Thankfully, the self-invested personal pension (SIPP) came out of the Autumn Budget largely untouched today (26 November).
Beforehand, there were rumours that the 25% tax-free lump sum might be in danger. But the major announcements related to inheritance tax on unspent pension pots. So for investors wanting to build a chunky pot for later in life, the path is still open.
Here, I’ll take a look at how someone starting with £5k in a SIPP today could end up with an attractive sum.
Snowball effect
For simplicity’s sake, let’s assume that this investor is a basic-rate taxpayer. Their £5,000 contribution is topped up by HMRC, becoming £6,250. And if they contributed a further £100 every month, the tax relief would turn this into £125 (or £1,500 per year).
Given that this is a pension account, where the investing runway is likely going to be decades, I don’t think there’s any point in taking excessive risk by swinging for the fences. So an 8% average annual return is a realistic goal, in my opinion.
Yet these modest figures could quietly snowball into something surprisingly meaningful. After 35 years, the SIPP would grow to roughly £360,360, excluding platform fees.
At this point, an investor could choose to draw down 5% per year, equivalent to £18,900 (or £1,575 per month). And while inflation will naturally chip away at spending power over 35 years, it still underlines just how worthwhile a SIPP can is for long-term investors.
Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice.
Outperforming growth stock
This is why I put bits and bobs into my own SIPP when I can, taking advantage of the tax relief. One stock I have bought a couple of times over the past year is Nu Holdings (NYSE:NU).
It’s up 65% year to date.
So, what does Nu Holdings do? Well, this is the holding company behind Nubank, which is the leading digital bank in Latin America (and now one of the largest fintech platforms globally).
In Q3, Nu reported that its customer base swelled to 127m. But the incredible thing is that it still only operates in three countries — Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.
Customers (Q3 2025)
Year-on-year growth
Brazil
110.1m
+11.5%
Mexico
13.1m
+47.2%
Colombia
3.8m
+90%
Total
127m
+15.8%
In Brazil, an astonishing 60% of the adult population are Nu customers. However, in Mexico and Colombia, the population penetration rate is still low. Just 14% and 10%, respectively.
This highlights the growth potential ahead in those two countries, never mind worldwide (Nu has ambitious global expansion plans).
Turning to the financials, Q3 revenue jumped 39% to a record $4.2bn, while net income also increased 39% to $783m. Adjusted net income was $829m. This demonstrates how Nu is becoming very profitable as it scales.
Total deposits reached $38.8bn, up 34%, and the credit portfolio expanded 42% to $30.4bn. While this is highly encouraging, it would be naive to assume that Latin America is Switzerland. Inflation, currency risks, and political instability are all risks.
On the other hand, tens of millions of Latin American consumers are accessing financial services for the first time. Traditional banks have not been customer-friendly (high fees, poor customer service, etc), and this is making Nu’s seamless digital banking experience a far superior proposition.
Given the long runway of growth ahead, and excellent profitability and management team, I think the stock is worth considering. I reckon it will continue doing the business in my SIPP over the long run.
The presidential turkey pardon is one of the biggest softball events that a president takes part in. It is meant to be a lighthearted ceremonial opening of the Thanksgiving holiday.
During Barack Obama’s time in the White House, the nation got eight years of really corny dad jokes that Obama seemed to delight in, because they were completely terrible, even as his daughters would stand off to the side and roll their eyes.
It was fun.
George W. Bush also made bad jokes, but it was lighthearted.
The nation has not seen anything quite like an angry and failing Donald Trump, who is mentally declining, and used the presidential turkey pardon as a mean-spirited grievance fest.
Trump said:
Into a terrible situation caused by a man named Sleepy Joe Biden. He used an auto pen last year for the turkeys. Pardon? So I have the official duty to determine, and I have determined that last year’s Turkey pardons are totally invalid, as are the pardons of about every other person that was pardoned other than, uh, where’s Hunter?
No, Hunters was good. That was the one pardon, Pam. That was good, right? The rest of ‘em are all invalid. I don’t know what the hell you’re gonna do about that, but that’s, now we’re gonna take a little of the joking that is a mess, but they’re hereby null and void. The turkeys known as Peach and Blossom last year have been located, and they were on their way to be processed, in other words, to be killed.
