Grape Vine
Wine Spectator|November 30, 2017

Florida Restaurants Regroup After Irma

Grape Vine

Bleu Provence’s proximity to the water has always been a blessing. The Grand Award–winning restaurant in Florida sits just across the street from Naples Bay, enjoying lovely views and cool breezes.

But it proved a curse when Hurricane Irma slammed into Florida’s West Coast. Storm surge flooded the restaurant with 2 feet of water.

“It’s going to take a good amount of work before we can open again,” said Clement Cariot, who runs the wine program with his father, Jacques, at the family-owned restaurant. “We are fortunate enough to have a generator that covered the air conditioner for the wine cellar and our walk-in fridge.We wish for the community to recover as soon as possible and to have the restaurant open again soon so that our employees can have their life back.”

From the Caribbean to Charleston, S.C., Irma left a trail of debris and broken dreams. At press time, the death toll stood at 80, and recovery efforts in the Caribbean had halted as Hurricane Maria arrived.

This story is from the November 30, 2017 edition of Wine Spectator.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 30, 2017 edition of Wine Spectator.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM WINE SPECTATORView All
Drouhin Expands its Burgundy Acreage
Wine Spectator

Drouhin Expands its Burgundy Acreage

Maison Joseph Drouhin has purchased two estates in Burgundy, totaling nearly 50 acres of vineyards: Château de Chasselas in St.-Véran and the Rapet estate in St.-Romain.

time-read
1 min  |
September 30, 2023
Gallo Buys Notable Pinot Noir Player
Wine Spectator

Gallo Buys Notable Pinot Noir Player

America's largest wine company continues to expand, particularly with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

time-read
1 min  |
September 30, 2023
Brad Pitt and the Perrin Family Get in the Gin Game
Wine Spectator

Brad Pitt and the Perrin Family Get in the Gin Game

After a decade of building the Côtes de Provence-based Miraval brand together, Brad Pitt and Famille Perrin have decided to partner in the spirits industry with Gardener gin.

time-read
1 min  |
September 30, 2023
Jack Daniel's, Bad Spaniels and the Supreme Court
Wine Spectator

Jack Daniel's, Bad Spaniels and the Supreme Court

\"This case is about dog toys and whiskey, two items seldom appearing in the same sentence.\"

time-read
2 mins  |
September 30, 2023
THE MARTINELLI STORY
Wine Spectator

THE MARTINELLI STORY

LOVE SONOMA PINOT NOIR AND ZINFANDEL? THANK THE HARD WORK OF FIVE GENERATIONS OF THIS CALIFORNIA GRAPE-GROWING FAMILY

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 30, 2023
Exploration Brings Rewards
Wine Spectator

Exploration Brings Rewards

Part of the beauty of wine is the opportunity to expand horizons. Often there's also a value element to less-known wines.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 30, 2023
2020 Cabernet Intel: Spottswoode
Wine Spectator

2020 Cabernet Intel: Spottswoode

The Napa winery was able to thread the needle, with most of its harvest already fermenting before the smoke rolled in.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 30, 2023
Paneer: A Simple Recipe to Make at Home
Wine Spectator

Paneer: A Simple Recipe to Make at Home

There's a lot to like about paneer, the fresh cheese that's a major staple of Indian cuisine.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 30, 2023
Scientists Identify Byzantine Era Grapes
Wine Spectator

Scientists Identify Byzantine Era Grapes

Archaeologists digging in the Negev desert in southern Israel have uncovered evidence of a booming wine industry dating back more than 1,500 years.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 30, 2023
Château Haut-Brion Owner Buys Significant Wine Book Collection
Wine Spectator

Château Haut-Brion Owner Buys Significant Wine Book Collection

In April 2022, Sonomabased antiquarian bookseller Ben Kinmont oversaw the sale of the Thackrey Library, a valuable collection of more than 700 tomes and documents assembled by California winemaker Sean Thackrey.

time-read
1 min  |
September 30, 2023