New Line Cinema's Sex and the City: the Movie Toasts with Chimney Rock Elegant Wine the Latest Must-Have Indulgence

John Melfi, producer of Sex and the City: the Movie and Elizabeth Vianna, wine maker, celebrate with Chimney Rock Wine. (PRNewsFoto/Terlato Wine Group) NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES 05/28/2008

28 May 2008 11:30 Africa/Lagos


New Line Cinema's Sex and the City: the Movie Toasts with Chimney Rock Elegant Wine the Latest Must-Have Indulgence

NEW YORK, May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- They've shown us what shoes to purchase, what dresses to hang in our closets and what bags to sling over our shoulders, and now we know what to stock in the cellar: Chimney Rock Elevage Blanc, a luxury classic white Bordeaux blend that is featured in the movie and was the exclusive wine brand served at the Premiere party at MOMA (The Museum of Modern Art). When it came time to toast the debut, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon had Chimney Rock within reach, the latest must-have indulgence for the Sex and the City set.


(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080528/AQW061)


Chimney Rock's winemaker Elizabeth Vianna, smart, successful and a great fan of the series and the movie, hails from New York, but as of late, has come to call the serene setting of Napa Valley home. "Carrie's musings remind us that the magical thing about old New York friendships is they are deeply rooted. It is such an honor to have our wines present in my dear friend's fabulous movie. A great pairing, no doubt."


"It is my favorite wine and she (Elizabeth) is my favorite person," said John Melfi, producer of the film. "It is the perfect blend."


With the skill and patience of an haute couture designer, Vianna fashions some of Napa's most luxurious wines -- bringing to life the exquisite flavors grown in the vineyard. "I'm passionate about quality and crafting elegant balanced wines from our estate vineyards in Stags Leap."


A dazzling landmark along Napa's famed Silverado Trail, Chimney Rock's architecture and grounds are enough to sweep even the most jaded New Yorker off her Manolo Blahniks.


The winery was founded in 1980 to produce Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends from estate vineyards in the southern end of the Stags Leap District. In 2000 the Terlato family became partners in Chimney Rock and assumed full ownership in 2004. Today there are 119 acres of vines planted on the 137 acre estate.


Chimney Rock produces three signature red wines from estate-grown fruit: Cabernet Sauvignon, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon and Elevage, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The winery also produces a small amount of white wine called Elevage Blanc. This unique proprietary blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Gris was launched to rave reviews in 2004.


Terlato Wines International has a global portfolio of more than 40 brands from a host of world-class wine producers and presently markets more than one out of eight bottles of wine over $14 sold in America. Terlato, with more 90+ ratings than any wine company in the world, is the flagship company of the Terlato Wine Group, the parent company of several independent businesses specializing in the marketing and production of exceptional wines. Owned and operated by the Terlato family, the Group also includes the family's winery investments and partnerships in some of the world's most esteemed wine regions, including: Napa Valley; Sonoma County; Santa Barbara County; Victoria, Australia; France's Rhone Valley; and Somontano in Spain.


The Terlato Wines International portfolio of brands includes: Napa Valley: Brandlin, Chimney Rock, Cuvaison Estate Wines, Markham Vineyards, Rutherford Hill, Tangley Oaks and Terlato Family Vineyards; Sonoma County: Alderbrook, Hanna, Rochioli and Terlato Family Vineyards; Santa Barbara County: Sanford and Tangley Oaks; California Appellation: Glass Mountain and Seven Daughters; Oregon: Argyle and Sokol Blosser; Italy: Baglio di Pianetto, Ca' del Bosco, Ca' Marcanda (Gaja Toscana), Florio Martinez Marsala, Gaja, Il Poggione, Kettmeir, Santa Margherita, Tiramisu, Torresella and Distillatori Nonino (Grappa); France: Champagne Bollinger, M. Chapoutier, Chateau des Laurets (Rothschild), Domaine Chanson, Domaine Louis Moreau, Josmeyer and Langlois-Chateau; Australia: Branson Coach House, Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier, Domaine Tournon and Two Hands; Argentina: Tamari; Canada: Peller Estates Icewine; Greece: Boutari; New Zealand: Wairau River; South Africa: Cirrus, Guardian Peak, Engelbrecht-Els, Ernie Els Signature and Rust En Vrede; Spain: Olvena; Switzerland: Xellent. For more information, visit http://www.terlatowines.com/.


Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080528/AQW061
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Terlato Wine Group

CONTACT: Susan Holmer of Terlato Wine Group, +1-847-604-5724,
holmers@terlatowines.com


Web site: http://www.terlatowines.com/

Djimon Hounsou and Kimora Lee Simmons From Hollywood With Love

Djimon Hounsou kissing Kimora Lee Simmons on the street while her daughter seems amused.



I am posting the latest news on the most prominent African actor in Hollywood, Djimon Hounsou and his beautiful leading lady Kimora Lee Simmons who reminds me of my own princess and queen.

The following interview and Djimon Hounsou's photographs are from Parade, and I added the photographs of Kimora Lee Simmons that even Parade cannot provide.



This is my weekend special for you. Enjoy it.
.................


The towering, 6-foot-2, handsome actor Djimon Hounsou (pronounced JY-mon HOWN-soo) has an extraordinary résumé of major films, including "Gladiator", "In America" and "Blood Diamond". So what is he doing in a new movie that suggests The Karate Kid?

“In many of my roles, I’ve been very physical,” he told me. “But you don’t want to do just the heavy stuff. It’s nice to laugh and have some fun.”

Due out this week, "Never Back Down" finds Hounsou playing a mixed martial-arts veteran mentoring a rebellious teen (Sean Farris). Next on the schedule: "Push", a futuristic adventure with the young actress Dakota Fanning.

Born in the small West African country of Benin, Djimon went to Paris at 13 to further his education. His striking good looks attracted fashion designer Thierry Mugler, who hired him to model. A couple of music videos led to small acting roles and, later, a starring role as the rebellious slave Cinque in Steven Spielberg’s 1997 historical drama, Amistad. Was he disappointed that Amistad didn’t become a huge hit?

“I think it was more a matter of timing and of marketing,” he said. “When the studio re-released it in 1998 around the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr., it did very well.”



Today, Hounsou lives in the hills above Los Angeles and is dating model and fashion designer Kimora Lee Simmons. He has siblings and other family in Benin and visits often, as President Bush did in February. Is his native country stable these days?





“Very progressive, very stable,” he said. “I also go back to France a lot, because it was where I really grew up.” How was learning French? “The younger you are, the easier it is,” he said. But now, at 43, Hounsou sports a neat beard flecked with gray. “Ah,” he said, laughing, “let’s say we’re not getting old, but we’re getting wiser.”
Continue reading more on Parade.