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NYFW: Legend Returns — Ralph Lauren Hosts His First New York Fashion Week Show in 4 Years

The Legend Returns for NYFW. Ralph Lauren Hosts His First New York Fashion Week Show in 4 Years.

Ralph Lauren is known as a master of style and character; and this year he returns to hosting a runway in Manhattan for New York Fashion Week.

According to Women’s Wear Daily, the 83-yr old American master of style plans to debut a new womenswear line at his show on the evening of September 8.

In 2019, Lauren’s last appearance at NYFW, he held a show in a decadent ballroom on Wall Street rebranded as “Ralph’s Club”.  Since then, he’s held off-calendar events in NYC and Los Angeles.

NYFW: Legend Returns -- Ralph Lauren Hosts His First New York Fashion Week Show in 4 Years

NYFW: Ralph Lauren Hosts His First New York Fashion Week Show in 4 Years

His shows often attract A-listers such as John Legend, Jennifer Lopez, Diane Keaton, Jessica Chastain.

Lauren’s American return has also ignited his International spotlight.  The designer touched down in Milan earlier this summer with “Dolce Vita” his Purple Label collection at magnificent Palazzo Ralph Lauren in Via San Barnaba.

To say the least, anticipation is very high for what he’ll debut this September at NYFW

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Are NYers falling in love with New Wine? Dancing Wines from Cynthia Russell, Lauren Russell

Are NYers falling in love with New Wine? Dancing Wines from Cynthia Russell, Lauren Russell in Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County.

The team at Dancing Wines is developing a collection of sensory brands that celebrate life through taste, touch and aroma – inspiring you to find your inner dance and show the world what truly moves you.

Dancing Wines’ red wine trio includes Old Vine, Duo and Estate — three limited-release wines made from hand-picked grapes that showcase the full breadth of the Dancing estate.

Lauren Russell (L) and Cynthia Russell (R) from Dancing Wines

Lauren Russell (L) and Cynthia Russell (R) from Dancing Wines Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Today’s conversation with the dynamic Mother / Daughter team Cynthia and Lauren Russell from Dancing Wines ha been edited for length and clarity.

For the full, un-edited conversation, visit our YouTube channel here.

Joe Winger: What is the most important message you’d like to share today?

Lauren Russell: I think one of them is dancing is art and art is life.

Another is love needs no explanation. I think really the thread between those is we’re trying to create a product and an experience that brings people together and invites them to find their inner dance, which is something we say a lot. 

So we want to encourage people to find their unique rhythms. And wine is also really lovely because it is a vehicle that brings people together to enjoy a moment and diverse people together.

I think my Mom [Cynthia] can speak to this as well, but one of the things we thought about when first exploring wine was just how daunting the whole atmosphere is around the consumption of it and the buying and using all the right adjectives.

Especially for my generation I feel like there’s a bit of a learning curve. So I think one thing we really want people to take away from the brand is just like, just enjoy it. Love needs no explanation and you can’t drink wine when your mouth is full of adjectives. We’ve created a great wine just for you to be able to enjoy and to describe however you want and enjoy whenever you want.

DancingWines

Source: WeAreDancing.com

Cynthia: Yeah, I think the measures we created we have a beautiful heritage property that the soil and the climate create this great wine. And me being of an older generation where wine was very intimidating, even though I know a lot about it.

And drinking it for a very long time. I’ve lived in France. I’ve lived in California. It’s still when you order in a restaurant, you’re scared. Do I know enough? I’m going to be embarrassed. Is this the right pairing? And what the good news is that wine making in the world has become so sophisticated that if you are buying wine from a place that is special, including all.

Sonoma or France or Italy, the wines are good, they’re really good and all you have to do is be comfortable with yourself and enjoying it. And so that’s what we’re trying to do is take a product that has thousands of years of history as being a part of our culture and make you comfortable with just having fun, enjoying it and celebrating what wine can do to bring people together.

DancingWinesSonoma

Source: WeAreDancing.com

Joe Winger: You have a really unique story that you restored a vineyard up in Dry Creek.  Can you talk about experience and what you learned from the restoration?

Cynthia: We lucked out.  It was a Covid purchase. We spent a lot of time as a family together in very small confined spaces drinking a lot of wine. 

We [thought we] might end up needing a place where we have more outdoor space and can be together. So we bought this property more as a farm and then discovered that it was a unique part of the world. 

Zinfandel grapes have been growing in this small region for over 150 years.

