As serious wine drinker knows, no matter when the harvest begins, the third Thursday of November the world is treated to the release of the Beaujolais Nouveau wines. This year November 19, 2009 is the big day of celebration to clear your calendar and get ready to drink. A votre santé!

By law, the Beaujolais producers cannot start selling their wine until the stroke of midnight on the third Thursday of November and once that happens, the race is off to see who can get the wine to Paris and the rest of the world first.  Not too heavy, young and very fruity, Beaujolais is usually the “fun” wine on most drinkers lists. Made from Gamay grapes in the Beaujolais region for France this wine is low in tannins and is very close to white wine in taste because of the way it is processed and it’s one of the only reds that actually benefits from being served slightly chilled.

All over France, people will be celebrating the arrival of this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau wines. And while in the country, make sure to stay at one of these luxury hotels in France.

Cap Estel:
Set on a five acres peninsula surrounded by the Mediterranean sea in the heart of Cote d’azur between Nice and Monte Carlo is Cap Estel. This legendary haven has played host to celebrities from all over the world with their highly original style and rare refinement. Spend your days here overlooking the sea or dine on their fine cuisine with ingredients form their on-site garden. Come and experience Cap Estel’s tribute to luxury and beauty.

Tiara Chateau Hotel Mont Royal Chantilly:
Located just outside of Paris and sitting on one of the highest points in the magical Chantilly forest is the beautiful 18th century Tiara Chateau Hotel Mont Royal Chantilly. Surrounding its guests in traditional French comfort and decor, this luxury chateau is the ideal escape for a romantic getaway along with a perfect glass of wine.

Trianon Palace Versailles, The Waldorf Astoria Collection:
Discover an exceptional woodland retreat on the edge of the tranquil Royal Doman in Versailles. Trianon Palace Versailles is one of Frances finest luxury palaces and offers the perfect lush garden hideaway by famous landscape designer Louis Benech. And with Paris being only a 30 minute car ride away this perfect location to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Jiva Hill Park Hotel:
This beautiful boutique hotel in the Geneva region of France is the ideal place to enjoy your Beaujolais Nouveau and look out over the majestic Mont Blanc range. Six of the private lodges at Jiva Hill Park Hotel offer their own private garden and Jacuzzi make this hotel a unique haven of well being. And if you’re traveling for business, this hotel also features seminar packages and beautiful conference rooms perfect for a business retreat.

Hotel Fouqet’s Barriere Paris:
Located right in the heart of Paris is the new epitome of a 21st century palace, Hotel Foquet’s Barriere Paris. Built around an interior garden, this urban retreat offers unparalleled fresh style and is tailored to meet the tastes of international and discerning guests who are looking for something new and distinctive. Be sure to indulge in their exquisite flavors at their restaurant Le Diane and after a long day take part in their wide array of beauty treatments at their spa.

Hotel Palais Stephanie:
Escape to the heart of Cannes, nestled in-between the Mediterranean and the Southern Alps and you will find Hotel Palais Stephanie. Right on the La Croisette beach and seafront this is the ideal place to take in the view and have a fabulous glass of wine. Blending luxury, glamour and French elegance, your stay here will surely be an unforgettable one.

The Côte D’Azur, also known as the French Riviera, is the Mediterranean coastline in South East France. As one of the first resort areas in the world, this sunny region is a popular destination for those who are looking for a great European vacation coupled with a big dose of sunshine and the beach.

When you visit one of the most practiced resort areas of the world, you should be getting only the best in luxury accommodation.

No resort knows the meaning of the word “luxury” more than Royal Mougins Luxury Golf Resort and Spa. This luxury resort on the Côte D’Azur offers pretty much everything you’ll need on your vacation to the south of France.

There isn’t a single place Royal Mougins isn’t close to. About 20 minutes from the Nice/ Côte D’Azur Airport, the resort is located about 15 minutes away from the sandy Cannes beaches, and 40 minutes away from Monaco. It’s in the ideal spot for day trips and lounging on the beach. The resort is in Mougins, which is a residential town full of green parks and large private estates. The town is full of art galleries and some of the finest restaurants in France call it home.
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My job has led me to some magnificent places in the world. As President of Kiwi Collection, I have stayed in numerous luxury hotels and spas, dined at fantastic restaurants, taken in stunning sights, sounds and activities. I have become accustomed to the best of the best, and like most other luxury travelers, indulging in a marvelous meal, sinking into a sinfully-soft bed, or receiving perfect, personalized service are just some of the elements that make my travels everything I expect them to be.

