With the change of the seasons, my daily tasks at the winery change as well. It is spring and the grapevines are sprouting with buds, making for a beautiful and uplifting sight. My days are spent blending the previous years’ harvests as we strive to create the wines that exemplify Robert Mondavi’s vision.

Mr. Mondavi had such a passion for Napa Valley and for wine, and he constantly worked to share that enthusiasm with the world. Nowhere is this more apparent than with the Napa Valley Vintners’ Auction Napa Valley, a four-day event in June that raises funds for many worthy causes here in our community. He always said, “What a great pleasure it can be to give,” and he truly lived those words. Mr. Mondavi, along with Margrit Biever, brought the idea of the Auction to the Napa Valley Vintners trade association, founding the first Auction in 1981, and it is a perfect example of his giving nature, raising millions each year—much-needed funds that support a wide range of local organizations, including health care, youth services, and affordable housing non-profits. In these difficult times, the generosity and spirit of our vintner community is more important than ever.

I have been in participating in Auction Napa Valley for the past 20 years, beginning when I was at Opus One and now through Robert Mondavi Winery. Each year is an incredible experience. While the live auction on Saturday is certainly the climax of the four-day affair, this year I am especially excited about Taste Napa Valley, the Friday event taking place at Robert Mondavi Winery. This full day of activities is a celebration of the best that Napa Valley has to offer, namely its people, hospitality, and, of course, wine. We will welcome nearly 2,500 guests to the winery that day, including vintners, media, volunteers, and auction attendees. The outdoor Marketplace will be filled with live music, entertainment and more than 100 vintners personally pouring bottles of some of their best wines, while restaurateurs and chefs from the region offer their finest creations. Bids will be flying at the live barrel auction, and people from all over the world can participate via Internet in the exciting collection of “E-Lots,” which will close on Friday as well.

We will be pouring our 2007 Fumé Blanc Napa Valley during the Marketplace, tasting alongside the attendees and trying to impart a little of the history of the brand and discussing how the wine is made. The goal is to give guests a little bit of knowledge while inspiring them to bid on the lots in the Saturday night live auction and dinner, which takes place at Meadowood Napa Valley. In keeping with our philosophy that wine, food, and art are the keys to gracious living, our Robert Mondavi Winery lot will offer an amazing collection of the 2005 vintage To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a private dinner for 12 in our Vineyard Room, and After the Party, a limited-edition signed lithograph by Andy Warhol that artfully illustrates the role wine plays in celebration and as part of our modern culinary experience.

During Saturday evening, I will be hosting a table of guests from around the country. At the dinner, I speak with them about our responsibility to the community and about the Napa Valley as a whole. All of the winemakers who will be hosting tables have similar goals: to make sure that the people at the auction have a wonderful time and therefore open their hearts and bid. (Of course, I would like them to bid on the lots we are donating from Robert Mondavi Winery!)

I hope you are able to join me for this special weekend, as it truly is a spectacular celebration of the generosity of spirit that makes Napa Valley special.

Cheers,

Genevieve Janssens
Director of Winemaking at Robert Mondavi Winery

In my previous column as an Haute Ambassador, I reviewed some of early spring’s finest bounty: artichokes, asparagus, and peas. Our menu has been filled with these delicacies of nature, including English pea risotto, asparagus and artichoke salad, as well as a baby lamb ravioli with fava beans, artichokes, little asparagus, and natural broth. As we transition into the early days of summer, herbs and produce will be exploding and the farmers’ markets are sure to be packed.

Since fresh produce is one of the main forces driving my menu, personally selecting those earthly ingredients is so important to me. I cannot connect with the idea of ordering products on a computer and waiting for a truck to deliver them. For this reason, I make weekly trips to local farmers’ markets so that I can see, smell, and touch the product that I will be working with. I enjoy the tactile approach of selecting my own produce at the market, and I like to talk to the people who are growing it, learning who they are and what they’re about. Only when I get a literal feel for everything going on there can I really formulate a menu based on the market experience.

