For those with fine cars these can be frustrating times – strict rules, heavy traffic and speed cameras make putting your foot down and enjoying your car complicated. The only solution is to have a racing track at your personal disposal. It may sound like the kind of fleeting fantasy that sometimes crosses your mind, but in reality private tracks designed primarily for the sheer enjoyment of driving are becoming more and more popular throughout Europe.

Founded in 1868, it was to become one of the world’s finest watch makers, building a devoted clientele that today counts people as diverse as business tycoons, diplomats, international stars and such sporting icons as footballer Luis Figo.

It’s much easier to bestow iconic status on something that’s been around for a while, which is why the name Riva conjures up such powerful images: style, quality, longevity, attention to detail. These are just a few of the words that clients have used to describe this company’s fabulous wooden boats.

On the Mediterranean shore, right in the heart of Marbella’s glamorous Puerto Banús area, lies Ocean Club.

Probably the most iconic of all Spanish wines, Rioja, is enjoying a renaissance thanks to modern wine making techniques, and innovative approaches from some of the region’s wine makers.