It was called America’s grape back in the time I think [the] 1850s. Okay, we have these vineyards. They’re really old. 

There was one owner at this property for 60 years, an older Italian gentleman. And a lot of the area is multi generation, fourth generation Italian families who came over and cultivated this grape.

We never intended to make wine and yet we were scared to let this history and heritage die. 

So we took classes and tried to figure out, can we make wine?

It’d be such a shame to let this history go in this special place. 

We made a great discovery, which was that you don’t have to be an expert on wine. You just have to have great soil and a great climate. 

Then we launched from there. 

DancingWinesSonoma

Source: WeAreDancing.com

Lauren:  We’re always towing the line between the respective tradition and traditional winemaking and the land and all of the old vines and creating something new. 

She [Mom, Cynthia] always brings a lens of respect for the older generation and ways of life and what wine has meant to her throughout her life.

I’m always pushing the other direction. We always land somewhere in the middle. 

You’ll see that in the brands, it has really playful branding and packaging.  But, our winemaking is a bit more traditional. We’re a sustainable vineyard but we have old vines and we respect what the land has to offer and what it’s been offering in that region for a long time.

It creates a better product and brand for us because we get to cater to both audiences.

DancingWinesSonoma

Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Joe Winger: You have a collection of sensory brands.  Can you talk about what that collection is, what inspired the idea, and what we should be looking for?

Lauren:  All of the products have been and will be inspired by the backdrop of the vineyard. 

When we talk about wine, we talk about this kind of multi sensory experience, whether that’s aroma or where you’re having it, who you’re enjoying it with.

We came into wine knowing that it was going to be not just about taste or smell, but about the holistic experience of what wine could do for someone. 

Sort of the thread between all of our products are taste, touch and smell. Again, like finding your inner dance and allowing you to express your personality.

We’re launching a trio of fragrances, which are loosely inspired by the terroir and the vineyard.

Cynthia: We have a fresh perspective on Sonoma. Every time we arrive, we have this nose full of these incredible senses:, the smell of moss, crushed grapes, barrel, fire and oak. 

Yeah. So we’re like, wow. Every time we arrive, we’re like, wow, this is really cool.

This is so distinct and unique and just elevates your experience of being there. 

We are going to bring more experiences to the brand when we can, like having an artist in residence, creating visually beautiful contributions.

We have an art collection there that inspired us to bring art to the brand. It’s largely from a diverse group of artists from the West Coast who are very colorful and young and also push boundaries. So our idea with the senses is like we’re trying to This is a brand that you enter into our world and you get to experience people and life in a way that’s very unique and bold and

DancingWinesSonoma

Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Joe Winger: What are both of your backgrounds outside of wine?

Lauren: I was raised in Connecticut and went to Dartmouth for undergrad, was a creative non-fiction writer, so always had that storytelling bent. 

After school, I worked at a lot of businesses in marketing.  Uber Eats, Refinery29, right before the pandemic, I worked for AB and Bev that was my first kind of foray into alcohol. 

Then during COVID, I got my MBA at Columbia.  We all got this massive reset of our priorities.  I come from an entrepreneurial family.  This opportunity arose 

Cynthia: We’re a family who really believes in experiences. I have dabbled in many different areas.  I went to Scripps college. I actually was a dance major until I was not. I became an international relations major. I lived in France for a while. Then moved to New York City and worked for JP Morgan trading stock, money market securities. 

I didn’t find that was my passion, so I went to Harvard Business School and I got a master’s in business. Then I worked for American Express where I started a weekend travel program. It was a little startup within the travel segment of American Express. I got my “sea legs” of starting a business.

I quit that business because I had kids, then I started my own mail order company then I decided again, that maybe I needed a little more education.

I went back and got a doctorate at Columbia in organizational leadership.

I have a consulting firm on the side where I consult leaders and organizations about how to handle complex challenges in a complex world. 

So my daughter [Lauren] gets through business school and we decide to marry all these wonderful experiences together and create something really new and unique.

DancingWinesSonoma

Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Joe Winger: Let’s talk about your wines.

Lauren: We launched with our rosé which is really beautiful. It’s an intentional rosé. From our Primitivo grapes and we harvested them early and intentionally for rosé.

It has this really beautiful distinct, watermelon, almost Jolly Rancher aroma, and it’s really playful and full, but also dry. And it’s been a really big hit so that was a fun debut for us. 

We just launched our trio of reds, and what makes them unique goes into the story about the restoration of the vineyard.

We’re still learning our land and learning from it. 