At Kiwi Collection, we do whatever it takes to ensure that we can provide luxury travelers with the most comprehensive, invite-only guide to luxury hotels in the world… so when I travel, I make sure that the places we recommend are the real deal. Regardless of where they are located – be it a bustling metropolis, a tranquil countryside, or a historic landscape.

On that note, let me tell you about a region of France that is a perfect place to retreat to when the daily grind has become a bit too much to take… when your imagination starts conjuring up images of wide open spaces and the simpler, finer things in life. At times like these, there is no doubt that the rich, smooth and soothing flavors of a delicious cognac are often “just what the doctor ordered.”

A trip to the part of France that bears the name of Cognac and where this incredible creation is actually made is nothing less than food for the soul. Rolling hills, medieval buildings, fascinating architecture and intricate cobblestone streets are surrounded and cradled by acres of cognac vineyards. This is a place where time can stand still, your mind can wander, and relaxation takes on a whole new meaning.

The charming personality, energy and culture of the French countryside is unparalleled, and when you add a historic, treasured element like the finest French brandy one can ever hope to find, you can’t go wrong! Cognac, or as Victor Hugo called it, “the nectar of the gods” was born in this region of France. In the 13^th century, the wine that was produced by the vines of the Cognac region was in high demand in the French court, but the wine would sometimes become impaired during the long trip. Different techniques were tried and tested in order to preserve the wine, but it wasn’t until the 16^th century, when the “double distillation” process was discovered that cognac was created in all its glory.

Today, there are four main companies that dominate the cognac business: Hennessy, Martell, Remy Martin and Courvoisier. There are dozens of other smaller companies, of course, (some owned by the main 4) that produce their own distinctive cognacs. It will not come as a surprise, therefore, that one of the main things I recommend anyone must do when staying in Cognac is to visit some of these incredibly distinguished Cognac houses.

Cognac Courvoisier, or the cognac of Napoléon, is one of those must-see houses. On the banks of the Charente, the Courvoisier museum stands side by side with the original buildings. Moving from room to room enables the visitor to understand vine growing and the process of raising the eau-de-vie. The perfumed barrels convey the message of how intimate the relationship between the oak and the eau-de-vie is. Napoléon memorabilia throughout the museum illustrates the history of Courvoisier cognac.

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(left to right: Nash, Karla, Lukas, Philippe)

My fiancée and I recently flew in to Geneva for Lukas Lundin’s 50th Edition party with 130 of his closest friends and family from all over the world, which made it a very special occasion.

It was held at Jiva Hill Park Hotel owned by Lukas’ brother Ian Lundin, and it has been designed as a south African camp just outside Geneva on the French side of the France-Switzerland border – a beautiful resort that comes with its own lake where guests can water-ski or relax; a perfect place to hold any event private or for your company.

It was a black-tie dinner with a 28 minute long fireworks show in the end (putting most fireworks competition to shame), it was one of those parties of a lifetime that never seemed to end, people just had too much fun - we were one of the early quitters at 4:30 AM.

During our visit to Geneva we also had a chance to stay at La Reserve, which has become sort of an institution for the local jetsetters – don’t miss their pool or their ride in to town with their Italian Riva style motor boat.

The festivities ended the following day with brunch at Lukas’ parents wonderful estate in the French countryside.

This region is filled with amazing  countryside charm, and a visit on the other side of the border is a must if you are ever visiting Geneva. Geneva itself is like a miniature Paris on a lake with amazing “Brasseries” and not to mention a plethora of jewellery and fine Swiss made watches  – there is no better place in the world to find Swiss-made quality than at the source.

We then went to Paris with the TGV (a very fast French train)…a trip I would highly recommend. In a mere 3.5 hours, you are smack dab of a hub of activity in central Paris. We stayed at Le Ritz on Place Vendome, wich has renovated many of their rooms (be sure to ask for one of the renovated ones when you book your next stay). This very well known and historical property is located amongst the high fashion stores on Faubourg St Honore (one of the most famous shopping streets in the world). Be sure to bring your credit card or stay in another area of Paris as your loved one will not be pleased should you ignore the many beautiful windows packed with perfect gifts.

The last night in Paris we stayed at Hotel Costes, a complete opposite of Le Ritz but still one of my personal favourites, designed like a high end boudoire. This place is like a night club, restaurant with hotel rooms…the party never ends. When you are here be sure to have at least one drink here. It is the perfect place to people watch. Stay in one of the rooms with a terrace facing the courtyard. In most hotels this would be the quiet zone. But in this hotel, the courtyard is the centre of activity and features the hotel’s restaurant & bar.

Until our next meeting on the road…A bientôt.