From a culinary standpoint, we are so fortunate to live in this region of the country. There is a myriad of farmers’ markets surrounding us, making freshly prepared plates an everyday possibility. Some that I visit include Marin Civic Center Farmers’ Market and Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market. Though many markets operate seasonally, there are some year-round ones, and I usually spend the better part of two hours strolling through the stalls. An interpersonal relationship with the farmers is as important to the culinary process as actually chopping, preparing, and cooking the meal. I have spent years cultivating a rapport with local farmers, and now I even have some who contact me at the start of a season so that I can place special growing requests. Middleton Farms in Healdsburg has grown anise hyssop for me before, which I used in a clam ravioli. I also source strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries from them because they produce some of the sweetest fruit that money can buy. White Crane Springs Ranch, also in Healdsburg, has some great mixes of lettuces and wild herbs. They have 82 acres of forest, five of which have been slated for farming. The owner of the farm, Joseph Minocchi, is recognized around the country for his greens. Chefs from as far away as New York City feature his product on their plates.

The ground around here is so fertile, making it a dream for growing fruits, herbs, and vegetables. At home, I personally grow tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, pumpkins, cucumbers, beans, and quite a supply of herbs. I’ve been installing herb boxes in my own backyard for quite some time. This season I will harvest silver thyme, lime thyme, oregano, lemon balm, rue, and cilantro. The cilantro is spectacular, and I plant it in order to use the green seeds that the plant produces. They are so flavorful when they first go to seed, and I use them in sashimi of geoduck. Within the month I will also plant lemon basil, lime basil, Greek basil, tarragon, shiso, and some edamame seeds.

All of these ingredients from my backyard make it onto my menus at the restaurant, including my lemons and pears. For the month of May, cherries will be exploding onto the scene. It is beautiful time of year, thanks in part to the breathtaking blooms all over town. The culinary delights from the trees will provide us with the means to create delectable dishes like foie gras with cherries, duck with cherries, cherry soup, and cherry sorbet.

It is a great time of year for local food, so find a way to take pleasure in the gifts of the season. Whether you make a trip to one of our many marvelous farmers’ markets and prepare a meal at home, or stop by the restaurant for a taste of some of the fruits of my own labor, it is certainly a time to treat your taste buds to something special from Mother Nature.

Cheers,

Ron Siegel
The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton,
San Francisco
600 Stockton Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
415.296.7465

The annual event is a tribute to Italy’s Mille Miglia, which ran from the Brescia to Rome and back from 1927 to 1957. Only fine autos that would have qualified for the Mille Miglia-with a few notable exceptions-are invited to participate in the annual California event.

As such, California Mille attracts some of the most intriguing cars still on the road for a four-day tour, and the sponsors of the event are as top-notch as the participants. Chopard Watches of Switzerland was the presenting sponsor (CEO of Chopard USA Marc Hruschka was happy to get behind the wheel of a 1925 Lancia during the 2009 tour), and they were joined by the Fairmont Hotel; the Lodi Wine Growers; British Motors Jaguar, Land Rover, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Lotus; and others. Throughout the region, excitement was palpable as the cars roared through; when the convoy got to Mill Valley on day four, the town aptly renamed itself Mille Valley, just for the remainder of the event.

When the first Mille Miglia revival was held in 1982, the cars participating were only 25 years old (still quite the feat!). Now, those same autos are taking the 1,000-mile trek with a minimum of 51 years on them. As such, a few exceptions have been made to allow cars created after 1957 to participate, as long as they have the same design as the ‘57 or an earlier predecessor. Take, for example, 356s and Alfa Guilias, which are eligible for participation. The next generation Jaguar XK-E, however, is out of luck.

The event kicked off with a full-day, free car show on Mason Street in San Francisco on April 26, where the public was able to take in the wonders of these pristine autos, which included a 1948 Nardi-Danese Corsa Spyder, a 1955 Porsche Speedster, and a 1939 Jaguar SS10. Drivers then departed at 8:30 a.m. on April 27 for the adventure, which took them on a scenic tour of northern California. From the summit of Mt. Hamilton to the banks of the Sacramento River, these auto enthusiasts were treated to some of the most picturesque vistas and, of course, the finest dining, wines, and lodging.

Next year’s event will not only mark the 20th anniversary of the California Mille, but also the 100th anniversary of Alfa Romeo, and enthusiasts are expected to come out in droves to celebrate these two special occasions.

