HAPPY NEW YEAR & BONNE ANNEE 2021

 

Happy New Year - Bonne Annee 2021
by ©Domelgabor / ©LeDomduVin 2020

Happy New Year & Bonne Année 2021!

I wish you all the best, to your family and loved ones too. 

And more importantly, I wish you a safe, healthy, meaningful and joyful New Year! 

Full of love, hope, courage, kindness and happiness. And filled with peace, dreams, ambitions, goals, satisfaction, success, friendship and lots of unforgettable moments. 

2020 has been a terrible year for most of us. A year we all need to forget and put to the past. 

Yet, not everything was necessarily negative and not everything has to be forgotten about this particular year. 

Personally, some of the moments and encounters I experienced this year were quite unique and beautiful, resulting in fond memories that will last forever. And I don't want to forget them, on the contrary, I want to keep them close to my heart and mind. 

This is a new year. A new beginning. And things need to change for the better. Let's make it happen and make this new year count for everyone. And let's continue to dream and have dreams. And also let's be a little crazy too 😉 ( 'cause we're never gonna survive unless we are a little crazy - Seal) 

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” —Eleanor Roosevelt 

Be safe and take good care of yourself and your loved ones. And give some love to each other, 'cause that's all we've got. 

Thank you, 

Dom

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Happy New Year et Bonne Année 2021!

Je vous souhaite tout le meilleur, à votre famille et à vos proches aussi.

Et plus important encore, je vous souhaite une nouvelle année sûre, saine, significative et joyeuse!

Pleine d'amour, d'espoir, de courage, de gentillesse et de bonheur. Et remplie de paix, de rêves, d'ambitions, d'objectifs, de satisfaction, de succès, d'amitié et de nombreux moments inoubliables.

2020 a été une année terrible pour la plupart d'entre nous. Une année que nous devons tous oublier et laisser au passé.

Pourtant, tout n'était pas forcément négatif et il ne faut pas forcement tout oublier de cette année particulière.

Personnellement, certaines des rencontres et des moments que j'ai vécus cette année étaient assez uniques et magnifiques. Ils sont et resteront de merveilleux souvenirs qui dureront pour toujours. Et je ne veux pas les oublier, au contraire, je veux les garder près de mon cœur et de mon esprit.

C'est une nouvelle année. Un nouveau départ. Et les choses doivent changer pour le mieux. Faisons en sorte que cela se produise et que cette nouvelle année compte pour tous. Et continuons de rêver et d'avoir des rêves. Et soyons aussi un peu fous aussi 😉 (parce que nous ne survivrons jamais à moins d'être un peu fous - Seal)

"L'avenir appartient à ceux qui croient en la beauté de leurs rêves." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Soyez prudent et prenez bien soin de vous et de vos proches. Et donnez-vous de l'amour l'un à l'autre, car c'est tout ce que nous avons.

Merci, 

Dom

#happynewyear #newyear #wish #wishes #newyearwishes #resolutions #newyearresolutions #safe #safety #health #healthy #hope #dream #love #peace #happiness #kindness #joy #success #ledomduvin @ledomduvin ©LeDomduVin 2020

Happy New Year 2013

As today is the last day of this year 2012, I just wanted to wish you all the best, health and success for the New Year 2013. 

Happy New Year 2013



And to bring you one last 2012 smile, 
I'd like to share a few intriguing signs found here and there around Hong Kong.

I'm confused? No Cigarettes, only Pipes allowed?.....

How can children play and have a good time outside with so much restrictions in most public parks around town? More especially, if they can't "No Drying of Linen and clothing" and "No hawking"....

Obviously kids who smoke when they play with their "Remote-Controlled Model Car" must be a big problem in Hong Kong, as it is very often the only sign covered by the "No Smoking sign" on the board (see both above pictures)...

Hey! How did that happen? The "No Smoking sign" is now incorporated with the other "No" signs.
What about a bit less restrictions for kids who wants to play in the parks as they are the only gardens and green playground they can have due to Hong Kong lack of space and activity areas? 

Traditional typo....

Hawking anyone?

Happy New Year 2013

Enjoy!

LeDom du Vin   

2011: Happy New Year! Bonne Année! Feliz Ano Nuevo!

I just changed the blog introduction picture, as I do occasionally, and you might have recognized it; if not, it is the upper right part of a painting by René Magritte "The Portrait" Brussels 1935 exposed at the Moma in New York (http://www.moma.org)

2011: Happy New Year! Bonne Année! Feliz Ano Nuevo!

Cheers! Happy New Year and Best Wishes to You All! With more wine discoveries and multiple other things to talk about!

The end of the year was fantastic for me because I became for the second time the father of a beautiful baby, this time an adorable little girl. I must say that 2011 begins really well with the arrival of my daughter, despite the fact that the world is a mess.

Money, politic, power, greed, hate, racism, corruption, despair, envy and religious beliefs, amongst many other things, seems to be the everyday fate of mankind these days. What a pity to destroy in such horrible ways such a wonderful world! Why can we try to find compromises and live more in harmony without killing, tricking and deceiving each other in daily nonsense wars, behaviors and attitudes toward each other?

