Renowned American winemaker Paul Hobbs, who is one of the most respected names in premium California wines, visited Aruba last weekend to spend time with his friends at Divino and meet distinguished members of the F&B community at several different events, including a Wine Maker’s Lunch, at Screaming Eagle Restaurant.

All wine tastings were conducted by Harley Aveiro, the company’s Regional Manager, Southeast & Caribbean, Paul Hobbs Wines — while the most entertaining Hobbs regaled invitees with colorful wine stories from around the world.

Hobbs is an exceptional entrepreneur, as he is involved internationally with wineries around the globe. He was part of the original Opus One winemaking team in 1979, the much talked about joint venture between Robert Mondavi and Château Mouton Rothschild. He later became influential in Argentina, helping establish the reputation of Malbec and Mendoza wines internationally. He founded Viña Cobos, whose Malbecs have received high scores consistently. Today he owns or is involved with seven wineries, including Paul Hobbs Winery and Crossbarn in California, Viña Cobos in Argentina, Hillick & Hobbs in New York, and projects in France, Armenia, and Spain.

Imagine how he zips around the world to create the wines, then promote them. No wonder Forbes described him as one of the most influential American winemakers of his generation.

While working for other famous wineries in his younger year, Hobbs finally established his own, Paul Hobbs Winery located in Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California, in 1991.

Divino invited some of their best local clients to attend a three-hour lunch filled with fun anecdotes and stories by Hobbs, hosted by Screaming Eagle restaurant. While executive chef Joanna Eckmeyer fed guests lavishly, supported by gracious dining room staffers, Aveiro orchestrated the parade of sparkling glassware, and kept pouring the lovely wines.

I met Aveiro when he was here in 2022, he is still great looking, fantastically informed, and charming. Aveiro and Hobbs, a perfect tag-team, are on a Caribbean promotional tour, visiting restaurants, throwing lunch and dinner parties, telling stories, meeting the decision-makers, those whose noses and palates dictate which wines will be featured on our favorite restaurants’ wine lists.

On behalf of Divino, wine specialist Kiume Tjon A Tsien is proud to share that the company has been carrying wines by Paul Hobbs since 2021.

The winery is perfecting Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, with particular attention to single-vineyard wines. What makes Hobbs special is his philosophy of expressing the individual character of each vineyard, using meticulous vineyard management and minimal intervention in winemaking.

Lunch at Screaming Eagle was prepared by chef Eckmeyer and presented by owner Sven Schneider, a European born wine and food connoisseur. The restaurant has a dedicated Paul Hobbs wine selection, featuring prestigious single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and exceptionally sought-after Cabernet Sauvignons, including wines from Beckstoffer To Kalon, some of Napa Valley’s most iconic, historic sections.

After savoring two different Chardonnay, two different Pinot Noir and two different Cabernets Sauvignon, at the end of the opulent lunch, wine authority Kavey Jarzagaray, TEC INC., took the initiative to uncork and decant 2011, a unique Cabernet Sauvignon, Beckstoffer To Kalon Vinyard, Oakville Napa Valley. This was not an ordinary bottle of wine. The 2011 is a highly rated and prestigious treat, the appropriate over-the-top finish for an exceptional experience.

Chef Eckmeyer spoiled lunch goers with a French style lobster thermidor with a touch of Pernot, followed by Confit de Canard escorted by soft duck gnocchi, resting in a puddle of Venezuelan guasacaca sauce, followed by shared, perfectly grilled and sliced tomahawk steaks, sauce au poivre, grilled asparagus, in a spectacular mid-table presentation, flamed on long carving boards. The selection of French cheeses delivered a refined finish, but the 2011 stole the show — the cheese had to wait!

Schneider declared Eckmeyer his best executive chef since opening in 2007. Screaming Eagle on Eagle Beach, one of Aruba’s famed fine dining establishments, serves French fusion specialties, combining classic French cooking with international flavors, resulting in an adventurous and sophisticated kitchen with an extensive wine vault.

Flawless wine service with suave Aveiro, and most-efficient lunch service team, delivered a memorable afternoon.

divinoaruba

Divino, Distributors of Premium Wines, Spirits and Craft Beers: We have a great nose, taste, and passion for premium wines, spirits, and mixers. We are constantly exploring ways to bring you the best value and most exceptional brands. Our mission is simple—to deliver the finest quality products with unmatched service, inspiring every occasion to become a Divino Moments experience.

