Flights of Shopping Fancy

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I'D NEVER THOUGHT OF IT BEFORE, but shopping in Las Vegas is like visiting one of the great wine regions of the world. Let me explain.

The idea of pairing wines with shopping came during a marvelous dinner at Fleur de Lys, chef Hubert Keller’s restaurant at Mandalay Bay. After we made our way through the Roederer Estate Brut Rosé and the 2003 Taz Pinot Noir, I realized life is better when you pair the courses with the right vintage.

To that end, I explored a few of the major shopping malls along the Strip, tasting wines along the way to find the best match for the experience. It’s the only way to shop.

THE VENETIAN

In Venice, you can go from the Doge’s Palace over the Bridge of Sighs and into a dank prison. In Las Vegas, the same route takes you to The Grand Canal Shoppes, with everything from Jimmy Choo to the new Tao Asian Bistro.

Until I ventured into Ancient Creations, I’d never thought about how cool it would be to own a coin from the reign of Harun ar-Rashid. To be honest, I didn’t even know who Harun ar-Rashid was.

That’s Sheila Richardson’s point. “You can go out and buy beautiful gems,” she says. “But coins tell a story. They’re part of history.” Richardson is the knowledgeable and passionate manager of the store in The Grand Canal Shoppes. The name says it all——the store specializes in ancient coins and artifacts. She guides me from case to case, pointing out a coin minted in the time of Julius Caesar or an incantation bowl, circa second century B.C., lined with Aramaic writing. The pieces are certified as authentic and come from private collections and major auction houses.

(Oh, and Harun ar-Rashid was the fifth caliph of Baghdad, whose fabulous court appears in The Thousand and One Nights.)

In Horologio, watches reign supreme, a nice change from the stores in San Diego that sell jewelry first, watches as an afterthought. Although the $80,000 Piaget was stunning, I was struck by the Glashutte, engineered with such precision I felt I should wear it only while on a road tour in a new Bentley Azure. Since the Azures just went on sale this spring, I figured I’d hold off on the watch. Still, one can look, as long as one wipes the drool off the case.

Perhaps the quintessential Venetian store is Ripa de Monti, which sells Murano glass and other fine art, such as Livio de Marachi’s whimsical handcarved wood sculptures. The Seguso Viro 4 Element Collection was stunning, as was the Han Dynasty glass horse you can saddle up for a mere $95,000.

Paired with: President Riccadonna Brut from Italy at Zeffirino Ristorante. One of the things the Venetian has done right with The Grand Canal Shoppes is to embrace the sensuality of Venice. What better way to indulge than with a good sparkling wine from the Piemonte region and fine Italian food on the balcony overlooking the canal itself?

ALADDIN

The shops in Desert Passage are an eclectic collection that spans the spectrum of shopping. There are chain stores, to be sure, but also unique shops that offer up unexpected treasures. And the setting——a re-creation of an Arabian bazaar at twilight——provides an escapist ambience that’s lacking in some of the other malls.

The first Art of Music opened here (the second is in Maui). The store sells celebrity paraphernalia, so it was a bit of a surprise to discover the find of the day was an engraving of U.S. presidents from Washington to Cleveland that came with a national debt–size tag of $500,000. For pictures of presidents? Robert, one of the sales associates, patiently tells me to look closer. I do. Signatures cover the piece: Cleveland, Eisenhower, Reagan, Clinton——21 in all. “Even Papa Bush and Baby Bush,” Robert says, and informs me the White House is interested in it. Hmmm. I can picture it going into some warehouse, like at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark. But if presidents don’t turn you on, there’s always the electric guitar signed by all the members of Pink Floyd, including Syd Barrett.

If anyone can take you on a more fantastic journey than Vegas already offers, it’s Vladimir Kush’s paintings. At Kush Fine Art, visitors are transported into wondrous lands of musical elephants and primordial shores. Apples cut in half reveal butterflies, while candles burn amid the clouds. Linger for a while and remember when you believed in magic.

Paired with: Zefina’s Serience White, a 2003 blend from Alder Ridge in the Columbia Valley. Served at Oyster Bay Seafood & Wine Bar, it’s a perfect match for the Middle Eastern motif, with a rich aroma of honeysuckle and flavors of citrus and spice.

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