Layne Randolph's Digital Portfolio
Decanter
Giglio Island’s wine legacy is kept alive by modern winemakers who continue grape growing despite the grueling conditions that Italians call viticultura eroica, heroic viticulture.
Alberobello, the symbolic home of the Trulli, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996. While the Trulli are a must-see, they are the tip of the iceberg when discovering Puglia’s soul.
Traveling the Wines of the Bible Route and sampling wine along the way gives a whole sensory experience. The route offers fascinating places like Ayalon Valley, in the Judean Foothills, where the Clos de Gat Winery sits near where Joshua defeated the Five Kings. Named for an ancient “gat” (Hebrew for wine press) and pre-dating the Roman period by a thousand years, the Clos de Gat’s 3,000-year-old grape press is one of the oldest in the world.
Newell believes in the transformative power of nature and the unique ‘nature state of mind’ concept. “It’s a state of being and a natural state you get when you’re in nature. To me, wellness is when you start bonding with nature and getting into the flow with it. I call it a nature state of mind.’”
Heroic defines the vineyard workers as much as the vineyards. “What was once done on the back of a mule or donkey today is done on the shoulders of the grape harvesters. We’re talking about kilometers of climbing up the cliffs to reach the means of transport, stuff from another time! In the recent past, even if the vineyards were more promising and qualitative, they were abandoned in favor of others more easily reachable and closer to the roads precisely because of these difficulties.”
Haute Living, August 2024
Over the centuries, the Palermo estate has been a haven where royalty, artists, and intellectuals sought inspiration and respite. The villa’s opulent interiors have welcomed luminaries such as German opera composer Robert Wagner, Italian violinist Niccolò Paganini, and Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, each leaving their mark on its storied halls. Wagner, for instance, stayed on the property in 1927 while he was writing the third act of Parsifal, and 60 years later, at 85, he composed “Villa Tasca” based on his visit.
Decanter
We only take what Mother Nature gives us,’ said Lokka. Emeritus proudly holds the title of the largest 100% dry-farmed Pinot Noir estate in Sonoma County. ‘We don’t turn on water. We don’t need it,’ Lokka added. ‘When we first started dry-farming, we saw a reduction in crop load; the vines had not had water. When the water was shut off, the vines grew deeper to find it in the clay soil. Now, the vines are producing 3-3.5 tons per acre (approximately 6.75 metric tonnes per ha) with no problem.’
Napa Valley Life Magazine
Over 400 years ago, Pierre Pérignon joined the Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers in the Champagne region of France. As a monk, he was given the honorary title of Dom and the prestigious position of cellar master. As the story goes, when Dom Pérignon created bubbly wine, he shouted, “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!” The rest is history. Dom Pérignon was instrumental in inventing what is now known as Champagne, and he has a posthumous, eponymous Champagne, produced by Moët & Chandon, to prove it.
Napa Valley Life
If it weren’t for the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film, “The Birds,” Bodega Bay might be just another scenic fishing village along the Sonoma Coast. The townspeople of Bodega and Bodega Bay embrace the area’s claim to fame with locations like The Birds Café, a visitors’ center with The Birds theme, and an annual “parade” with attendees wearing costumes from the film.
Napa Valley Life
Yes, it is part of Italy, but any visitor will tell you: Sicily is Sicily. It has an ancient soul and a distinct character. In addition to a flourishing wine industry, it is a fascinating destination to explore, especially the western, less-traveled part of the island.
Haute Living Magazine
Beyond Sardinia’s Vermentino and Pantelleria’s Passito di Pantelleria, there are many little-known island wines to explore. Mother Nature has graced these little slices of paradise with breathtaking panoramas and rare wines that are lively, summery, and highly quaffable.
Napa Valley Life Cover Story
After taking over the Raymond estate, the Boisset team set to work on transforming it into a certified organic and biodynamic operation. “Part of Raymond’s concept is the vision of organic farming, which is the future of Napa Valley.” Today, the Raymond vineyards are certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and Certified Biodynamic by Demeter USA. They are also certified by Napa Green, Fish Friendly Farming, and the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.
