New York-based Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., a national independent importer and marketer of fine wine and spirits, has put together a list of great fall wines from around the globe, ideal for various cuisines and all priced under $25. France's Château de Campuget "1753" stems from an 18th century document mentioning the historic property. The 100% Syrah is aged in stainless steel, seeing no oak. Deep purple in color, it is elegant and herbal with nice tannin and a crisp finish, paring nicely with spicy foods as well as hearty cold weather dishes like beef and pastas in red sauce. SRP: $14.99. Under the discerning eye of consulting winemaker Véronique Drouhin-Boss, the light, fruity quality of Cloudline Pinot Noir (2007) from Oregon never waivers and pairs perfectly with everything from a fatty fish, such as salmon, to lamb. SRP: $19.99. Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon (2007) from South Africa is a full-bodied, mouth-filling and rich wine with ripe fruit, delicate spice, firm tannins and a lasting aftertaste, pairing perfectly with robust winter stews, roasts and mature cheeses. SRP: $11.99.

Italy's Renato Ratti Barbera D'Alba Torriglione (2007) is structured and rich with a pleasing and harmonious bouquet. The result is a full- bodied wine with an excellent balance between acidity and tannin that lends itself particularly well to pastas with lean protein, such as pork or chicken. SRP: $18.99. Tedeschi Valpolicella Capitel Dei Nicalò (2006) is made from local Veronese grape varieties including Corvina, Rondinella, and Molinara in the traditional style of the region. It is complex and elegant with lively acidity and an alcohol content that is balanced nicely by its tannins. SRP: $17.99. Argentina's Enrique Foster Reserva Malbec (2006) is made of selected grapes from old vines and production is limited to 5,000 lbs per acre. The wine is then aged in French and American oak for 12 months and in bottles for an additional six months. It's a huge wine with fruity aroma and berry
flavors perfectly suited to richly spiced dishes and roasted or grilled meats. SRP: $24.99.

The recently-opened Etiqueta Negra boutique in downtown Manhattan has brought a modern take on masculine, equestrian style all the way from Buenos Aires. The store, which features among other décor elements a 1938 Alfa Romeo racecar (above), carries suits, jackets, jeans and shirts, as well as a line of leather shoes designed exclusively for Etiqueta Negra by Casa Fagliano, the Argentina-based maker of Prince Charles' bespoke polo boots. Prices for the princely footwear, which is not available anywhere else in the U.S., begin at $2,500 a pair. They also carry polo gear as well as women's clothing, though the emphasis is on the menswear.

Related: The Classicist: On Equestrian Style; The Classicist: Exploring the Wide World of Polo

Welcome to the second installment of our new feature, "10 Luxuries", wherein a notable figure in the world of luxury, tastemaker or stylish personality tells about the 10 necessary luxuries they simply cannot do without. Related quotes and images of each item can be found in the gallery.

World-class professional polo champion Ignacio "Nacho" Figueras is the face of The World of Polo. Already the face of Polo Black, Nacho was recently chosen to represent all of Ralph Lauren's Polo fragrances, including Polo Modern Reserve and Polo Blue, in print and advertising campaigns because he embodies the many facets of today's modern Polo man. Born in Argentina in 1977, Nacho developed a love for horses and the game of polo by the age of nine. By the time he was 17, Figueras began his professional polo career. Nacho's name has become so synonymous with the sport of polo that the American Museum of Natural History looked to Figueras to donate his polo equipment to their 2008-2009 exhibit, "The Horse", and he has been matched against England's Prince William and Prince Harry in the UK's Sandhurst Tournament.

