Orange wines are the talk of the wine world. If you’re ready to try on a new style—and color—Italy is at the forefront of an orange wave of wine with an ever-growing selection. It’s all part of a natural wine revival that challenges us to explore wine in its purest form. First, orange wine has nothing to do with oranges. It’s a style of white wine made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice during fermentation. “Simply put, orange wines are white wines that behave like reds,” shares Antonella Manuli, the winemaker and owner of La Maliosa in Tuscany. As with reds ..read more

Choosing and purchasing the right type and appropriate amount of insurance to cover your precious valuables and investments can be overwhelming. Living on the coast adds a new level of challenge, especially when considering the limitless combinations of insurance products and carriers. Do you need flood or earthquake insurance in addition to homeowners insurance? Should you buy a policy to cover your boat? Which combination of insurance policies is right for your family? Gina Schirmer, CEO of Schirmer Insurance Group in Mount Pleasant, wants to help homeowners stop scrolling throug ..read more

When you’re in the market for something precious—gold, diamonds or a Rolex, perhaps—the hunt for the perfect piece can be as exciting as the actual acquisition. And when making an investment—large or small—in a piece of fine jewelry or a high-end timepiece, a purveyor offering top-quality, authenticated product is key. Luxe Jewel Exchange filled that niche when it opened its eyepopping showroom in 2021, bringing a full complement of unique services and a highly curated selection to Mount Pleasant and the greater Charleston area. Staffed by professionals with decades of industry experience, L ..read more

Over the past 24 years, John Vance has built a solid reputation for himself in Charleston real estate, and in 2023, he used his standing and expertise to launch his own brokerage, Charleston Realty Pros. “I’ve been a partner in many real estate companies in the past, and going out on my own provides me with an opportunity to own the company by myself and allows more flexibility in decision-making, which also gives me greater control in the day-to-day operations and all things related to the client,” he says. That autonomy is something that also allows Vance to be selective in h ..read more

Wondering what that snappy-looking vehicle was you just passed on the road and where to find one for yourself? Drive-bys are sending enthusiastic sunseekers to Carolina Rides—an eco-friendly outfitter riding the wave of American adults pursuing an active, outdoor lifestyle. From boomers to Gen Z, folks of all ages, sizes and shapes are strapping on smart watches and pursuing more energizing activities to shape up and just plain have a good time. Carolina Rides is filling the niche with a fleet of innovative electric-powered vehicles, mopeds and paddleboards—electrifying fun and putting m ..read more

Alex Brener’s path to becoming a real estate broker is nothing if not interesting. Previous to starting Alex Brener Real Estate in 2018, he’d spent over a decade in real estate development, investment and construction, flipping over 250 homes. Additionally, he owned a bunch of MoonPie-themed soda fountain/nostalgic gift shops. “Both aspects of my work and background gave me applicable knowledge in customer service and business, combined with experience in the real estate world,” he says. “Going into the industry and focusing on residential sales seemed perfect.” Also perfect was Bre ..read more

Few look forward to visiting the dentist, but with Smile Carolina Dental Group, chances are good one will walk out with a smile, and a beautiful one at that. Dr. Jeffrey Johnson and his team offer the highest quality restorative, cosmetic and surgical dental treatments, all provided with a compassionate touch. Their modern office is situated in a peaceful home setting minutes from Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant and surrounded by verdant greenery, which customers can enjoy from each treatment chair. Between the practice’s confident and attentive staff, the soothing colors and relaxed light ..read more

As a native New Yorker and the owner of a luxury boutique business specializing in public relations and event planning for 20-plus years, Michelle Almeyda-Wiedemuth has developed a skill set that has been crucial in serving her clients. Those skills coupled with the fact that her husband is a custom homebuilder helped make her decision to pivot into real estate “a no-brainer.” The fact that she does it along the beaches and marshlands of Charleston is reflective of her passion for coastal communities—and a reason for moving to the area that she understands from a personal standpoint. In fact ..read more

We all want to look and feel our best, and sometimes we need a little help to do that. Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas, owned by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Craig Rowin, is ready to help reveal and restore each of its patient’s natural beauty through the latest surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic treatments. Whether the wish is to improve appearance, erase the march of time, repair sun damage, correct a birth defect or participate in a consult to discuss options for achieving an aesthetic goal, Rowin and his staff are ready to serve patients’ needs with innovative rejuvenation too ..read more

Art is not a thing; it is a way. For Becky O’Toole, it’s a way of giving back. The Fates smiled on the gifted acrylic painter after two crushing medical diagnoses separated by a mere two years—one was breast cancer, the other leukemia. That she is in remission from both owes much to her fortitude, her support system and the treatment she received. That she is able to devote herself to art and to donating her work to brighten the days of fellow patients owes everything to a positive outlook. Today, the Daniel Island transplant donates her work widely. “My artwork isn’t just about what it ..read more