FINE Wine & Champagne India - Winter 2018

limousine. The service is a
very strong recommend – we
are welcomed by the CWS
team at the aircraft door and
zipped out (with all our bags)
of the very busy Istanbul
Atatürk Airport extremely
swiftly to our designated
Bimmer 7.
FINE Luxury
As we purr through the
boulevards of Istanbul on a
bright sunny day, we soak
in the sights of an imposing
skyline that juxtaposes the
conservative past with the
modern present. As we drive
past the Yildiz Park, once
the hunting grounds for the
Sultans (now the green lung
in Beşiktaş), we manage to
translate the message flashed
by our chauffeur, that we are
approaching our destination.
The Indian flag has a position
of prominence at the entrance of the Çirağan Palace. The
doormen in coattails usher us through the mandatory
security checks and the front office team in their very
smart Turkish red finery offer a lovely bunch of Palace
garden flowers and a traditional welcome in the cheerfully
bright plush lobby – where floor to ceiling artworks are
accentuated by the imposing flower arrangements and
locally crafted kilims.
Majestic Bosphorus
Expecting to be trans-continental haggards on arrival,
we have requested an express check-in to our room. Of
course, it’s the must-have Bosphorus-view but it’s quite
literally on the Bosphorus – just some metres from it!
We raise a toast with Champagne Louis Roederer Brut
Premier on our private balcony with a panoramic view on
the imposing suspension bridge, the city’s Asian shore, the
historic peninsula, Maiden’s Tower and some glimpses of
the old city. The magnificence of the ancient waters of the
Bosphorus is simply stunning…
Most of the Çirağan’s 310 rooms are designed to offer a
Bosphorus view – glorified by travel reviews through the
centuries – and almost every spot in the complex offers
a special view. The rooms that harmoniously tie-in the
European influence on Asian heritage are luxuriously large
and very comfortable – we have six pillows on the bed
to choose from and an additional menu just in case! The
amenities are Tuscan Soul by Salvatore Ferragamo with
special fragrances for his & hers – how very thoughtful.
The soaps are handmade from a selection of natural
products – sealed with the Turkish Nazar Boncugu (evil
eye charm).
German Workhorse
Ralph Radtke, the highly decorated General Manager,
welcomes us at the Bosphorus Grill, and thanks us for
choosing his Palace for our special celebration. We raise
another glass of Louis Roederer – the Palace’s chosen
champagne. Ralph has worked in 17 countries on all
continents over several decades. At the Çirağan Palace
Kempinski Istanbul since 2011, he is rather matter-offact.
“Çirağan has a place in the history of Turkey. Three
sultans lived in the Palace. These are the very walls of the
Sultan’s Palace”.
Ralph is a bundle of energy and has a hawk-eye for detail
– he quietly alerts staff to a missing fork on the wobbling
table. He is distracted as he spots a flurry of activity –
a busload of grammar
school valedictorians
are taking their time
to pass through the
private gardens to
board their sunset
cruise at the Çirağan
pier. Ralph admits to
being a showman – an
actor – the hotel is his
stage. Just that the play
changes every day!
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FINE WINE & CHAMPAGNE INDIA