Superyacht Design Symposium
New York City
www.superyachtdesignsymposium.com

In October, Boat International Media hosted an exciting two-day program at Harold Pratt House in New York for the Superyacht Design Symposium. This was a rare event for superyacht owners, designers, naval architects, project managers, and captains alike.

The symposium offered an exclusive opportunity to learn from the unrivalled speakers and provided ample opportunity for networking during the extensive, first-class social program, for which Boat International Media is renowned. The high-profile speakers included Tom Perkins, the legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalist and the designer/owner of the world’s largest privately owned sailing yacht, the Maltese Falcon; Kim Vibe-Petersen, a successful charter yachts owner/operator; and megayacht designers/builders Ron Holland, Wim Koersvelt, Lamberto Tacoli, Martin Francis, Philippe Briand, Michael Eaglen, Jay Miner, Andrew Winch, and Ed Dubois.

Following the two-day event, a VIP dinner, hosted by Tony Harris, CEO of Boat International, and Emmanuelle Verstraeten, CEO of Rouge Tomate Group, was held at the dramatic new Rouge Tomate restaurant for the guests of Boat International. I attended this exclusive dinner, which Tom Perkins “boycotted,” as he was under the impression that I was invited on the merit of being his next-door neighbor in San Francisco. He didn’t know I have been a guest of numerous Boat International VIP events in the past and for this dinner, my guest was yachting enthusiast Prince Michel of Yugoslavia, who had to cancel at the last minute due to an emergency meeting at his assets-management company, Access International Advisors. The company suffered a $1.4 billion loss to Bernard Madoff. Tom’s presence was very much missed.
An Evening with Lenny Kravitz
Paris, France
www.KravitzDesign.com

One of my recent visits to Lenny’s Paris home was not about music but about design. I brought friends Missy Sternlicht (her hubby Russell and his brother Barry founded Starwood Capital Group and hotels) and Emin Iskenderov, Russian developer of Hermitage Plaza in Paris (a project of 93 story twin towers plus buildings for commercial, retail, and a Four Seasons hotel and residences). We viewed photos of Lenny’s design projects and discussed working opportunities. The atmosphere around Lenny was so warm, relaxing, and comfortable that we felt as if we were just hanging out with an old friend.

In 2005, Lenny called me out of blue to purchase my Paris château when I was not interested in selling. I was embarrassed to say I had never heard his name before he called, and I asked “Lenny who?” He got a kick out that. But we bonded when he and his design team came to visit me at the château. While I am an opera fan, I acquired a taste for his music, but I was most impressed by his amazing sense of style in design. His Paris home is a magnificent mixture of ultra modern and classic French. Lenny founded Kravitz Design, Inc. in 2003, which specializes in commercial and residential design, product development, and branding. In New York, he assembled a diverse team of interior designers, architects, and creative professionals to transform his eclectic global lifestyle into innovative and dynamic design solutions. Recent projects include a state-of-the-art recording studio in the deluxe Setai Hotel, the Florida Room lounge in the Delano Hotel, both in Miami, and Swarovski Crystal Palace Collection.

An Afternoon at Coco Chanel’s Apartment
Paris, France
www.chanelusa.com

Thanks to Chanel USA, during a recent Paris Fashion Week, I was treated to a Chanel runway show at Le Grand Palais, a lunch at the fashionable l’Avenue, a cocktail reception at the magnificent Chanel Jewelry Boutique on Place Vendôme, and a rare tour of Coco Chanel’s apartment at 31 Rue Cambon, where she entertained while living at the nearby Ritz.

The apartment is filled with a beautiful mixture of Coco’s Oriental and European collections. A mirrored spiral staircase, which cleverly provided Coco a way to watch editors’ reactions at fashion shows on the floor below, leads upstairs to the top-floor atelier where Karl Lagerfeld works, and down to haute couture fitting rooms and the ground-floor boutique. At one end of a sitting room paneled with Chinoiserie lacquer screens hangs a mirror in the same shape as the Chanel No. 5 bottle and Place Vendôme. Lined with books and decorated with chic objects, the living room is where Coco would greet guests. There are quilted pillows, and the “5″s and interlocking “C”s hidden in the chandelier are made from semi-precious stones of distinctive Chanel style. My favorite parts of the apartment are the dining room, where a pair of stunning 18th century mirrors flank the antique marble fireplace, and the seven Baccarat crystal chandeliers on the ground floor that were added after Coco’s death in 1971. Coco was a revolutionary figure in her time, and her persona remains a powerful force in the fashion world to this day, so to get a glimpse into her private apartment was a real treat.