We chose to harvest from different blocks and treat the wines in a similar fashion and bottle them separately to see what personalities they expressed. 

One is the Old Vine Zinfandel, which is from our oldest head trained vines which is the deepest, moodiest, richest wine. It’s really lovely.

DancingWinesSonoma

Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Then we have an estate wine, which is actually from Primitivo, a different word for Zinfandel. That one is a bit lighter. 

Then we have a third, a duo which is a blend of both. And so it’s really helped us to understand. And they are quite different.

They’re obviously all Zinfandels in their expressions, but they’re all quite different. 

People say Zinfandel is like a map of the land and I think that’s really true here. Which is super cool. 

But we have two forthcoming sparkling wines because I think it really speaks to our ethos about being playful and to my generation.

Cynthia: It’s really fun for us because being on the East coast, Zinfandel is a really unknown varietal and we think it’s underrated. Californians know it’s been around for a long time. It has a lot of possibilities with food. And so what we’re trying to do is bring to light this really good wine and do it in a slightly different way.

We pick ours earlier, trying to have it be less jammy, juicy, heavy; lighter, less alcoholic than some of the more traditional Zinfandels that are on our street. 

That’s really trying to address the changes consumer changes.

Our wines are chillable, super easy to eat with most any food, especially ethnic food, spicy food.

2022 was our first vintage. 2023 is already in barrels and we’ll be bottling that in probably in March. But it’s going to be a little different because the climate was different that year.

The rosé was just a fluke. Our winemaker wanted to try a Zinfandel rosé. Most people love it. It’s so distinct and unique.

Our 24 Rosé will come out in March.  The reds will come out in the early summer. We’re going to bottle the sparkling in January, but that will be at least a year until you’ll see that. The  pétillant naturel will probably be launching at about the same time as the rosé

DancingWinesSonoma

Credit: https://instagram.com/DancingSonoma

Lauren: What’s fun about having both an early release sparkling and a [second, additional] later release [sparkling wine] one is going to be lighter, more effervescent, maybe geared towards the younger generation and the other will have that toastier champagne flavor.

Joe Winger: Do you have a favorite wine and food pairing?

Lauren: This one’s so hard. Rosé and oysters or any seafood is just awesome. Sparkling wine and a burger is one of my favorites.

In terms of red, when I think of Zinfandel, it’s Thanksgiving foods.  It speaks to the hominess in our story. Bringing everyone around the table. Kind of experiential pairing.

Cynthia: Yeah, that resonates with me. 

We have a lot of ethnic food, so it holds up really well to spice, to sweet and sour, salty and sweet. So it’s great with Indian food, Mexican food. Apples in your pork chops. 

A burgundy is usually killed instantly by those kinds of flavors. It’s too fragile.

[Ours] is not fragile, but it still has so many nice aromas and flavors to enhance whatever you’re eating.

Lauren:  It’s great with pizza. Pizza and a nice glass of Zinfandel

DancingWinesSonoma

Source: WeAreDancing.com

Joe Winger: What’s something magical about Sonoma that you learned through this journey?

Lauren: True of both Zinfandel and Sonoma it always has this underdog energy to Napa. One of the hidden gems, we wake up really early and drive to the Redwood forest to watch the sun rise through the trees.

We eat a burrito because we have terrible burritos in New York.

There’s an amazing food community, 3 Michelin star restaurant, chefs, farm to table.

Cynthia: The distinct part of Sonoma is how important nature is to everyone there. It’s not just about wine. It’s incredible nature.

We both traveled a lot, lived in a lot of places. I’ve never seen such natural beauty in such a small area.

Lauren:  That’s what the idea of our products is too.  We have to bring people here in some way, differently than just having them taste the wine.

So as many dimensions as we can bring people into that realm to experience [00:29:00] that it’s like definitely the dream.

Joe Winger: Whether it’s social media, website, or other ways, what are the best ways for our audience to find and follow Dancing Wine?

Lauren: We have our website, which is wearedancing.comWe also are on Instagram, which is at DancingSonoma

Southern sophistication Pours in NYC: Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails RTD Hard Tea Pours Nationwide

Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails Hard Tea Launches Nationwide

Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails Hard Tea – a canned ready-to-drink that launched earlier this spring in 13 test markets – is rolling out nationwide this fall.

The RTD embodies Southern sophistication with a twist.

Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails Hard Tea combines black tea, ripe, true-to-fruit flavor resulting in a balanced and sweet finish. With four classic flavors carefully selected, each can was crafted to please the palates of today’s modern drinker.