But I have stopped that journey and I am officially pardoning them. And, uh, they will not be served for Thanksgiving dinner. Uh, we saved them in the nick of time. This one has plenty of time, but they were saved in the nick of time.
Video clip:
Unless a person watches Fox News, they have no idea what Trump was talking about, but his joke was mean-spirited, not funny, and not even accurate. Biden’s pardons are valid, and the autopen stuff is nonsense.
Apple may be forced to pay $38 billion under India’s antitrust laws that allows it to go after a percentage of a company’s global revenue. The real fight is over leverage, and who has power.
Apple and India have a new legal battle
India changed its competition law in 2024 to let regulators calculate penalties using a company’s global turnover rather than domestic revenue. That shift exposes Apple to a maximum penalty of up to 10% of its worldwide revenue for the last three fiscal years.
Apple filed a constitutional challenge in the Delhi High Court before any ruling in its ongoing antitrust case. Investigators previously accused Apple of abusive conduct in the Indian app market after complaints from Match Group and several Indian startups.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves drives to the hoop as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends in the second half at Crypto.com Arena.
(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
The Lakers locked up their spot in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, but there are still meaningful Cup games to be played.
With a 3-0 record in West Group B, the Lakers can clinch home-court advantage in the quarterfinals with a win Friday against the Dallas Mavericks in the group stage finale. A win would be the simplest way to avoid resorting to the point differential tiebreaker that could still be in play to decide the No. 1 seed in the West. Outscoring opponents by 36 points, the Lakers’ point differential is 27 points behind West Group A leaders Oklahoma City (2-0 in group play) for the potential No. 1 seed. The top-seeded team will host the wild-card team, which earns its spot in the quarterfinal by virtue of being the best second-place team in group play. Portland and Denver are tied atop West Group C with 2-1 records.
The three-year-old NBA Cup, inspired by similar in-season tournaments in European leagues, has sparked confusion about the colorful courts and ever-changing group stage scenarios. The potential extra trip and extra championship game could end up putting more wear on teams that have larger playoff ambitions, but the prize makes it worth the trouble: $500,000 for each player.
“Obviously I’ll accept money,” Doncic said with a sarcastic smile. “That’s easy. … I played it in Spain, something like this, so I like it. Just the courts, please.”
Doncic said the Lakers’ NBA Cup court — bright yellow with the gold and black trophy painted into the key — caused problems for a few players as they slipped on the new hardwood. An area near the free-throw line in front of the Clippers bench appeared to be especially slippery. Doncic said he could tell immediately during warmups that the surface could be a problem.
“I slipped a lot of times and you could see a lot of players slipped,” Doncic said. “And that’s dangerous, man.”
Redick said he noticed players slipping, but also that they were falling before that. He said the team will look into the court.
Kenny Beck surveyed the damage Tuesday to his family’s two-story home after at least two tornadoes tore through the Houston area, damaging over 100 homes at the start of a busy Thanksgiving travel week that has Americans closely eyeing the weather.
“Half my roof on the back is gone,” Beck, 46, said as workers cleared large tree branches and other debris from around nearby houses in the suburb of Cypress. “We’ve lost a lot of ceiling because of the rain. Our garage door got sucked in.”
No injuries were reported from Monday’s storm but it uprooted trees, downed power lines and scattered debris throughout some neighborhoods northwest of Houston. The National Weather Service on Tuesday had confirmed at least two tornadoes, one in Cypress with winds up to 105 mph (168 kph) and another around the community of Klein with winds up to 115 mph (185 kph).
Beck said that while repairs are being made, his family will have to move out of the home where they’ve lived and shared many moments and memories with family and friends over the past 20 years.
“I’m just hoping that here in a couple of months, we can get back in and we can start making more of those memories,” Beck said.
Meanwhile, multiple rounds of storms and showers were expected in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. The storm system was expected to move to the Northeast by Tuesday night, with another one in the forecast in the Pacific Northwest.
Even though the official start of winter is nearly a month away, a wintry storm was developing in the northern part of the country, with snow falling in North Dakota.
“That’s impacting North Dakota, Minnesota, including Minneapolis, and then portions of the northern Great Lakes,” said weather service meteorologist Marc Chenard in College Park, Maryland. He said snowfall was expected into Wednesday.
