The Perfect Bouquet: The Right Wine, Right Cigar Pack your Clothes in Luxury

THE PERFECT BOUQUET:

THE RIGHT WINE,

ARIGHT CIGAR lthough spirits and cigars seem to be the perfect match, wine and cigars can form a love match if you know how to combine them. They can be tricky to pair but there are no hard rules, just basic principles to get the most out of both. So, grab your corkscrew and your lighter and let’s start pairing.

RED WINE PAIRING Because there are as many red wines as there are cigars, this makes pairing an adventure. One choice for wine by cigar aficionados is Chianti, a classic wine no matter your cigar choice.

More specifically, pair a Tempranillo Rioja with its leathery tannins with a fullbodied Nicaraguan cigar, which can stand up to the earthy wine.

WHITE WINE PAIRING White wine is delicate and paired with cigars less frequently. It is best matched with light to medium-bodied cigars.

This way the taste of wine and the cigar will not overlap. A mild cigar with hints of coffee and cinnamon pairs well with welloaked chardonnays. Light up a Pilotico Pepe Mendez, a honeyed, medium-bodied cigar, with a bottle of 2015 Penfolds Yattarna chardonnay, which spent eight months in barriques (oak barrels) to reach ultimate woodiness. ROSÉ PAIRING Rosé wine has the qualities of both white and red with a unique aroma. It’s light with hints of pink grapefruit and raspberries and can be combined with many cigars, especially medium-bodied like Cohiba Coronas Especiales. The cigar softens the acidity and brings out a creaminess in the wine.

For a light and beautiful pairing, pop the cork on a Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial Rosé and let its effervescence enhance the stunning flavors of a Honduran cigar, like a Camacho Corojo. It’s a self-indulgent pairing but, then again, why not?

SWEET WINE PAIRINGS Sweet wine is a pleasant choice and can work smoothly in pairings. These are best paired with light- to medium-bodied cigars.

The Moscato d’Asti wine is an alternative white wine that has become a popular cigar vino as it is mildly carbonated and deliciously sweet. Choose a nutty, spicy cigar to avoid competing with the sweetness like a Partagas Black Label.

Pack your Clothes

IN LUXURY

Now that vacations are back on the calendar, it’s time to invest in luggage that will make a statement. If you want bags that are wellmade and useful but also stylish, luxury models are where it’s at. Of course, it can get a bit confusing. If you need a suitcase that you can stuff those extra souvenirs into at the last minute, then a soft-sided bag fits the bill. They also tend to have extra pockets to stash a book or magazine. For those who don’t need pockets and travel more often, hard-sided may be better. Some are expandable, giving you last-minute extra space, and they tend to hold up a little better. Let’s take a look at a few luxury suitcases that make a statement while offering a quality bag.

SOFT-SIDED CASES The Tumi International Expandable 4 Wheeled Carry-On is built to power you through weekend getaways and international travels. The FXT® ballistic nylon carry-on features an outside laptop pocket and lots of room inside. Available in alloy or black at www.Tumi.com.

The DiorTravel suitcase combines the iconic Christian Dior elements with a modern design. Made with blue waterproof Dior Oblique technical jacquard, it is embellished with the CHRISTIAN DIOR signature on the front. The suitcase’s relaxed shape adds to its all-purpose versatility.

www.Dior.com

If you’re just popping out for a quick weekend, the Casablanca Monogrammed Leather Weekender Bag may be just the ticket.

Casablanca, a favorite of Gen Z celebrities like Bella Hadid, melds haute couture with casual beauty. The bag has bamboo handles or a shoulder strap, the signature laurel design, embossed monogram leather and gold-tone hardware. At 20 inches, you will have just enough room while still turning heads.

www.Saksfifthavenue.com

HARD-SIDED CASES The TUMI 19 Degree carry-on suitcase is constructed in lightweight yet durable aluminum. With a ridged design and strategically contoured angles, the case is styled to impress, but also boasts recessed wheels, two TSA-approved locks and a neatly organized interior to ensure you have room for everything.

www.Tumi.com

The Gucci Globe-Trotter GG carry-on is the product of a collaboration with the British luggage label Globe-Trotter. This medium hard-sided suitcase is part of Gucci’s Epilogue collection featuring a GG Supreme canvas exterior, doublebelt closure and brown leather trim.

www.Gucci.com

Bric’s Bellagio 2.0 Spinner is polycarbonate trimmed in Tuscan leather with a satin interior and TSAapproved locks. Bric’s was founded in the Como region of Italy, where it has become internationally renowned for hand-crafted luggage. Available in blue or cream with contrasting leather trim at www.Niemanmarcus.com.