Figueras, who divides his time between the United States and Argentina, is currently playing for Neil Hirsch's Black Watch Polo team in Bridgehampton, New York in the summer and in Palm Beach, Florida during the winter season. He returns to his ranch in Argentina for the spring and fall. Off the field, Nacho's natural charisma made him the face of Ralph Lauren Black Label clothing and the Polo Black fragrance in 2005. In 2007, Polo Ralph Lauren began sponsoring his Black Watch team and debuted a line of Black Watch clothing. "Nacho personifies The World of Polo by living the lifestyle represented by each of the fragrances," says Guillaume de Lesquen, President, Worldwide, Ralph Lauren Fragrances. "When he isn't playing polo in the world's most prestigious tournaments and promoting its heritage as an ambassador, he is sailing with his young family off the coast of Punta del Este, Uruguay and breeding horses on his ranch outside of Buenos Aires."

Previously: Vertu President Perry Oosting's Ten Essential Luxuries
Related: The Classicist: Exploring the Wide World of Polo

An Argentine winery is putting the chill on one of their wines . Viña Las Perdices is coming out with Las Perdices Ice, a sweet Malbec from Mendoza. The wine is not a traditional ice wine.. Instead of waiting until the grapes freeze on the vine and then harvesting (the way the wine is made in Canada and certain chilly parts of the U.S.), this wine is made through cryoextraction which involves freezing the grapes with refrigeration and pressing them while they are still frozen. Decanter reports that the wine will be made available in three American states, as well as Brazil and Columbia. For the first two vintages, 10,000 bottles were made.

Click Wine Group, a privately held, Seattle-based company that owns and imports wine from around the world, features a great selection of recession-friendly vintages with average prices of between $10 - $13. Their Global Wine Collection consists of signature varietals from world-class appellations with easy to pronounce (and sometimes amusing) names and appealing, consumer friendly packaging aimed at taking the intimidation out of wine. They have something for virtually every palate and summertime occasion.

Fat Bastard Chardonnay:

To craft Fat Bastard Chardonnay, grapes are sourced from all over France's Languedoc-Roussillon region. The golden yellow wine with pale-green tints has expressive stone-fruit aromas with soft floral undertones and well-balanced citrus and acacia notes. Soft oak gives warmth and balance to the palate. Serve with fresh crab or shrimp, or with a roasted pork tenderloin and vegetables. Try also: Rosé.

2 Up Shiraz:

Named for a popular game of chance in Australia, 2 Up is an elegant, intense and exceptional quality Shiraz that is hand-crafted from a blend of grapes carefully selected from highly prized local vineyards. According to Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate, 2 Up represents "the type of wine value that simply can't be found in California." Goes well with Italian dishes, ribs, and grilled meats such as aged beef and lamb.

Root: 1 Cabernet Sauvignon:

Chile is one of the very few grape growing regions in the world where original European rootstocks have survived, producing the intense fruit flavor and authentic varietal character of Root: 1 wines. Rich ruby color with aromas of ripe berries and soft plum are followed by tastes of black cherry, soft vanilla and dark chocolate characterize their Cabernet. Artfully accompanies grilled meats, ripe cheeses, Italian and Mediterranean cuisine and chocolate. Try also: Chardonnay.

In times of prosperity many people like to splurge on fine wine. Discerning drinkers will find however that a tighter budget need not mean sacrificing the pleasures of enjoying the fruit of the vine. New York-based Dreyfus, Ashby & Co., a national independent importer and marketer of fine wines and spirits, has put together a list of six great summer wines from around the globe, ideal for various cuisines and all priced under $20. Here's the rundown:

From Nederburg, the most award-winning name in South African wine, comes Lyric (above left), a new blend of Sauvignon blanc, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. Freshly cut grass and green peppers meet aromas of peach and apricot to create a wine that is crisp, fresh and beautifully acidic, perfect for pairing with anything from fresh fruit to seafood. SRP: $10.99

Château de Campuget's Tradition Rosé (center left) is a crisp and fruity rosé wine from the up-and-coming Costières de Nîmes region of France, made using roughly 30% Grenache Noir and 70% Syrah. The color is obtained through a short maceration of two hours which gives it its distinctive shiny hue. Perfect with spicy and ethnic foods. SRP: $10.99