As much as 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow had fallen by late Tuesday afternoon in parts of North Dakota and South Dakota, according to the National Weather Service. In North Dakota, officials closed parts of Interstate 94 and Interstate 29 due to ice, low visibility and multiple accidents.
The holiday itself was shaping up to be dry, cold and breezy for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday in New York. But parts of western New York and northern Michigan are expected to see lake-effect snow Wednesday through Friday.
“It’s pretty narrow bands, but they’ll be some significant snowfall accumulations,” Chenard said. More winter weather could arrive in the central and northern parts of the country over the weekend.
In Texas, some people hunkered down in their homes and hid in closets during the storm earlier in the week. More than 20,000 customers were without power at one point Monday.
Beck said his 13-year-old son was home alone when the severe weather hit. He said his son hid in the closet and wasn’t hurt but was still shaken up on Tuesday. The boy told his father he could feel the house shake and hear the wind howl as things fell and broke.
“I think he’s still kind of processing it,” said Beck, who works as a teacher. “I think he understands the fact that him being safe was the most important thing and that he knows what to do in the moment, which is what makes me proud as a parent.”
In the Houston suburb of Spring, where severe weather damaged multiple homes, workers could be seen in one subdivision on Tuesday afternoon repairing roofs and cutting down damaged trees.
Sam Parker, owner of Texas Advantage Roofing, said he was working in the subdivision on Monday when he saw a tornado.
“I waited for it to pass,” he said. “I saw a lot of debris flying around.”
Parker said many homes had roof damage while others had more severe structural damage.
“It’s very catastrophic for these homeowners out here,” Parker said.
___
Associated Press reporters Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, Julie Walker in New York City, Jamie Stengle in Dallas and Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota, contributed to this report.
Centner Wellness & Spa has quickly become one of Miami’s go-to names for holistic health and rejuvenation. With three striking locations in Brickell, Edgewater, and Coral Gables, each space blends luxury with cutting-edge therapies, creating destinations where self-care is the main event.
Photo courtesy of Centner Wellness & Spa Miami
Every location offers state-of-the-art facilities, expert practitioners, and a mix of services that range from therapeutic massages and advanced skincare to innovative wellness technologies. Each space is designed with calm in mind, giving guests room to slow down, recharge, and reset.
Brickell
The Brickell flagship spans 15,000 square feet in the middle of Miami’s urban core. Alongside traditional spa treatments, it offers full-body health assessments, doctor-supported IV therapies, and personalized health plans with in-house holistic coaches. High-tech longevity treatments — from hyperbaric chambers to Weber IV Lasers — make this the most comprehensive of the three.
Edgewater
Sitting pretty on Biscayne Bay, Edgewater leans into detox therapies. It’s the only Centner location to feature colon hydrotherapy, along with hydrogen therapy, lymphatic massage, ozone treatments, and flotation therapy — a lineup designed for deep cleansing inside and out.
Coral Gables
The Coral Gables location takes a more serene, restorative approach. Expect cryotherapy, cold plunges, infrared saunas, red light sessions, flotation tanks, and bio-sync therapies that promote rest, recovery, and balance.
Photo courtesy of Centner Wellness & Spa Miami
Whether you’re in the mood for a serious health reset or a simple afternoon of unwinding, Centner Wellness & Spa offers a customized path to feeling your best.
The first pop of a cork can change the mood of an entire room. Few wines carry such emotional weight as champagne, and every year when the festive period approaches, we start hunting for that one holiday season champagne bottle that will feel worthy of the moment. The challenge is that the shelves are full of labels and logos, while truly memorable holiday season champagne experiences are often hiding in plain sight or tucked away in the portfolios of small, growing families.
Champagne has always walked a fascinating line between luxury object and cultural ritual. It marks promotions and weddings and New Year countdowns, yet for many people the choice still defaults to the same two or three very familiar labels. For a curious, demanding audience already surrounded by high-end experiences, it feels like a missed opportunity. There are cuvées within the grand houses that show a completely different personality from their flagship bottlings, and quiet artisans are working away in the villages of the Côte des Blancs and the Côte des Bar who craft wines that insiders almost guard as secrets.