MIPIM 2009
Cannes, France
www.MIPIM.com

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the world’s premier real estate trade fair, MIPIM 2009, drew upon its unique international coverage and reputation to bring together the most influential decision-makers in the real estate market, offering them access to the largest available showcase of development projects and providing an exclusive networking platform for international partners and prospects. This year, the fair was attended by more than 18,000 participants from 80 countries, including 3,500 investors, 477 journalists, property end-users, and hotel groups who gathered in the 200,000-square-foot exhibition halls of Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.

Many high-powered political leaders were in attendance, including Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Kozak; London Mayor Boris Johnson; French Minister for Economic Reflation Patrick Devedjian; and Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi. Special events included the Mayors’ Think-Tank, the Investor’s Summit, Asian Lunch, Tourism Lunch, and the MIPIM Awards.

Dubai International Property Show
Dubai, UAE
www.internationalpropertyshow.ae

Dubai International Property Show is the biggest transactional property exhibition in the region. The show was first organized in 2004 and has since grown into the definitive event for companies seeking to establish strong personal relationships with worldwide players in property and investment industries. The event showcases exceptional development projects from more than 150 exhibitors from across the globe that are seeking to leverage the high attendance of international and regional investors at this annual industry event held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. I shared an exhibition booth at the show and presented California properties to the visitors, and I visited other exhibitions to learn firsthand about the amazing real estate developments in this tiny desert city by the Gulf.

Of course, while in town, I had to check out the only seven-star hotel in the world, Burj Al Arab, which is over-the-top glitzy. Security is extremely tight and securing reservations for the bar and restaurants is nearly impossible, and there is typically no sightseeing allowed in the lobby or any part of the hotel. I had a drink at the Sky Bar and toured the elaborate lobby and restaurants.
Happy Travels,

Olivia Hsu Decker
www.SanFranciscoFineHomes.com
www.FrenchVacation.com
Olivia.HsuDecker@SothebysRealty.com

This year marks the 100th birthday celebration of famed car company Bugatti. In honor of this prestigious achievement, the auto brand is presenting a slew of special models at events around the world. At the recent Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza, the elite annual event in Italy celebrating historic cars, Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. presented four Bugatti Veyron specials-one-off models that are reminders of the company’s glorious history.

The four Bugatti Veyron Specials models feature the racing colors of various countries: blue for France, red for Italy, green for England, and white for Germany. Each of the four new Veyrons has a specific predecessor-an original Grand Prix Bugatti on which it was modeled-and each of the unique autos is named after a Bugatti racecar driver from the 1920s and ’30s. These cars were exhibited alongside their predecessors on Sunday of the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza weekend for the first-and only-time. However, Bugatti will continue its 100-year celebration at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California in mid-August, and attendees are guaranteed to be treated to something special from the esteemed brand.

A powerful man knows that part of his power lies in the perception of the beholder. That perception can be bolstered by wearing custom made suits, having his shoes created by the finest cobbler, and ensuring his overall appearance reflects his station in life. He also knows that carrying the right briefcase into an important meeting lets his contemporaries know he means business, before he even opens his mouth.

If you want to make such a statement, we recommend either of these two briefcases, both by Bulgari, which is celebrating 125 years of impeccable style this year. Joe Briefcase (pictured on the previous page), made from a striking olive crocodile leather, retails for $13,700, and the Eterie Briefcase, pictured here in olive ostrich with light gold-plated hardware, goes for $6,650. It is also available in other colors and materials, which affects the price.

It’s one of the most amazing horological sculptures to date, offering the perfect blend of tradition, kinetic art, and high-tech horology.