For a splurge, check out Louis Vuitton’s Malle Coiffeuse beauty trunk. On the surface, it looks like a regular vintage-style monogrammed steamer trunk. But then it unfolds into a stunning pink vanity with three mirrors, a folding stool, acrylic monogrammed trays and drawers lined in pink microfiber.

$149,000 at us.louisvuitton.com

THESE Valentine Treats

GO BEYOND Candy & Flowers

Americans shell out about $2.2 billion on candy alone for Valentine’s Day and buy 58 million pounds of chocolate in the seven days leading up to Feb. 14. On top of that, men purchase about 75% of the 110 million roses sold in the U.S. during that time. But if you’re looking to up your game, there are experiences out there that are just as romantic, a bit more creative and just as appreciated. Northern Light Balloon Expeditions offer a 40-minute breathtaking sunrise balloon ride over the red rocks of Sedona, ending in a champagne breakfast. Float among the mountains in serene, romantic silence as you gaze across the horizon. If you’re making it a romantic weekend, the company offers complimentary pick-up and return to your Sedona hotel or a central meeting spot. Take a romantic train ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad. Step aboard the renovated vintage train in Clarkdale and find yourself transported back to a time of luxurious and leisurely train travel. This four-hour excursion takes you on a 20-mile journey. Book the exclusive caboose, designed for a private party of six or indulge yourselves and book it just for the two of you. This luxurious car includes oversized chairs, picture windows, cupola seating for a birds-eye view and two private outdoor viewing platforms. A personal valet pours your complimentary Champagne upon boarding and serves freshly prepared appetizers. Premium alcoholic beverages are also available.

Strip down together and indulge in a couple’s massage at Heart and Soul Sanctuary in Flagstaff. With incense burning and soft music playing, choose from 60, 90 or 120 minutes of a customized therapeutic massage side by side that includes aromatherapy, reflexology, hot stones, energy healing and deep-heat treatment.

Types of massages include Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point, acupressure, sports, compression, myofascial release and more.

If you’re a movie buff and feeling generous, book The Freezer, the ultimate private-screening room hidden inside Harkins Camelview at Fashion Square. This extravagant theater seats up to 24 guests, but it can be for just the two of you.

It is generously decorated with reclining seats, casual soft seats, soft pillows and cozy blankets.

Once inside, you’ll enjoy unlimited popcorn, soft drinks and café beverages. Alcohol is available from the bar. You’ll enjoy a dedicated staff, in-theater food service and a private en-suite restroom. Best of all, you get to choose the movie.

Of course, nobody turns down chocolate and flowers, so you may want to bring those along anyway.

Indulge

Yes, most people buy their cosmetics in drugstores and supermarkets. But for those who want a luxury experience, there exists a special class of cosmetics and skin care.

Quality, brand and price are the lovers and people who appreciate a playful, vintage-inspired packaging. The Gucci Beauty Mascara L’Obscur is a favorite for anyone who wants a quick mascara that wears well all day and gives lashes definition with main factors when buying luxury cosmetics, say 55% of U.S. women. And people are certainly buying — studies show that the luxury cosmetics segment worldwide is projected to grow by 6.49 % in the next five years, ending with a market volume of $31.56 billion U.S. dollars by 2027. We are all aware of Dior and Chanel, but there are other successful lines out there not as well-known, but just as opulent. TOM FORD Tom Ford likes to say that beauty comes from revealing your most glamorous and inspirational self. His makeup line exemplifies that sentiment with a modern luxury that resonates with those who want high-quality luxury beauty. The Shade & Illuminate Blush gives you both matte and frosty cheek colors for a flawless, sun-kissed look. one coat but even more volume and length with additional coats. PAT MCGRATH LABS Pat McGrath, a British makeup artist, is the founder and namesake of this beauty company, which launched in 2015 and quickly grew to a value of $1 billion. Anna Wintour said McGrath was “the most influential makeup artist in the world,” and her makeup line proves that with rich, bold colors and high-performing formulas. Try the celebrity favorite:

JOIN THE TREND

IN LUXURY COSMETICS Pat McGrath Labs Mothership VII: Divine Rose eyeshadow palette with a combination of matte, metallic, shimmery, duo chromatic and glittery shades in one elegant package. CHARLOTTE TILBURY Charlotte Tilbury is a legendary makeup artist known for sultry, feminine and gorgeous makeup looks. Tilbury launched her cosmetics line after more than 20 years in the industry working with many celebrities. The Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Eyeliner has a unique berry-brown shade that is soft, creamy and applies evenly. It’s long-lasting and doesn’t smudge, giving a soft sultry look.

GUCCI BEAUTY Gucci's makeup line was revived in 2019 and just in time. The company’s products are meant for makeup