This article is an invitation to look beyond the obvious. Together, we will move from rich, generous styles perfect for late-night desserts to razor-precise Blanc de Blancs and finally to one of the most coveted prestige rosé champagnes on the market. The aim is not only to give you five names to buy but to help you understand why they taste the way they do and why they deserve a place at the centre of your festive table. By the end, you will have a short personal map of holiday season champagne bottles and a sixth bottle as an editor’s pick that might become your new house favourite.
Why does champagne belong to celebrations and the festive season?
Champagne is more than sparkling wine. It is a cultural code. For centuries, it has been poured at moments when society wanted to show importance, triumph, or love. From the eighteenth century onwards, French courts and European aristocracy made champagne the drink of coronations, royal weddings, and peace treaties, which set the tone for its association with power and joy.
During the nineteenth century, industrialisation and the rise of international trade allowed the great houses to export their wines to London, New York, and Saint Petersburg. Champagne appeared in novels, paintings, and early cinema as the ultimate shorthand for glamour.
Today, that heritage continues in a more democratic way. Champagne still lights up New Year’s parties, but it also appears at more intimate events, such as a first night in a new home, a quietly celebrated promotion, or the simple pleasure of opening a good bottle because friends are in town. The ritual is always the same: the cold bottle, the sound of the cork, the mist rising from the neck of the glass, and then the first sip. It is a small ceremony that tells everyone that this moment matters more than an ordinary Tuesday dinner.
Behind the scenes, champagne is a serious global business. Shipments reached about 299 million bottles in 2023 as the region returned to its pre-pandemic rhythm. In 2024, volumes fell to around 271 million bottles, a sign of economic uncertainty and changing consumption patterns, yet even in this more cautious world, champagne remains the reference for celebration. The paradox is that while overall volumes fluctuate, the demand for truly distinctive high-quality cuvées has never been stronger, especially among informed drinkers.
There is, however, another story shaping the future of every bottle we open: climate change. The Champagne region has experienced a steady rise in average temperatures, pushing harvest dates earlier and earlier. Producers now routinely pick grapes several weeks earlier than they did a generation ago, which brings both advantages and challenges. Warmer summers mean riper fruit and in some vintages a natural richness that earlier generations of winemakers could only dream of. At the same time, higher sugar levels and lower acidity can disturb the classic balance of tension and freshness that defines the traditional taste of champagne.
The region is responding with a mix of science and intuition. Growers experiment with canopy management to shield bunches from excessive sun, adjust pressing techniques, and fine-tune blends to preserve precision and elegance. Recent vintages show that while volumes may be under pressure, quality can be remarkably high.
Official forecasts for French wine output in 2024 and 2025 point to historically low levels overall, yet Champagne is expected to deliver more minor crops with excellent concentration. For the drinker, this means that choosing carefully has never mattered more. The right bottle today can express an entire landscape in transition while still delivering the joyful sparkle that defines the region.
Five remarkable bottles of champagne you might not expect to open this festive season
There is something deliciously satisfying about pouring a champagne that surprises your guests. Perhaps they recognise the famous maison but have never tasted this particular cuvée. Maybe they have never even heard of the grower. Below are five bottles arranged from least expensive to most expensive. All are serious wines selected for their character and their ability to elevate a festive table. Welcome to your holiday season champagne shopping list!
Moët and Chandon Nectar Impérial
Moët and Chandon is arguably the most recognised champagne name on the planet, yet most drinkers stop at the classic Brut Impérial. Nectar Impérial is the more hedonistic sibling of a demi sec designed for those who enjoy a touch of sweetness without losing freshness. It is crafted from a generous blend of Pinot Noir, with Meunier and Chardonnay adding texture and lift. The fruit is sourced from a vast network of vineyards, which allows the cellar team to craft a consistent style that is lush, opulent, and still impeccably balanced.
In the glass, the wine shows a deep golden colour with a steady fine bead. The nose is almost tropical with notes of ripe pineapple, mango, and passion fruit layered over stone fruits such as apricot and mirabelle, along with a gentle touch of vanilla. On the palate, it feels full and creamy, yet the sweetness is shaped by a lively line of acidity and a burst of grapefruit on the finish. This makes it remarkably versatile. It pairs beautifully with fruit-based desserts and festive pastries, but it is also stunning with blue cheeses or spicy dishes where the residual sugar can tame heat and salt.
