Words – October 2016

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Words – September 2016

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Fascinating culture, beguiling history and some very generous hospitality: Why the ban on booze won’t stop you being spellbound by Sharjah in the UAE

Published on MailOnline on 28th September 2016:

For someone who does more than her share of wine tasting and has never been ‘into’ religion, Sharjah, perhaps the most conservative of the emirates and the only dry state in the UAE, is probably a strange choice of destination to visit.

Before I land, I knew virtually nothing about the place but in no time at all, I discover that it’s rich in culture and perfect for families.

And the 16 museums in Sharjah city, the capital of the Emirate of Sharjah, are just as good a place as any to start.

Read more at MailOnline

Words – August 2016

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#HOTGV: On Francois Lurton wines with the man himself

Reading the leaves of a booming industry

Published on Momentum on 12th August 2016:

In a cozy room furnished with hand-carved mahogany armchairs, Chinese watercolors and precisely trimmed bonsai, I’m handed a dullish gray teapot. It’s permanently installed at this inconspicuous teahouse, just one of a few thousand in the city of Chengdu, where the best teas are sold at an eye-watering 2,000 yuan (about $300) per gram. Cosmopolitan Chengdu, a second-tier city in southwest China, was once an important stop on the ancient Tea Horse Road, the Southern Silk Road that brought tea and horses into central China from Yunnan province on the Myanmar border and Tibet in the west.

The pot is custom-made from solid silver, I’m told, and costs some 10,000 yuan ($1,500)—about a quarter of the average annual salary in China. Even in this tea-obsessed city, it’s unusual to own such an item, let alone leave it at your favorite teahouse. No names are mentioned but, when I ask, a subtle upward curve of the hostess’ lips confirms that its owner is a developer who made his fortune during the city’s property boom.

It’s certainly an extravagant scenario. But it barely scrapes the surface of the financial sums that can change hands among tea connoisseurs in pursuit of their obsession.

Read more at Momentum