Shown for the first time at Baselworld 2009, Jaquet Droz’s La Machine à Ecrire le Temps or “The Machine That Writes the Time” is an automaton designed to relate to the 21st century. It took eight years to develop this ingenious masterpiece, which contains more than 1,200 components, including 84 ball bearings, 50 cams, and nine belts. Protected by an elegant aluminum cage and fitted with liquid crystal glass, possessors of the masterpiece can cover or unveil the whole movement to their liking. With a simple touch of a button, La Machine à Ecrire le Temps’ inner workings are activated and a stylus writes the time in hour and minutes by converting analogue time into mechanical digital time.

La Machine à Ecrire le Temps is the fruit of phenomenal technical performance and deep philosophical reflection. At $342,275, it’s the ultimate luxury any passionate watch collector or horological machine lover could own.

These large watercraft have a growing presence throughout the waters from the Pacific side of Costa Rica all the way up the coast to British Columbia and beyond. Demand from Silicon Valley moguls, business owners, and athletes has been the engine driving the yachting industry forward, particularly during the last 10 to 15 years. A number of shipyards that began as the construction sites for fishing boats now devote their energies to building yachts. In fact, North America’s largest constructor of yachts, Westport Shipyards, is located in the former fishing village of Westport, about 130 miles from Seattle.

It is fitting, then, that some of the world’s most exciting marinas in development and already in existence are found on the West Coast. Here, Haute Living rounds up the ports of call worth a call on any eastern Pacific itinerary.

Marina Papagayo
Costa Rica
Costa Rica and the newly opened Marina Papagayo is the perfect place to launch a tour of the Pacific. The only marina of its caliber in Costa Rica, Marina Papagayo encourages visiting boaters to discover the dense jungles of Central America.

Marina Papagayo is often used as a juncture for crafts cruising from the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and all points of the Pacific. It is situated below the hurricane belt and sheltered from easterly trade winds, ensuring calm, protected waters year round. In addition to the strategic location, the facilities are five-star at both the marina and the surrounding private community. Captains, crews, and boat owners enjoy a high-tech harbor that offers state-of-the-art facilities and nautical services: dockside marina concierge, on-site customs and immigration clearance, high-speed fuel pumps, dockside gray water pump, 500-amp electrical service, Wi-Fi, cable, even white-glove golf cart concierge and dock shuttle service. When it is fully completed, the 180-slip custom-designed floating dock system will accommodate luxury watercraft up to 220 feet, with a total of 380 slips.

IGY Marina Cabo San Lucas
Mexico
Island Global Yachting set the worldwide standard for megayacht marinas, and the Cabo San Lucas outpost is no exception to the level of luxury and service that has become synonymous with the IGY name. Located at the very tip of the Baja Peninsula, the 380-slip marina can berth yachts up to 200 feet in length. IGY prides itself on both security and service, both of which are abundant at this location. Provisioning is as simple as using channel 79A to communicate with the market, which is well equipped to deal with the needs of sea travelers. Furthermore, the marina features a 75-ton travel lift with a handling capacity for vessels measuring up to 80 feet. Onsite amenities include restaurants, shops, activities, a business center, and dry-land accommodations.

CostaBaja Resort & Marina
Mexico
Further up the coast is the CostaBaja Resort & Marina. With 250 prime slips, it can accommodate vessels ranging from 30 feet to 220 feet. Situated in a development that comprises 550 acres of coastal land just north of La Paz, Mexico, CostaBaja’s masterfully planned community offers a luxury resort lifestyle in addition to marina services. Should you want to take a day or two off from life at sea, this would be the place to do so. Activities include golf, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, kayaking, fishing, and taking in the charms of nearby La Paz. In the Pacific, just off Baja, amazing islands await, such as Guadalupe Island, a remote outpost to the west that is home to sea lion colonies. Nearby, the Todos Santos Islands are a hugely popular surfing destination, with some of the best waves to be found anywhere in the world.

Catalina Island
California
Catalina has long been a yachter’s favorite. During the golden age of Old Hollywood, fans of Catalina included the likes of Ronald Reagan and Natalie Wood. Located just 22 miles off the coast of southern California, Catalina Island is a world-class destination for diving and other water sports. The island is also home to great restaurants, shopping, and hiking trails. In the high season, the harbor becomes a hub for sailboats and motorboats en route to and from points all along the coast. The two largest harbors, Avalon (400 moorings) and Two Harbors (239 moorings), provide many amenities. Additionally there are moorings at 16 other coves, making Catalina Island a popular destination for many megayachts.