What makes Nectar Impérial special is its ability to play the role of dessert wine, aperitif, and late-night glass in one. For a party that runs from canapés to the final slice of panettone, it is a bottle that bridges many moments. In most markets, a standard bottle will sit around seventy United States dollars, depending on taxes and promotions, placing it at the indulgent yet still approachable end of the spectrum for a well-known global brand.
Taittinger Prélude Grands Crus
Taittinger is respected for its finesse-driven style, yet Prélude Grands Crus still feels like an insider’s choice. The cuvée is built solely from Grand Cru vineyards with an equal blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and only the first pressing is used. This is then aged for around five years in the cellars before release, which is significantly longer than the legal minimum. The result is a champagne that bridges youthful energy and real depth.
In the glass, Prélude presents a pale yellow robe with silvery reflections, reflecting the high proportion of Chardonnay. The nose is delicate at first with mineral notes that quickly give way to elderflower, white peach, and a gentle hint of spice. On the palate, the wine shows a striking balance. The Chardonnay brings linear mineral freshness while the Pinot Noir contributes structure and a subtle touch of red fruit. Flavours of citrus, white peach in syrup, and a whisper of cinnamon lead to a long, salty finish that feels both vibrant and serious.
Prélude is special because it offers a glimpse of Taittinger at its most meticulous without climbing into the price territory of the famous Comtes de Champagne. It is ideal for refined aperitifs and for pairing with elegant dishes such as scallop carpaccio or lobster with citrus butter. Retail prices often start in the low to mid sixties in United States dollars and can rise into the eighties, depending on the market and exchange rate, which means that a Grand Cru-only blend aged for many years offers exceptional value.
Marie Courtin Résonance Extra Brut
Move south to the Côte des Bar, and you enter a different dimension of champagne. Here, the limestone and climate are closer to Chablis, and over the past two decades, a handful of growers have gained cult status among sommeliers. Marie Courtin is one of those names. Dominique Moreau farms her vineyards biodynamically, works with very low intervention in the cellar, and bottles individual wines that express specific parcels. Résonance is her Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs made entirely from Pinot Noir planted in the nineteen seventies on Kimmeridgian limestone soils.
The style is pure and focused. On the nose, Résonance often opens with aromas of fresh bread and brioche, followed by red apple, cranberry, and wild strawberry, together with a streak of citrus. There is an herbal and floral aspect too, something like meadow flowers after rain. On the palate, the wine is very dry with a fine, tight mousse. Orchard fruit and red berries mingle with chalky minerality and a faint savoury note. The finish is long, energetic, and almost saline.
Résonance feels more like a fine still wine that happens to sparkle than a conventional house-style champagne. It is outstanding with complex dishes, roasted poultry, wild mushroom risotto, or aged hard cheeses, because it brings both tension and a sense of umami. Production is limited, and allocations can be tight, which adds to its aura among professionals. In many specialist shops, you will find it between $70 and $90, depending on the vintage and availability.
Ruinart Blanc de Blancs
Ruinart is the oldest established champagne house, and for many devotees, Blanc de Blancs is its signature expression. The cuvée is made entirely from Chardonnay, much of it from Premier Cru vineyards in the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims. This grape is also the foundation of the house’s identity, which focuses on luminosity and freshness. Blanc de Blancs is blended from several vintages to maintain a consistent profile, and it has become something of a reference point for pure Chardonnay champagne.
In the glass, the wine shows a luminous light gold colour. The nose reveals layers of citrus, especially lemon and lime, followed by pineapple and passion fruit, alongside white peach, jasmine, and lime blossom. There are also subtle notes of ginger, cardamom, and pink peppercorn, which add complexity without overwhelming the fruit. On the palate, Blanc de Blancs is both round and fresh. The texture is silky with flavours of ripe stone fruit, citrus zest, and delicate spice, all carried by a vibrant acid line that keeps the whole experience lifted.
Blanc de Blancs is special because it feels effortlessly luxurious while remaining incredibly food-friendly. It shines with oysters and other shellfish, but it is equally beautiful with simple dishes such as roast chicken with lemon and herbs. It can begin a meal and carry it gracefully through several courses. The average retail price tends to be around 90 to 100 United States dollars for a standard bottle, reflecting both the quality of the fruit and the strength of the Ruinart name.
Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé
At the summit of this selection stands an almost legendary wine. Cristal Rosé from Louis Roederer is one of the world’s most admired prestige rosé champagnes. The 2014 vintage has drawn exceptional reviews from leading critics, often in the high nineties, thanks to its precision, depth, and ageing potential. It is crafted mainly from Pinot Noir, with a significant proportion of Chardonnay, and uses the saignée method to enhance colour and structure. The grapes come from biodynamically farmed vineyards in the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs, and the wine spends many years resting on its lees before release.
In the glass, Cristal Rosé presents a delicate onion skin or pale salmon hue with an ultra-fine bead. The nose is complex from the first moment. Red berries such as wild strawberry and raspberry mingle with blood orange citrus peel, sweet spices, and notes of toasted brioche and hazelnut. With air, one can pick up hints of rose petals, chalk, and a faint touch of smoke. On the palate, the wine is both powerful and weightless. The attack is precise and energetic, then the mid palate expands with layers of red fruit, citrus, and stone fruit wrapped in a creamy texture. The finish seems to go on indefinitely, leaving a memory of saline minerality and spice.
This is not a casual party bottle. Cristal Rosé is a wine to open when you want to create a once-in-a-year moment, perhaps a small New Year dinner with close friends or a milestone celebration. It works beautifully with sophisticated dishes such as lobster in light bisque sauce, tuna with sesame and citrus, or roasted pigeon with red fruit jus. Pricing varies widely by market and allocation, yet a fair guide is around 550 to 650 United States dollars per bottle in specialist retail, and significantly more on restaurant lists.
Editor’s pick: Champagne Colin and the magic of a great grower Blanc de Blancs.
Among the many grower families that quietly shape the future of Champagne, the Colin family occupies a particularly charming place. Their story stretches back to the early nineteenth century, and for generations, they supplied grapes to cooperatives and larger houses. In nineteen ninety-seven, Richard and Romain Colin decided to take a different path. Instead of sending their fruit away, they became fully independent growers and producers, crafting wines under their own name and focusing on expressing the character of their Chardonnay vines in the Côte des Blancs.
The vineyards are located mainly in Premier Cru and Grand Cru villages where chalky soils and cool conditions give Chardonnay its unmistakable tension and perfume. Over time, Champagne Colin has developed a range of Blanc de Blancs that showcase different facets of this terroir, from more approachable cuvées to concentrated single-site wines. For an editor’s pick, one bottle stands out as a pinnacle of their craftsmanship, the Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Les Grandes Terres from the 2014 vintage.
Les Grandes Terres comes from a Grand Cru parcel where old vines sink deep roots into chalk and yield naturally modest crops. The wine is fermented and aged with great care, then left on its lees for an extended period to build complexity. In the glass, it offers an intense yet refined nose of lemon zest, white flowers, and fresh almond with touches of chalk dust and pastry cream. On the palate, the attack is straight and vibrant, then the wine fans out into flavours of citrus, ripe green apple, and subtle exotic notes, all carried by a tight mineral spine. The dosage is usually low, allowing the terroir’s natural salinity and energy to speak clearly.
What makes Champagne Colin so compelling is the combination of family scale and technical ambition. They invest in modern equipment but remain deeply attached to traditional vineyard work and patient ageing. The result is champagne that feels artisanal without being rustic and refined without losing authenticity. Les Grandes Terres, in particular, sits at that beautiful intersection of precision and generosity, where each sip seems to reveal another layer. For a seasoned champagne lover, this bottle can be as moving as many far more famous prestige cuvées, yet its name will still be unfamiliar to most guests at your table.
Depending on market and vintage, you can expect to pay a little over one hundred United States dollars for a bottle of a top Champagne Colin Blanc de Blancs, such as Les Grandes Terres, which positions it as a serious but not extravagant investment in pure Chardonnay pleasure.