Fortunately for us, optimistic believers, immoderate epicureans and insatiable gourmets (novices, amateurs and connoisseurs all included of course, like a big family), fervent lover of great food, wine, spirits, cigar, art, culture, geography, history and many other of the multiple and highly rewarding pleasures in Life, there are still plenty of beautiful and positive things to care about in this world that make us fight for a better future (more especially if you have kids).

Kids are amazing! Your parents gave birth to you and in turn you give birth too, completing a old circle of life that started millions of years ago. You created a being. A being that you will guide, supervise, influence and protect most of your life. A being that will most likely follow your example and imitate your ways and manners and habits and morals to a certain extend.

That being is innocent and didn't demanded to come to earth and live in such human misery and depravation. Therefore, as human, supposedly one of the most intelligent species on the planet, it is your goal and choice to do your best to act responsibly and respectfully toward your environment and other beings and livings, to preserve the harmony of nature and leave a better world for the next generation.

For all these reasons, for my kids and their future, I have to be and remain positive and do my best about upbringing them the best I can, by giving them as much love, respect and consideration as I can, as well as passing as my much of my knowledge, morals, values and interests.

Like my grand-parents and parents did for me, I will teach my kids to develop their attention to positive, concrete and constructive things that will lead them to live a better life and care for others, all things nature has to offer and the environment. Money may be somewhat important in our capitalist world, yet NO need to tell them that it is not the most essential thing in life, they will realize that by themselves.

They may be young, but I already began their apprenticeship: reading, counting, spelling, and finding solutions to all problems they may face is the base. Try in any circumstances to be optimistic and willing to always address a situation with reflection and intelligence; because there are so many kids around the world that may and will never have the chance (that my kids will have) to have a decent, educated life, not in luxury and profusion of unnecessary things but in the harmony of the family and the love and respect that we have for each-other.

Moreover, as a Sommelier, I also teach them the importance of discovering, discerning, smelling and tasting their food and drinks (fruit and vegetable juice for now, wine and spirits later on gradually) everywhere and everyday at home, at the supermarket or the green-market, at the restaurant or anywhere else. It is important that they understand from their young age the immense value of food and the chance that they have to be able to eat well and healthfully compared to so many other people around the world these days.

In the 1920-30s, we were only 2.5 billions on earth. After World War II and the consequence of the baby boom, we were about 4.5 billions. In the 80s, we were about 6 billions and in 2011, we are about 7 billions on earth.

That's a lot of people evolving in a difficult world market, with many obstacles and much less job possibilities and opportunities than ever before, due to the rapid evolution of the technologies; the globalization of interests and entertainments; and the diminution of real interactive and caring social behaviors due to the increase of virtual social self-awareness (everybody thinks that they (he or/and she) are super important and that the world should know everything they do and say...) and the lack of real interests from the youngest generations. World economy, recent climate changes and natural disasters didn't help either to bring hope for the future. Yet, we have to remain hopeful for the future, for our kids and the next generations to come. And our generation should be the one ringing the alarm bell and put a stop to all these nonsenses and start to rebuilt a solid base of hope and new ideas.

Hope come from positive attitude and desire to achieve better, for greater results and concrete ideas to develop other ideas and find solutions and move forward. Pointing at the various problems of the world is useless if we don't take action to resolve them. The agricultural world has already answered the distressed call from Mother Nature and started to change its ways. We have to follow its example.

Let's make 2011 a year of actions and decisions.

So Step into the Green! Drink more Biodynamic, Biologique and Organic wines and spirits and food) from sustainable culture and respect the environment! Support the right causes for the Planet and all the people suffering all around the globe! Also follow projects and products from the Fair Trade, an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries obtain better trading conditions and promote sustainability. Also support 1% for the Planet, an alliance of businesses that donate at least 1% of their annual revenues to environmental organizations worldwide. "Commerce Equitable" or "Fair Trade" is evidently and more than ever a needed movement connecting producers and customers, to be aware of others and their cultural and traditional products based on high quality, natural components and craftsmanship. Let's save our planet and ourselves by the same occasion, by taking meaningful actions.

There are many organizations and associations all around the world that have been created over the last 20-25+ years, to change our ways and make this world a better place: better wines, better food, better environment and decisions that will in the long term make the difference.

Here is a short random list of links for these highly recommended organizations, associations and other enterprises (a few that I could think about immediately amongst many others) that have been and still are willing to make a change for the good of our planet and help world collective consciousness to awake to find the right and most appropriated solutions. They need your full support to continue the fight for the right causes.