Fifth Avenue Landing
San Diego, California
San Diego is a premier destination for the growing yacht community. CNN recently dubbed the city the “new superyacht capital,” an accolade it bestowed based on San Diego’s new-and-improved megayacht facilities and overall wave of affluence in the city. It is also home to YachtFest, the West Coast’s ultimate boutique yacht show. Now in its 10th year, YachtFest shows boats starting at 60 feet-this criterion separates the event from other, larger yacht shows that offer boats of all sizes. More than $60 million worth of boats, yachts, superyachts, luxury cars, and other accessories are on display and for sale. The annual gathering is held in September at Island Palms Hotel and Marina on Shelter Island.

The new Fifth Avenue Landing is the state-of-the-art superyacht docking and berthing facility located in the heart of San Diego. The secluded marina can host up to 12 megayachts up to 300 feet, and offers complimentary concierge service for owners and crew. Fine dining and shopping are mere minutes away, making this new facility the bunking place of choice for the world’s finest crafts as they make their way through the southern city.

Pier 38
San Francisco, California
San Francisco is one of the world’s most picturesque cities, and in recent years, yachts have begun to figure ever more prominently into the fold. San Francisco Bay has played host to some of the world’s most impressive yachts. This is no coincidence; Bay Area residents happen to be the owners of some of the most eye-catching megayachts around. Tiger Woods’ 155-foot Privacy, Tom Perkins’ 290-foot Maltese Falcon, and Charles Simonyi’s 233-foot Skat have all graced the scenic bay with their presence in recent years. In downtown San Francisco, Pier 38 can accommodate yachts up to any size in its deep-water harbor, and is currently offering megayacht berth ownership opportunities for watercraft 50 feet to 350 feet long.

Victoria International Marina
Victoria, Canada
Considering that the Pacific Northwest has seen so much growth in its yachting industry, a marina that can accommodate the needs of the area’s boaters is overdue. Fortunately, the Victoria International Marina is currently in the works. Set to be open for business in the summer of 2010, the marina will cement Victoria and Vancouver Island’s burgeoning reputation as a yachting destination. The slips will be devoted to boats that are more than 65 feet, a testament to the growth in that specific sector of the market. From Victoria, it is not far to scenic Alaska, a summertime favorite amongst intrepid boaters.

When thinking of history’s greatest rivalries, a few names come to mind: Michigan vs. Ohio State, Ali vs. Frazier, Palmer vs. Nicklaus. But a matchup equally as impressive and often times overlooked is Ferrari vs. Lamborghini. Once again, the two supercar companies have upped the ante in 2009 with the lightning quick and exquisitely engineered Ferrari F430 Spider and Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder. Both are high-performance athletes whose standards of precision, performance, and spontaneous action are matched only by their extraordinary figure.

The latest in Ferrari’s long line of V8-engined convertible sports cars, the F430 Spider offers a unique combination of extreme performance and open-air motoring. Equipped with an F1 automated manual transmission and with the same competition-inspired 4.3-liter flat crank power unit as the F430 coupe, the Spider tops out at a speed of 193 mph with blazing fast acceleration, covering the zero to 60 mph sprint in just 3.9 seconds. The Ferrari integrates F1-racing technology into its powertrain, suspension, chassis, and body aerodynamics to bring racing performance to the road. Significant improvements have also been made in the chassis department. A 10 percent increase in torsional rigidity and a five percent improvement in beam strength over the 360 Spider have led to improved handling and road holding.

Also entering the ring is the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder (the Gallardo LP 560-4 was introduced in 2008; this is the convertible version). This extreme machine rocks an aluminum 5.2L V-10 beast of an engine capable of packing a 552-horsepower punch. Accelerating from 0-62 mph in 4.0 seconds to a top speed of 201 mph, the LP 560-4 Spyder falls nothing short of its competition. The car’s agility has also been greatly refined with a new, optional E-Gear auto clutch manual six-speed transmission, which allows increased shift times by 40 percent (Corsa Mode), combined with an all-new chassis, suspension, and Lamborghini’s permanent all-wheel drive system. Despite increased performance, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been reduced by 18 percent, quite the technological feat.