To conclude,
Choosing champagne for the festive season can feel overwhelming, but once you start looking beyond the most obvious labels, the landscape becomes exciting rather than confusing. A rich, flirtatious cuvée like Moët & Chandon Nectar Impérial can carry you from spicy snacks to dessert with ease. Taittinger Prélude Grands Crus brings the poise and quiet luxury of Grand Cru vineyards at a price that still feels civilised for a celebration.
Marie Courtin Résonance reminds us that a single artisan working patiently in the Côte des Bar can produce a wine as complex and thought-provoking as many icons. Ruinart Blanc de Blancs offers a masterclass in Chardonnay, shaped by centuries of savoir-faire. Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé stands ready for those rare moments when only the most elevated expression will do.
Then there is Champagne Colin, an editor’s pick that captures what makes the region so compelling today. Here you have a family whose roots run deep into the chalk and whose curiosity pushes them forward. Their best Blanc de Blancs shows that greatness in Champagne is not reserved for the most prominent names alone. It belongs equally to those who decide that their own vines and their own intuition are enough to build a legacy.
As you plan your holiday tables, consider leaving space for at least one bottle that your guests have never tasted before. The conversations that follow might be as memorable as the flavours in the glass. After all, champagne is not just about luxury; it is about connection, curiosity, and the shared pleasure of discovery. And when the final cork has been popped, and the last glass poured, may the lingering trail of bubbles carry your thoughts gently and joyfully into the new year.
José Amorim This article was created exclusively for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is protected by copyright. Images are used for illustrative purposes under fair use. If you own the rights to any image and wish it to be removed, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will act promptly.
Cierra Ramirez expressed her gratitude for a wonderful experience, saying she made a fantastic weekend for that reason Paramount Plus, which she herself rated as one of her best, the Actress showed her eagerness through a very simple yet very powerful message. The message was the kind of a loud and chaotic trip with the cherries and race car emojis that symbolize the city.
Advertisement
The message immediately drew a great deal of positive comments from her followers, most of whom were expressing the same feeling of joy as she was for the vibrant city. One of the people, referring to an earlier inside joke, wrote, ‘let me know when you’re ready to squat me again,’ thus adding the playful personal touch to the public celebration. The comment very much speaks of the familiar closeness and the feel of being in a tight circle around the artist.
Another person brought up the fashion side of Ramirez and said, ‘That fur coat is everythinggggg,’ thus shifting the focus on the very high-priced and grand fur coat that was part of the Las Vegas trip. The comment being is an indication that the actress’s aesthetic choices are continuously liked and discussed among her audience. It is a small yet significant detail that symbolizes her overall look during the luxurious trip.
A different user mentioned the global magnetism of the place where today’s party was born, saying, ‘Vegas is always a great getaway for having the best fun.’ This declaration is in accord with the common opinion that Las Vegas is the main entertainment and escapism destination, thus, putting Ramirez’ visit into one of the western cultural migrations. The comment makes the star event personal and many people can identify with it.
Another less enthusiastic, but still very supportive comment was ‘Amazing, cierra, love the jacket, and have fun in Las Vegas’ from a user. This kind of comment is typical for the warm and friendly community that is always very supportive of her and is the one combining style commentary with personal encouragement.
The most loving comment was ‘Happiness looks good on you,’ which pretty much addressed the emotional aspect of the post directly. This observation, while simple, was profound, as it suggested that the joy of the experience was very much present and visibly communicated in the case of Ramirez. It reminds one that the glitzy side of the event was not only but also the very personal fulfillment that was demonstrated so clearly.
Advertisement
The comments revealed a picture of a community that was celebrating with Cierra Ramirez. They are the ones who are pointing out the specific details—the inside jokes, the fashion, the positive vibes from the place—and reflecting them back with even greater warmth. It’s like turning a simple thank-you note into a shared moment of recognition for a truly remarkable weekend. The collective response underscores the notion that a personal milestone can, when shared, resonate with the followers creating a collective feeling of enjoyment. Cierra Ramirez’s Las Vegas adventure powered by Paramount Plus surely affected not only her but everyone who was following the trip online. Davante Adams is another celebrity known for hosting memorable events.
On November 21, the newly elected mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, went to visit the White House. After months of trading insults from afar, the future mayor and Donald Trump finally met face to face in the Oval Office.
Rather than being a contentious face-off between adversaries, it was more of a mutual admiration society – and both parties were pleasant.