Enrique Foster is a top-flight operation with the objective of producing the best Malbec in Argentina, which is to say the best in the world. Ique (center right) is fresh and young with fruity characteristics and a ruby-red color. Its firm structure and soft tannins make it the perfect counterpart for ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. SRP: $11.99

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is one of our all-time favorite wines. Geisen's bottling (above right) has all the ripe fruit and the crisp, green and lively components associated with the wine, aromatic, flavorful and genuinely refreshing. Perfect with a light fish with a citrusy sauce. SRP: $14.99

Peter Zumthor is now $100,000 richer, and you probably have no idea who he is. The reclusive, introverted Swiss architect won the highly coveted Pritzker Prize. Zumthor is well-known in the architecture field – revered, even – but few know of him otherwise.

At first, little on Zumthor's resume. He's built a one-room chapel in a German farm field. A public bath and a handful of museums also bear his visual signature. Of course, an interpretive center at the size of what was once Gestapo headquarters catches a bit of attention, but that's about it. His style is austere, not what usually forces its way into the headlines.

The Pritzker jury chose Zumthor largely because this isn't the best time to reward ostentation. The Swiss architect's approach, which focuses only on the essentials, is effectively calibrated to global sentiment ... and brutal fiscal reality.

Zumthor will receive his gold medallion and check at the grand Legislative Palace of the City Council on May 29, 2009 in Buenos Aires. Look for him on the red carpet ... kidding.

Enthusiasm for the noble sport of polo and the luxurious lifestyle it entails has never been more in evidence. It seems the economic downturn has done little to dampen it, perhaps because polo's roots are so steeped in class and tradition. Over the past several months we saw Veuve Clicquot stage the first polo match in New York City in over 70 years; St. Regis inaugurate a major new International Polo Cup; the Snow Polo championships take place in Aspen and St. Moritz; and the first Desert Palm Nations Polo Cup in Dubai. Polo player Johnny Lynn (above) saw it all coming. In 2001 he founded Polistas, the first true polo lifestyle brand, made for polo players by polo players, and now he's opening up branches all over the world.

Lynn, a Canadian-born former financier who plays polo internationally and teaches as well, conceived of Polistas to outfit polo teams with high quality clothing and accessories both for playing in and for après polo. An immediate success, polo and equestrian enthusiasts of all stripes soon gravitated to his flagship store in London's famed Burlington Arcade. The name Polistas is Argentine slang for "polo players" and it is the classic Argentinian polo lifestyle - rugged, laid-back and timeless - that comes through in Polistas' products and attitude. For the past six years Polistas has had a major presence at Harrods and other high-end boutiques worldwide, and has been selected as the official supplier to several major tournaments, including the Veuve Clicquot British Open Gold Cup, The Hildon Queen's Cup, and the Prince of Wales Trophy in the UK.

Sam's Club members will soon have a new choice in the wine aisle. The chain is launching their first fair trade certified wine, the charmingly titled Neu Direction. The wine is a 100 percent Malbec from the winegrowing region of Lujan de Cuyo near Mendoza, Argentina. The wine is one of the first to receive this status in the inaugural year of the groundbreaking Fair Trade Wine certification program in the U.S. Neu Direction is produced by Vina de la Solidaridad (vines of solidarity), a co-op representing 20 small farms, which grow and hand pick the grapes and Bodega Furlotti the winery, a century's old family owned business. The London Independent picked it as the best Fair Trade Certified red wine in the world in February 2008. Fair Trade Certified programs guarantee a fair price for goods and services and help to fund the development of schools, medical clinics and other basic necessities. This process is administered in the U.S. by TransFair, a non-profit organization. Neu Direction will sell for about $10 a bottle in more than 450 Sam's Club locations that are authorized to offer wine.

