Fine wines outperform blue chips and gold in 2017

11% return

Light the Way! get inspired by this RR Wraith 2 minutes video

There are those who lead the way, and there are those that lights it…

(one minute) Etihad video showing the butler as an artist in pursuit of excellence in the Art of dedicated personalised service

In this video, Etihad shows great respect to those committed to the pursuit of excellence in the Art of service. An artist drawing (screen capture from the above video) Flawless execution (screen capture from the above video)

Test your ability: There is one (minor) etiquette detail to improve in this otherwise exquisite Etihad Residence video. Can you find it?

Hint: think about welcoming   Screen capture from the above video

The Spirit of Calligraphy: when elegant Arab calligraphy meets Rolls-Royce craftsmanship

It results in bespoke excellence!  

Hotel Heureka, exquisite lodging in a quiet Venice neighbourhood

  Just opened, November 2017 in a small renovated Venitian palazzo, Hotel Heureka offers tasteful, baroque, whimsical and modern Italian design in a peaceful section of Venice. Great service from Andrea, Serena, Alicia and Diana plus 2 others charming persons that I forgot the names. At the IMBA we have high standards and Hotel Heureka

The refined Gritti Palace in Venice

Renovated to the highest standards in 2013, the Gritti Palace offers a quintessential Venetian experience in style. At IMBA, the International Montreal Butler Acdemy we are not easy to please…even if you are demanding excellence in service and have a keen eye for details, the Gritti won’t fail you. An authentic reference in a magic

Images of Barolo Castle

       

Quiet days in Venice tasting and reflecting on Gravner wines

by Richard Sagala Gravner wines: Are orange wines game changers or Hyperprism? Josko Gravner is an Italian producer from the Friuli region. Mr. Gavner created a reputation for himself from a radical winemaking technique that he has espoused (amphora) and the original wines that he produces, the so called orange wines. By the way, Orange

Zen moment, acqua alta and bells in Venice

30th  of November 2017

Tasting autochtonous and native grapes for IMBA in Italy

  Richard Sagala, in contex (Friuli, Barolo and Venice) is tasting Italian native wine grapes for the Cellar Management program of the IMBA. Italy produces many original wines that are worth cellaring. In Vino Veritas!  

Watch the Video intro of the new IMBA podcasts

(Script) -Welcome to IMBA, the International Montreal Butler Academy. -My name is Richard Sagala, I am the CEO of the IMBA. -In this series of Audio Podcasts, we will address topics that are deemed important to our profession. -At IMBA, we believe that the “Experience Economy”, brought to us a new playing field where Excellence

IMBA impressions, 2 minutes Video

Sartarelli Balciana Vertical 2015-2007

In Verdicchio Veritas! by Richard Sagala Italy August 2017, in the elegant new facilities of Sartarelli I experienced a vertical tasting of a rather special wine: the Sartarelli Balciana. A word about the new Saltarelli building: it is an airy and natural light filled small building hosting an original museum dedicated to the glory of

Richard Sagala on Butler skills, Firsts, training and experience

-The XXIst c. Butler and the Art of Service, a Swiss knife approach?- To excel in the Art of Service, the XXIst c. Butler must nowadays acquire a 360 degree skill set that includes: managing people, budgets, and take part in coordinating the maintenance of real estate, aircrafts, boats and cars, special equipment et al. The