The design of the Ferrari F430 Spider can be described as breathtakingly elegant. Its strong personality and muscular stance both hint at its powerful engineering and blistering performance. The Spider’s nose is characterized by two distinctive elliptical intakes that channel air into the dimensioned radiators to cool the engine. The intakes are linked at their lower edge by a spoiler that directs air towards the car’s flat underbody. The Spider’s stacked headlights are extremely compact thanks to the use of Bi-xenon technology. When the lights are on, the unique shape of the side-light, which is incorporated into the outer edge of the headlight, makes the car easily distinguishable at night. The Spider is the only mid-rear-engined convertible to have a compact, fully automatic electric top that allows the engine to be seen at all times. The roof system is designed to take up very little space and can fully open and close in 20 seconds from start to finish.

The F430 Spider’s interior is innovative and sporty. The instruments are housed in a new binnacle, which groups all of the major controls around the driver. The interior reflects the advanced technology and materials employed in the car’s construction, and features new inserts on the dash, which can be personalized in carbon or aluminum. The cockpit is noticeably larger and passenger comfort is subsequently improved thanks to a slimmer central tunnel.

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder’s design is aggressively exotic with sharp edges. The LP 560-4 is a stealth bomber on wheels. The redesigned front end lends the supercar a firm, low stance that also contributes to its aerodynamic efficiency. The enlarged and clearly accentuated air intakes increase the airflow while the spoiler, positioned low between the air intakes, improves aerodynamic stability at high speeds. New headlights have characteristic daytime running lights integrated beneath the Bi-xenon lamps. Fifteen LEDs are arranged in a Y form, with the same pattern repeating in the rear taillights, a signature feature of contemporary Lamborghini models. The one-touch power soft-top nestles into a binnacle atop the front part of the engine and is completely covered when the rear deck lowers itself back over it. The top’s up-and-down shtick takes about 20 seconds either direction. A glass rear window can be raised or lowered independent of the top. Not only does this serve very effectively in blocking the wind, but you can drive with the top up and the rear window down, in order to enjoy a smidgen of fresh air and mute the high revving 10-cylinder noisemaker that sits just aft of your right ear.

Despite its low exterior height, the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder welcomes passengers with a spacious interior. The sports seats are upholstered in either fine leather or Alcantara and provide firm hold and support. The wide middle console is an element that is sporty yet dynamic. It accommodates the standard Lamborghini audio and multimedia system, as well as the dual-zone climate control. Seven instrument dials boasting new graphics provide the driver with essential engine data, while a multi-functional display between the speedometer and rev-counter dishes out important information from the on-board computer.

We are the #1 top producing agents in the City of Weston. We have sold and closed over 100 million in sales in our 7 years in Weston, 29 Million in Sales for 2008 and over 6 Million this year alone, placing us as the top selling agents in Weston. We have also earned a place as the top #1 Coldwell Banker agents of Broward County, are part of Florida’s 100 top Associates, and are among Coldwell Banker’s Presidents Premier, which is the top less than 1% worldwide.

We attribute our success to our proven marketing program, attention to detail and our “hands on “approach. Our reputation for excellence and repeat referrals has stood the test of time. We are a dynamic team of real estate professionals whose marketing and public relations expertise, combined with internet savvy, which is what you’ll need to successfully sell your home. “Nobody Knows Weston Like We Do!”

Should you require our services to also assist you in buying your next home, we blend knowledge of the local market with professional expertise to guide our clients to sound real estate decisions. We have developed a fist class network of professionals who provide reliable, comprehensive, home related services to assist you with all your home needs.

Your property is unique! You deserve the individualized attention only we can deliver. Exceptional properties require exceptional advertising and promotion coupled with expert market knowledge. As skilled marketing specialists with over 20 years of combined real estate expertise, our goal is to present an orchestrated program that will enhance the appeal of your property and accelerate the time frame for selling.

We understand that a change in residence is more than just a financial or geographical move; it’s an emotional move as well. Being there to help you with it all, is what distinguishes full-service real estate agents from those less experienced.