In fact, Donald seemed so taken with his new buddy Zohran that he reportedly copied his hairstyle.
Zohran Mamdani spoke with Adam Friedland after his Donald Trump meeting at the White House
“You went to the White House,” the host of The Adam Friedland Show said. “How did you keep [a straight face] during the press conference?” Adam wondered.
The meeting was so unexpectedly cordial. Despite previously referring to Zohran as “my little communist mayor,” Trump apparently loves him now. [FYI, Zohran is a socialist, not a communist.]
“We were all dying,” Adam continued. “And I’m like, ‘My boy Zohran was like, just straight-faced’ … How’d you keep that face?”
“Honestly, I was just thinking about New York City,” Zohran responded.
“What was the weirdest thing he showed you?” the host asked.
“I sit down, waiting for the time of the meeting,” the incoming mayor remembered. “In front of me are all these different coffee table books. And one of them is UFC at the White House … I was flipping through that.”
Reportedly, Trump wants to bring the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to the White House. Founded in 1993, the UFC hosts events where fighters from various disciplines like boxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu compete against each other inside an eight-sided cage called “The Octagon.” Trump wants to bring cage fighting to the house that President John Adams (and slave labor) built.
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF TRUMP AND MAMDANI’S MEETING AT THE WHITE HOUSE? WERE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW CHUMMY THEY WERE?
Car thieves are using tablets and antennas to steal keyless or “push to start” vehicles, police warn, but there are steps owners can take to protect their vehicles.
Recently, a group of masked individuals forcibly gained access into two vehicles sitting in the driveways of two separate Anaheim Hills homes and drove off with them, according to the Anaheim Police Department.
In both of the thefts the alleged thieves used electronic tools to target and steal higher-end cars, said Mark Sutter, spokesperson for the Anaheim Police Department.
Sutter said the department is seeing a trend in these types of thefts that target newer vehicles like a Dodge Challenger or Ford F-150 Raptor — vehicles that have a supercharge feature, a function that forces more air into the engine, which generates more power.
It’s unclear if the Anaheim Hills car thefts are connected and while the department is still investigating the incidents, no arrests have been made for either case.
Sutter broke down how both thefts occurred and how you can protect your vehicle.
Tablet reprograms car computer theft
Through home surveillance footage reviewed by the police department, Sutter said the burglars broke the back window of a white truck and jumped into the car through the window.
The masked individuals then hooked up a tablet to the car’s computer system to hack into the car.
“They reprogram it, hit the start button and drove away,” Sutter said.
How do protect your vehicle from being reprogrammed
Some traditional methods to protecting your vehicle — like parking it in a garage — are still reliable, Sutter said.
Another approach is putting a lock steering club on the steering wheel of the vehicle.
“Those can be defeated but that can take a lot of time,” Sutter said.”It’s not foolproof but at least it’s a strong deterrent.”
Accessing key fob signal theft
In the Anaheim Hills incidents, one of the vehicles was stolen by thieves accessing the key fob signal through an antenna.
Many newer vehicles have a remote keyless entry system where a key fob emits a signal that unlocks the car door and in some cases starts the car when it’s within a certain distance of the driver’s side.
The downside of this feature, Sutter said, is a signal is constantly being emitted from the key fob, similar to a debit card.
To exploit that signal, thieves will get close to the house with an antennae in hopes of capturing and amplifying it so they can unlock the vehicle.
This theft method can take less than 60 seconds to execute and is only effective when the car’s key fob is in close proximity to the car, according to the American Automobile Assn.
How to protect your key fob signal
It’s not uncommon for vehicle owners to leave their key fobs near front or back doors, on hooks or in bowls where they can grab them on their way out and leave them when they return home. But these locations also make it easy for thieves to approach and use an antennae to capture the signal from outside the door. Experts suggest keeping key fobs near the center of the home so the signal is harder to pick up.
You can also weaken the signal by purchasing a signal blocking bag or box to leave the key fob in. The bag or box is made out of conductive metal mesh that blocks the electromagnetic signals that emit from the key fob, according to AAA.
If you want to stop the key fob signal altogether, you can turn off the feature, Sutter said. Check your vehicle’s manual and follow the instructions to turn off the “remote keyless feature.”
