November 12th, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Author: Nate Chapnick
Photo: Rolls-Royce
Information Provided By: Riviera San Diego
There’s nothing quite like piloting a Rolls-Royce, and nothing quite like stepping out of one either. The British maker’s newest model, the Wraith, makes no excuses for its luxurious largesse. This vehicle is as much about making a grand entrance at a Buckhead valet as it is about taking a glorious drive.
So, full steam ahead, and once you set a course, the Wraith plows forward with a take-no-prisoners authority. This two-door fastback boasts a German-built twin-turbocharged V12 engine that produces an astonishing 624 horsepower and 590 lb.-ft. of torque. Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Wraith surges from 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, a run that imparts a sense of effortless power to whomever assumes the wheel. The giddyup isn’t blazing—this is Rolls-Royce after all—but the Wraith is one of the most performance-forward autos the Goodwood factory has yet produced. An innovative Satellite Aided Transmission uses GPS data to anticipate gear selections based on upcoming terrain, creating an unmatched level of smoothness that makes shifts barely perceptible.
(more…)
November 11th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties is proud to announce that our team raised $11,392 to help defeat Lou Gehrig’s disease during the annual Walk to Defeat ALS®.
On Nov. 8, 2014 team members from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties laced up their sneakers, filled their water bottles and hit the road to help raise money and awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This devastating neurodegenerative condition afflicts tens of thousands of Americans each year, and unfortunately there is no cure.
(more…)
November 7th, 2014 at 12:00 pm
To help make the holidays brighter for needy families throughout their community, the Orange County chapter of The Charitable Foundation of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties will hold a benefit on their behalf Nov. 13.
Ladies Night Out takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. at Marbella Country Club in San Juan Capistrano. The event will bring together agents, staff and clients for an evening of fun, food, drinks, and music to raise money for various Orange County charities.
A portion of the evening’s donations will benefit the Children’s Bureau of Orange County. Toys for children from birth to 16 years will be collected for a “Toy Shop’” drive, where gifts will be distributed to needy families. Parents will be able to “shop” for toys for their children to receive on Christmas morning.
(more…)
October 31st, 2014 at 10:30 am
Author: Guillian Flyn
Photography: Robert Benson
Information provided by: Riviera San Diego
Less than two hours from the San Diego border, this vast, craggy valley is not just a hotbed for foodies and the sip-and-swirl set. With a muy tranquilo vibe, it’s the ideal place for instantly slipping into vacation mode, winding along dirt roads to indulge in one-of-a-kind outdoor dining and dream-big architecture that embraces the land. You can even take off on a helicopter to the ultimate hilltop picnic. “We are making history as we speak,” says Fernando Perez Castro, a vintner. Consider this your lesson—splash of flinty rosé included.
Bottle Rocket
“Right now there is this boom in Mexican wine,” says Fernando Perez Castro, owner of Hacienda La Lomita, one of the valley’s next-level wineries helping to produce the region’s 2 million cases annually. “A new generation is stepping up the quality,” says Castro, cradling a 100 percent grenache. The winery just added a new alfresco eatery, TrasLomita, and a VIP tasting room.
(more…)