Country Cocktails can be found in select retail and convenience stores across the country in a 12oz. can (ABV 5%), 12-can variety pack containing four classic flavors: Original, Peach, Raspberry, and Blackberry; with the Original & Peach offered in 16oz. and 23.5oz. single serve cans that deliver consumers a refreshing and high-quality beverage experience for those who appreciate a good tea.

  • Original: Known for its full-bodied refreshing take on a Southern classic. Combining the rich taste of black tea with a sweet, true-to-fruit finish, captures the essence of Southern sweet tea. It’s the perfect drink for relaxing on the porch and enjoying good conversation.
  • Peach: A floral flavor that brings the juicy, sun-ripened sweetness to life. This option offers a crisp and refreshing experience, where the delicate honeyed taste comes to the forefront of the palate making it a delightful choice for any day of the year.
  • Raspberry: Delivering a vibrant tartness, yet balanced with a subtle sweetness; this flavor presents a bold and smooth drink that’s as satiating as it is refreshing.
  • Blackberry: Capturing the rich and juicy essence of blackberries, it offers a slightly tangy and flavorsome experience, making it a perfect choice for consumers who enjoy the bold taste of berries with a hint of Southern charm.

Coinciding with Country Cocktails Hard Tea launch is the RTD’s partnership with ACM and two-time CMT Music Award winner, Lauren Alaina, who has accomplished one of country music’s crowning achievements – becoming the youngest member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Lauren Alaina’s small town Georgia roots, love for comfort and authenticity make her the perfect ambassador for a beverage that prides itself on delivering a taste of the South in every sip. Both Alaina and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails symbolize Southern charm, together producing a match made partnership.

To celebrate the collaboration, Country Cocktails has partnered with Southern Living to offer fans across the country a chance to enter their sweepstakes and win a pair of tickets and flights to meet Lauren Alaina at her concert in Las Vegas at the Green Valley Ranch Backyard Amphitheater on October 25, 2024.

The sweepstakes will run from September 13 until October 11, 2024 and contestants can enter for a chance to win by visiting the link.

About Jack Daniel’s
Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple, Jack Daniel’s Bonded, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select, and Jack Daniel’s RTDs. Today, Jack Daniel’s is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand.

About Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails
Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails are premium malt beverages from the Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands. Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails was introduced in May 1992.

Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails and their respective flavor names are registered trademarks. © 2024 Jack Daniel’s. Jack Daniel Beverage Co., Louisville, Ky. Flavored Malt Beverage.

For more information, please visit www.countrycocktails.com.

NYC Craves 10yr Flavor: Rich Caramel, Full Bodied Vanilla, Spiced Rye: Bulleit 10-Year Aged Whiskeys

Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Launches New Rye 10-Year-Old Permanent Expression and Unveils the ’10-Year Aged Whiskeys’ Range

Bulleit Frontier Whiskey proudly announces the launch of Bulleit Rye 10-Year-Old, the latest addition to its permanent portfolio of exceptional whiskeys.

Bulleit 10-Year Aged Whiskeys

Bulleit 10-Year Aged Whiskeys

This new expression joins the acclaimed Bulleit Bourbon 10-Year-Old, forming the foundation of the new Bulleit 10-Year Aged Whiskeys range.

Together, these age-statement whiskeys reflect Bulleit’s commitment to crafting premium, bold-flavored whiskey while continuing to innovate to bring an expanded portfolio of whiskeys to consumers and trade.

Bulleit is building on its rye leadership with the launch of Bulleit Rye 10-Year-Old. The new whiskey maintains the flagship Rye’s iconic mash bill—95% rye and 5% malted barley—and is aged for a minimum of 10 years in new charred American white oak barrels, enhancing the balance of smoothness and spice that defines Bulleit Rye.

Expect rich caramel and toffee notes on the nose, with hints of buttery rye.

The palate delights with pear-like fruitiness, dry oak, full-bodied vanilla, and a spiced rye finish that lingers.

Bottled at 91.2 proof (45.6% ABV), it’s an impeccably balanced pour that showcases the best of rye’s signature boldness.

In recognition of its quality, Bulleit Rye 10-Year-Old was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and scored 98 out of 100, receiving Gold Outstanding Spirit making it one of the top-rated American Rye Whiskeys at the 2024 International Wine & Spirits Competition.

