

Stepping into 2026 with gratitude for the journey so far and excitement for new adventures ahead….new chapters, new stories, same commitment to doing things with heart and purpose.

Liz Palmer
Muskoka, Ontario

12/31/2025

Pre–New Year’s Dinner: Why Louis Roederer Collection 245 and Cristal 2016 Redefine Celebration

Pre–New Year’s isn’t about noise - it’s the calm before the calendar resets. Dinner was a quiet study in precision with two icons from Louis Roederer.

Louis Roederer Collection 245 opened the evening: all poise and mineral tension, paired with oysters and scallop carpaccio - pure conversation energy.

Then Cristal 2016 took the stage. Architectural. Focused. Long and luminous. Butter-poached lobster and roast capon made it feel like time slowed down.

This dinner wasn’t about celebration yet - it was reflection. A rehearsal. Letting champagne craftsmanship remind us that patience still matters in a world that moves too fast…continues at www.liz-palmer.com 🥂✨

12/30/2025

12/29/2025

Champagne Deutz has long been one of those bottles that doesn’t shout, it simply shows up and proves its point with grace.

Rooted in the premier cru village of Aÿ, Deutz blends heritage, precision, and quiet luxury. Walking the ancient chalk cellars feels like stepping into a living archive of time, texture, and terroir.

Deutz Classic Brut remains one of my holiday go-tos. Balanced between Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, with reserve wines layered in for depth, it delivers fine bubbles, notes of white flowers, brioche, ripe pear, and a finish that lingers with calm confidence.

It’s classic, never cliché. Traditional, yet alive….the full article can be found here…www.liz-palmer.com

12/24/2025

My thinking is that “Holiday Wine Picks” should cover the whole vibe - not just one moment.
�Zenato’s Holiday Gift Pack certainly gets that assignment! 🍾🍷
One bottle for the first toast, one for the final course:
�✨ Lugana Brut Classico — crisp, mineral, lakeside elegance. Perfect aperitivo energy.
�🔥 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019 — rich, layered, slow-sipping depth that owns the table.

This pairing spans the entire holiday arc, from bubbles at the door to a contemplative glass by the fire. It’s practical, elevated, and deeply rooted in Veneto terroir — Lake Garda freshness meets Valpolicella power.

Family-owned since 1960, Zenato balances tradition with modern precision, and their dual terroirs make this duo feel intentional, not accidental. Old soul wines, new-school relevance.

🍽️ Think seafood, shellfish, and sushi with the Lugana Brut.
�🥩 Think roasted meats, rich pastas, aged cheeses — or a quiet moment — with the Amarone.

📖 The full article, including tasting notes, wine tourism insights, and pairings, can be found at www.liz-palmer.com

12/22/2025

Why Bottega has earned a place on my holiday table 🥂
When I curate sparkling wines for the holidays, I look for three things: heritage with modern relevance, flawless performance in the glass, and brands that understand today’s visual, experiential wine culture.
�Bottega S.p.A. checks every box.
From its Venetian roots in the heart of the Prosecco DOC to its instantly recognizable metallic bottles, Bottega delivers precision, polish, and undeniable sense of occasion. This season, three standouts took centre stage at my table:

✨ Bottega Rose Gold Brut – expressive Pinot Noir with red berries, florals, and elegant structure
�✨ Bottega White Gold Venezia – mineral-driven, linear, and refined, perfect for seafood-forward menus
�✨ Bottega Mini Sparkling Icebag Set – chic, portable, and effortlessly giftable (hostess gift = solved)

Beyond the bottle, Bottega’s wine tourism vision for 2025 is equally compelling: immersive winery visits, art-driven experiences, Venetian gastronomy, and luxury travel retail moments that bring wine culture to a global stage.

For the holidays and into 2026, Bottega proves that sparkle, substance, and style can coexist. ✨🍾

📖 Full article on www.liz-palmer.com

12/18/2025

Johnnie Walker Blue Label - Holiday indulgence, elevated! 🥃✨

Johnnie Walker Blue Label is one of those rare spirits that lives comfortably at the intersection of heritage, craftsmanship, and pure pleasure. Crafted from just 1 in 10,000 casks, including whiskies from “ghost” distilleries - this Scotch has been designed for contemplation, not haste.

For the holidays, I explored Blue Label and paired it with Lindt chocolate, the results were quietly spectacular - an especially indulgent pairing for festive evenings by the fire.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label remains one of my favourite whiskies for the season - it occupies a rare intersection of scholarship and celebration. It is a whisky that rewards analytical tasting while remaining deeply accessible as a symbol of holiday generosity and shared ritual.
👉 full article, tasting notes, and insights at www.liz-palmer.com

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12/12/2025

The 34th edition of Benvenuto Brunello: Italy's premier wine preview showcases a vintage of elegance and restraint

Montalcino opened its historic cellars and welcomed the world once again for the 34th edition of Benvenuto Brunello, held November 20–24 at the Chiostro di Sant'Agostino. As Italy's longest-running wine preview event, this year's gathering brought the international wine community together to taste the highly anticipated Brunello di Montalcino 2021, alongside Brunello Riserva 2020 and Rosso di Montalcino 2024. With 122 wineries presenting their wines and approximately 100 journalists and industry professionals in attendance, the event underscored Brunello's enduring status as one of Italy's most prestigious wine denominations. The international presence was particularly notable, with nearly half of the attending journalists coming from abroad, reflecting Brunello's truly global appeal.

The event maintained its successful dual format pioneered in previous years. The first three days (November 20–22) were reserved for trade and media, featuring technical tastings. The final two days opened to Italian and international wine lovers, restaurant professionals, wine merchants, and sommeliers for walk-around sessions where they could meet producers directly.

Brunello's continued market strength…. Continues at www.liz-palmer.com

12/11/2025

Holiday Indulgence: Curated Champagnes, Wines + Spirits Worth Savouring

The holidays arrive not simply as a date, but as a shift in rhythm, a soft glow settling over the season, where ritual, elegance, and togetherness take centre stage. It’s the moment when the bottles we open matter just as much as the company we keep, and when craftsmanship becomes part of the celebration.

Starting this week, I’ll be launching an editorial series dedicated to the most compelling champagnes, wines, and spirits of the season. Each bottle is selected for its pedigree, its precision, and the narrative woven through its creation. Think heritage, terroir, and the subtle artistry that defines truly exceptional producers and distillers.

Each instalment will unveil standout labels, complete with tasting notes, pairing inspiration, and glimpses into the wine tourism landscapes that bring these bottles to life. These aren’t mere recommendations; they’re curated experiences, designed to transport, enchant, and elevate your holiday table.

Whether you’re leaning into intimate fireside evenings or hosting gatherings that shimmer long past midnight, this series is crafted to inspire. Follow along for weekly editions that let the season unfold in layers of flavour, culture, and holiday sophistication, making every pour feel like a moment worth savouring.

Liz

12/09/2025

Adapting Terroir to a Changing Climate: An Overview of Chablis’ 2025 Vineyard Regulation Reforms

The 2025 regulatory revisions for the Chablis appellation represent a strategically calibrated response to accelerating climatic pressures. The adjustments—ranging from reduced vine density to higher authorized yields are intended to reinforce vineyard resilience without compromising the appellation’s stylistic integrity. These changes, outlined by The Drinks Business and corroborated through EUR-Lex, signal a regional shift toward adaptive viticultural governance.

The most consequential reform concerns vine density, which has been lowered from 8,000 to 5,500 vines per hectare. This reduction widens row spacing and improves accessibility for mechanization, particularly on slopes where labour constraints and erosion pressures intersect…www.liz-palmer.com