• www.unicef.org
• www.onepercentfortheplanet.org
• http://wwf.panda.org
• http://www.homethemovie.org/
• http://www.goodplanet.org/
• http://www.avaaz.org/
• www.greenpeace.org
• www.actionagainsthunger.org/
• www.actioncontrelafaim.org
• http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/planet-earth
• http://www.fairtrade.net/
• www.fairtradefederation.org
• http://planetgreen.discovery.com/
• www.tenthousandvillages.com
• disney.go.com/disneynature/
• http://www.nature.com/
• www.wfto.com
• www.globalexchangestore.org
• http://www.crossing-borders-fair-trade.com
• http://www.tinygreenbubble.com
• www.european-fair-trade-association.org
• www.unctad.org
• http://planetgreenrecycle.com
• www.planetrecycling.com
• http://planetsave.com/
• http://www.50waystohelp.com
• http://www.treehugger.com/
• http://www.nature.org/
• http://www.organic.org/
• http://www.organicconsumers.org
• http://www.globalissues.org
• http://www.biodynamics.com/
• http://www.demeter-usa.org
• http://www.bio-dynamie.org
• http://www.climatecrisis.net/
• http://www.twnside.org.sg/
• http://www.enda.sn
• http://www.forumtiersmonde.net
• http://www.plantabillion.org/
• http://www.poverty.com/
• http://www.wfp.org
• http://www.whyhunger.org/
• http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/
• http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
• http://www.1billionhungry.org/
• http://www.jeanlouisetienne.com
• http://www.oceanfutures.org
• www.artisansdumonde.org
• www.commercequitable.org
• http://www.bestgreenblogs.com/
• http://www.wftday.org

This list is by no mean exhaustive and only represent a drop in the ocean of all the people that are trying to change the world and make it a better place with more collective consciousness and positive desires and innovative solutions. Yet, it will give you an idea and may invite you to observe nature and our world on a whole new different way. Let's make 2011 a year of actions and decisions.

"Tour du Monde épicurien des vins insolites"

Last but not least, I just finished a great french book, called "Tour du Monde épicurien des vins insolites" (around the epicurean world of unusual wines), about the tribulations of two wine aficionados, Claude Gilois (owner and wine buyer of http://www.vinsdumonde.com) and his friend and writter Ricardo Uztarroz (journalist for "Presse Océan", "Libération" then at "l'AFP" for about 25 years) in quest of finding and tasting wines in rather unusual countries.

This is a great read and a tremendously enjoyable journey to share with these two 60+ years old epicureans, avid of food adventures, wine discoveries and life experiences. The prose is exquisite, light and funny, pleasing and full of this old flair for loquacious and explicit scenarios, that only a writer-scenarist like Michel Audiard was capable of writing (I will highly recommend you to watch some of his classics: "Les Barbouzes", "Les Tontons Flingueurs", "Le President", "Le Cave se rebiffe", "Un singe en Hiver", etc...). Some of the quotes from Miquel de Cervantes as a sentence of introduction for each chapter also greatly introduce the sense of humor and the spirit of mind of these two uncommon wine travelers. A must read for those of you who understand French.

Think about it.... and as always, Enjoy!

See you soon for some new wine surprises and discoveries!

LeDom du Vin

Step into the Green! Drink more Biodynamic, Biologique and Organic wines and spirits and food) from sustainable culture and respect the environment! Support the right causes for the Planet and all the people suffering all around the globe! Also follow projects and products from the Fair Trade, an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries obtain better trading conditions and promote sustainability. Also support 1% for the Planet, an alliance of businesses that donate at least 1% of their annual revenues to environmental organizations worldwide. "Commerce Equitable" or "Fair Trade" is evidently and more than ever a needed movement connecting producers and customers, to be aware of others and their cultural and traditional products based on high quality, natural components and craftsmanship.

Happy New Year 2009!

Hi Everybody,

After about a month working roughly 10 hours (+) a day, 5 to 6 days a week, the month of December is finally finished and I'm back for more posts. 

It was a good month overall. We were 10 to 15% down from last year, but overall we can't complain. It wasn't as bad as we thought and most of our business is base on the local clientele, so we were not as affected as some other retailers. 

In any case, depression and recession are calling for consumption, and the wine and spirits industry is probably one of the less touched by the crisis. People (in general) seems to cut on food, gas, night out, restaurants, etc... but not on booze or wine (fortunately for us..). 

Of course, they did not buy any wine above $25-$30, except the last 2-3 days before Christmas and New Year for present only, and rather stayed under $20 and even $15. However, instead of one bottle at $30 or $40 for their own consumption, most of them bought 2-3 bottles between $8 and $15 (which is even somewhat better for our business: more inventory turn over and in most cases better margin). 

However, 2009 is here and let's hope that it will be better than 2008 which was, for many people (and animals and plants...) around the globe, a catastrophic year in many ways... 

With Obama in the starting block, the United States of America should take a new beginning, start a new era and bring hope for a better future. Can he really make a difference? Will he be able to change what need to be changed? Yes, I think so. As he said "Change can happen!" and we should all believe in it and help him to concretize it. 

Happy New Year 2009! Joy, Happiness, Health, Success and best wishes to you all. 

Wine and spirits will continue to inspire and please beginners, amateurs and connoisseurs like you and me. In 2009, I will try to describe and write about a wine (or more) everyday (or as often as possible).  

As always, enjoy wine with friends and family, and preferably with food on the table. In this difficult time, there is nothing better than a brunch, a lunch or a dinner with good people and a carefully chosen (even inexpensive) bottle of wine to share with them. 

Cheers!

LeDom du Vin