The launch of Bulleit Rye 10-Year-Old comes during a period of growth for the rye category, where its distinctive, spicy profile has fueled a resurgence over the last decade. Bulleit has been at the forefront of this revival since 2011 when its flagship Rye helped to ignite the modern rye whiskey category. Recognizing the growing demand for innovation and more unique offerings, Bulleit developed its multi-award-winning Rye 12-Year-Old limited release in 2019, a standout that was celebrated for its age statement and accessibility. The 2024 edition of Rye 12-Year Old was equally lauded, winning a Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Similarly, Bulleit Bourbon 10-Year-Old offers a high-rye recipe that delivers a smooth, complex drinking experience. Toasty oak aromas with vanilla and sweet dried fruit lead to a palate of spice, caramel, and a refined finish that highlights the whiskey’s depth. Bottled at the same 91.2 proof, it continues to set the gold standard for high-rye bourbons.

Jenika Newsum, Senior Brand Manager at Bulleit Frontier Whiskey said “Our Bulleit 10-Year Aged Whiskeys showcase the bold, spicy rye-forward flavors that define our brand. Each expression is a testament to the meticulous craft of aging and our relentless drive to push the boundaries of American whiskey. We’re excited to introduce these whiskeys and look forward to unveiling even more innovations that reflect our commitment to whiskey craftsmanship.”

The release of Bulleit Rye 10-Year-Old follows the launch of the Bulleit American Single Malt and Batch 8 of its Barrel Strength Bourbon—two expressions that exemplify the brand’s dedication to pioneering the whiskey frontier through innovative aging, finishing, and flavor exploration.

Over the years, Bulleit has amassed accolades for its Rye variants. Bulleit Rye has earned significant recognition, scoring 96 out of 100 at the 2023 Chilled 100 Spirits Awards, a Gold Medal at the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition, and a Platinum Medal at the 2022 ASCOT Awards. These wins complement the Rye 12-Year-Old’s Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and join Bulleit Bourbon 10-Year-Old’s impressive haul of awards, including a Platinum Medal and Best Straight Bourbon at the 2023 LA Spirits Awards, a Gold Medal and a score of 95/100 at the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition, a Gold Medal at the 2023 New York Wine & Spirits Competition, a Gold Medal at the 2023 SIP Awards, a Platinum Medal at the 2022 ASCOT Awards, an Outstanding accolade at the 2021 International Wine & Spirits Competition, and a Double Gold Medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Bulleit Rye 10-Year-Old is now available nationwide for consumers 21+ with a suggested retail price of $49.99 for a 750ml bottle. The whiskey is packaged in the iconic Bulleit bottle, with a light green label that prominently features the 10-year-old age statement.

No matter where or how you decide to enjoy Bulleit Rye 10-Year-Old, Bulleit reminds consumers 21+ to please remember to taste and serve responsibly.

About Bulleit Frontier Whiskey
Bulleit, founded in 1987, is one of the fastest-growing whiskeys in America.

The brand attributes that growth to bartenders and cultural partners who have adopted it as their own. The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey portfolio is distilled and aged in the Bulleit family tradition, using a distinctive high rye recipe, which gives them a bold, spicy, yet distinctively smooth taste.

The award-winning Kentucky whiskey most recently won a Double Gold medal for Bulleit 10-Year Old and Gold Medals for Bulleit Bourbon and Bulleit Rye at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2017, Bulleit celebrated its 30th anniversary with the opening of a new, state-of-the-art distillery located in Shelbyville, KY.

Constructed with a focus on sustainable practices including natural habitat protection, water conservation and local ingredient sourcing.

In 2019, a Visitor’s Centre at the Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville opened to share our modern, technological, and sustainable approach to making great whiskey.

In 2021, Diageo opened its first carbon-neutral whiskey distillery in Lebanon, KY with Bulleit being the first and leading brand being produced at the site. supplementing existing production at the Bulleit Distilling Co.

For more information, visit www.bulleit.com or follow @Bulleit on Instagram.

About the Author
Joe Wehinger (nicknamed Joe Winger) has written for over 20 years about the business of lifestyle and entertainment. Joe is an entertainment producer, media entrepreneur, public speaker, and C-level consultant who owns businesses in entertainment, lifestyle, tourism and publishing. He is an award-winning filmmaker, published author, member of the Directors Guild of America, International Food Travel Wine Authors Association, WSET Level 2 Wine student, WSET Level 2 Cocktail student, member of the LA Wine Writers. Email to: Joe@FlavRReport.com

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