Marilisa Allegrini, Allegrini CEO, Hostess Extraordinaire

Tuesday the 17th of October 2017, It was a pleasure to meet again, in Montréal, Marilisa Allegrini, CEO of Allegrini wines. I had the pleasure to meet for the first time Ms Allegrini in Verona in 2015 at Vinitaly Opera Wines but, what I remember most was the superb evening for its quality, inventivity and

(real life situation) the Boss says “sort it out”

Real life situation: the Boss says “sort it out”. Would you rise to the  occasion? The Boss will notice it both ways…   In Vino Veritas!

Hotel des Indes 2001 & Mata Hari one hundred years ago (15th of October 1917)

My first ever butler assignment came November 2001 at Hotel des Indes in The Hague (the Netherlands). I kept a box of matches as a Souvenir of this day. I will always remember it. In 2001 this Historic Hotel sounded very exotic to me with its French name, especially due to the fact that it

Tiberio Fonte Canale 2015

In focus, by Richard Sagala Tiberio Fonte Canale 2015 This crisp wine comes from the Abruzzo region of Italy. It is crafted from 100% Trebbiano Abruzzese 58 years old vines grown under a canopy training system (see picture of Cristiana Tiberio under the canopy). How does it taste? Acacia flowers on the nose plus mandarine

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars present an artistic concept by Pipilotti Rist that includes creative table settings

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has partnered with Fondation Beyeler to present an artistic concept by internationally renowned Swiss artist, Pipilotti Rist, for the institution’s famed Summer Night’s Gala 2017, held on 16 September. Normally the reserve of Fondation Beyeler’s esteemed guests, Rolls-Royce’s patronage ensured that the installation was seen and experienced by the public on Sunday

Author of the quintessential Butler story wins the Nobel prize of Literature

Anthony Hopkins as Stevens in The Remains of the Day On the 5th of October 2017, the Swedish Academy gave the Nobel prize of Literature to UK author Kazuo Ishiguro link The film The Remains of the Day enjoys a cult status in the butler world for its depiction of a true to form English butler

Are you an Athlete of Excellence?

Loic Le Roy PhD Spanish version: link Are you an Athlete of Excellence? The cliché conveyed by urban legends and ancients (or modern) movies about the Butler’s functions very loosely translate the reality of this profession in the XXIst Century. The image of the butler wearing ancient style white gloves and classical penguin suit while

The eight iteration of the Rolls-Royce Phantom just revealed

92 years after the first Phantom got introduced (1925), Rolls-Royce came out with its eight iteration of its flagship car. Persistent Would you say? No, a relentless continuum of Excellence spanning ninety-two years so far…

Château des Bachelards, Le Clos 2014, Fleurie, France

In Focus, by Richard Sagala Château des Bachelards, (Magnum), Le Clos 2014 Above is a 19th century print showing a French wine growing property, Les Bachelards, located in Burgundy, more specifically in Fleurie, one of the ten Beaujolais Crus (first growths). One can see the wall connected to the main house behind which vines were grown and
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Partnership announcement between ALFRED Sommelier and CEWECM-IMBA

Montréal, July 5th 2017: Partnership announcement between ALFRED Sommelier and CEWECM-IMBA. CEWECM-IMBA, the Centre of Excellence in Wine Education and Cellar Management of the International Montreal Butler Academy will be partnering this Fall with ALFRED Sommelier, an Expert Software System and cellar management company. CEWECM-IMBA was created  in 2017 by Richard Sagala Wine MBA, the owner of the International Montreal Butler Academy.  Richard Sagala and
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Pol Roger cuvée Winston Churchill 2004

In Focus, by Richard Sagala 2nd of July 2017 A quality champagne, powerful and from a good vintage to boot. Surprisingly, the wine shows signs of evolution (oxydative character). It has the pastry shop aromatics but, where is the fruit? I am questioning the storage conditions of the retailer. So I reserve my judgement and

53 pictures of Darlington Manor, at what number do they mention and show the wine cellar?

10! link PS: Would you apply for a butler posting @ Darlington not knowing about cellar management ?  

Sabrage of a Dom Pérignon

  The special shape (the thick lip) of a Dom Pérignon bottle makes it somewhat easier for the Sabrage aficionado …

Butler grooming: strive for quality, hold the gold

Example of a quality Butler watch: Rolex Explorer, stainless steel, leather strap, c.1953

Coravin, indispensable to probe your wine cellar

Do you want to know when your wine collection reach its apogee? Coravin is the solution. Indispensable to the butler to probe the wine cellar. Great tool!