The TidyTowns movement showed that even a tiny village on the Irish coast could harness the magic of its terroir. — The Terroir Effect The word “terroir” derives from the Latin word “terra,” meaning “dirt.” But it is far more than that, according to the Cambridge English Dictionary. Terroir is the reason grapes in one vineyard are distinctly different in flavor and character from the same variety in another vineyard less than a football…

The Terroir Effect and how it shapes our lives — Alexander Payne’s Sideways, a 2004 movie about life, wine, and legacy, contains one of the great all time great soliloquies about the subject of terroir. …

“My child, do not imitate me in the taste I have had for building or in that I have had for war; try, on the contrary, to be at peace with your neighbors.” — Louis XIV The old king’s health started to decline in August when he returned from a…

A terroir is where the light shines brighter. — “There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” ― Henri Matisse Part I: Escaping The Shadows A young artist sips a glass of the local Picpoul de Pinet, relishing the tang of metal and citrus. It is noontime, and feeling a bit weary after a morning of brushstrokes, he orders a favorite…

The Victorian Era was an age of formality and restraint, but not sobriety. — The memorable dinner at Windsor Palace on November 24, 1899, was a grand affair. So was the hostess. Grand that is. The seven-course feast was a sight to behold, with a sideboard filled with enough meats to feed an army. But it was not just the food that was noteworthy…

Only a courageous few were willing to risk reputation and career to strike the blow struck that led to the abolition of slavery. — One towering figure was most instrumental in the campaign to abolish slavery in 19th-century Britain. Despite physical frailty and poor eyesight, William Wilberforce was ignited by a profound religious awakening in 1785, a transformative experience that would spur him to become a tireless advocate for abolishing slavery and social change…

Buffett shares a glimpse of how he built an ethical culture at Berkshire Hathaway. — I found myself in the room where it happens, Warren Buffett’s inner sanctum. A place where the Midas touch of this legendary titan of business has wrought untold riches. The walls were adorned with a painting of sultry Sophia Loren that urged him to aim for the bleachers, while…

The venerable poet, a winner of four Pulitzer Prizes, recited a poem at JFK’s inaugural with two thoughts in mind. — Step back in time to one of the most pivotal moments in history. It was Friday, January 20, 1961, a blindingly sunny day. All eyes were on movie star handsome John F. Kennedy who was about to take the oath of office to become the 35th president of the United…

Drucker believed that whenever anything important is accomplished, it is usually done by a monomaniac on a mission. That is an apt description of how he felt about business. — Drucker, an Austrian-born consultant turned professor, is widely regarded as the father of modern management thinking. …