Cheval des Andes winemaker Nicolas Audebert found an interesting way to launch the 2005 vintage of Cheval des Andes – the joint venture between Cheval Blanc's Pierre Lurton and Terrazas de los Andes. He appeared at the Ham Polo Club in south west London atop an Argentine polo pony to play polo with some local wine industry professionals. And it wasn't just a stunt, there does happen to be a polo pitch at Terrazas de los Andes.

The Cheval des Andes is a blend of 50% Malbec, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot s from Terrazas de los Andes' Las Compuertas vineyard located in Mendoza. The fruit of two vines go into each of the limited number of bottles produced. The wine has undergone five weeks of maceration and 18 months French oak barrel ageing resulting in a Bordeaux style with the beefy exuberance of Argentine grapes.

Audebert, who was born in Bordeaux, works with Pierre Lurton of Cheval Blanc and Château d'Yquem to combine Argentine terroir with French wine knowledge.Terrazas de los Andes is owned by luxury conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy. The Cheval des Andes 2005 sells for $69.99 on Wine.com.

Luc Bags is an online retailer who brings Buenos Aires' unique style to you without the shipping nightmare. They import the bags themselves and ship free to anywhere in the United States from their California headquarters.

The bags are elegant and functional, and carefully chosen so as not to overwhelm the consumer with too many similar-looking pieces. It is easy to fall in love with Luc Bags.
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Started by a North-and-South-American romance of another kind, Luc Bags is run by husband and wife team Constanza Brotfeld, a native South American, and Rence Winetrout, a native North American. Constanza hand-picks the designs herself, and we think you'll find she has excellent taste. See the gallery below for some of our favorites.

Vases made from fur, lamps of cactus wood and goblets with carp skin are just some of the unique offerings of Edwina Hunt, a woman whose eclectic collection reflects both her European heritage and her upbringing in Argentina. The pieces are handcrafted by Argentinian silversmiths. The goblets shown here are made of handcrafted alpaca silver and carp skin and sell for $500 each.

Tryp Hotels, part of the Sol Meliá chain, have opened a new hotel in Buenos Aires, their first in Argentina. The 62-room hotel has rooms with a balance between work and rest space. The hotel also has meeting rooms, a business center and the Miró Restaurant which specializes in Mediterranean cuisine. Tryp hotels exist all over Spain, in South and Central America and in Europe and offer a decent place to stay in many citiies. Rates start at $120 in Buenos Aires.

On the list of things I would like to be for the day, gaucho isn't at the top of the list but a new program in Buenos Aires actually makes it sound a bit fun. The Buenos Aires steakhouse, La Cabaña, is offering a 'Gaucho for a Day' program that includes full day excursions to a cattle ranch to experience life as a gaucho on the Argentinean pampas. It's basically the South American version of the American cowboy experience. The night before, guests will enjoy a dinner at La Caba?a, where they are given traditional gaucho attire of a beret, typical trousers called bombachas, a shirt, canvas and rope sole, alpargatas shoes and a scarf. The following morning, they are driven to one of two ranches, Estancia El Rocio, the more luxurious option which is designed for those looking for a laidback version of the cowboy life, or Estancia La Palmas, for those who want a whole day on the range driving cattle and eating a barbecue dinner with grilled meat in front of an open fire. The experience costs $500.

Hyatt has restored the Palacio Duhau, a palace in Buenos Aires, Argentina as the site of their newest hotel. The Park Hyatt Buenos Aires will open on June 28, 2006 and sits on the Avenida Alvear in the middle of the city's most fashionable shopping district. The hotel is comprised of the Palacio Duhau which was built in 1934 and the contemporary Posadas building. An underground walkway and gallery with works from  international and local artists connects the two buildings The hotel has 165 guestrooms and 38 suites include the 1,722-square-foot Alvear Suite which has a wraparound balcony. The hotel includes elegant open spaces, several restaurants, a wine library full of local Malbecs as well as international choices, cheese room and the wood-paneled Oak Bar in the palace. The 8,000-square-foot spa includes an indoor pool, gym, sauna and five treatment rooms. Rates start at $410 for a Park Deluxe Room.