The foundation suspends its program with gratitude to everyone who helped make accessible spay and neuter possible throughout the island.

ARUBA, November 11, 2026 — Today, with a heavy heart, Stimami Sterilisami announces the suspension of its program, effective November 10, 2026. Eligible procedures already scheduled through November 15 will be honored.

What began in 2016, when Yesenia Farro-Arends brought Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort an idea to make sterilization more accessible, grew into an island-wide effort that financed more than 52,000 spay and neuter procedures. Together, they established Stimami Sterilisami with a simple purpose: to prevent animal suffering by removing financial barriers to sterilization. Its subsidy made procedures accessible and free helping families care for their animals, allowing rescuers’ limited resources to reach further, and preventing millions of unwanted litters and the suffering so often accompanying them.

Over the years, that purpose brought together public and private donors, veterinarians, rescue organizations, volunteers, and pet owners. Bucuti & Tara remained the program’s largest donor and principal supporter, matching contributions from the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA), the Tourism Product Enhancement Fund (TPEF), One Love Foundation and other donors. When more was needed to keep procedures available, the resort contributed beyond those matching amounts. In total, Bucuti & Tara devoted more than AWG 3 million of its own funds to sustaining this work.

This year, the resort provided AWG 400,000 in anticipation of confirmed public contributions that it had committed to match. Together with funds generously raised by One Love Foundation and donations from other private supporters, this allowed the program to continue until November. The anticipated public funding has not materialized, and those resources have now been exhausted. The money has run out and the foundation has reached the limit of what it can responsibly continue to finance.

It is a conclusion the foundation would have wished to avoid, knowing how much the service continues to mean to the community. It nevertheless looks back with gratitude on what this partnership made possible.

Every cent contributed to Stimami Sterilisami was used to fund spay-and-neuter procedures for the wider community. Pet owners and rescue organizations throughout Aruba could access the program, allowing the generosity entrusted to one foundation to support the efforts of many.

That support included financing spay and neuters through Animal Welfare Alliance Aruba (AWAA) and supporting campaigns by Luna Foundation Aruba, helping reach animals and

families with limited financial means. Stimami Sterilisami warmly thanks both organizations and all other rescue organizations that used its subsidy, whose daily dedication helped this shared effort reach animals throughout Aruba.

Making the funding go further also depended on veterinary collaboration. Veterinary Specialty Hospital Aruba (VSH), the program’s primary veterinary partner, was instrumental in keeping procedure costs low, enabling more animals to receive care within the available resources. The foundation extends its sincere appreciation to its team and to every veterinary clinic that has contributed over the years.

Particular heartfelt thanks go to One Love Foundation, whose all-volunteer team has turned a love for Aruba’s animals into devoted support from the United States and here on the island. Through dog walks with Bucuti & Tara, Pawfest with The Village Aruba, comedy benefits with Aruba Ray, and many other efforts, they brought people together and raised vital funds for spay-and-neuter. Their generosity of time, heart, and effort has meant so much to this program and the animals it served.

For the foundation’s board—Ewald Biemans, Yesenia Farro-Arends, Rik van der Berg, Crescenzia Biemans, Emile de Cuba, Tina Bislick and Randy de Cuba—this work has always been a labor of love. Each gave their time, resources, and expertise voluntarily, united by a love for animals and the hope of sparing them suffering. It has been a privilege to serve our community in this way.

To every pet owner who participated, every volunteer who helped, and every person who supported a fundraiser: this achievement belongs to you, too. More than 52,000 procedures became possible because people across Aruba chose to contribute to the same goal.

As the government considers the future of an island-wide spay-and-neuter program, Stimami Sterilisami sincerely wishes those carrying this work forward every success. Its hope is that they will receive the reliable support needed to continue serving animals and the people caring for them.

The foundation also hopes that this next chapter will bring the action it has advocated for over many years: consistent enforcement of existing laws and meaningful legislative reform. Spay and neuter is essential, but even the most dedicated program cannot, on its own, resolve the conditions that continually bring more animals into need. The proposals submitted by the foundation offer a basis for that work, and it sincerely hopes they will now receive the priority and follow-through they require.

It has been an honor to serve Aruba in this way. Stimami Sterilisami closes this chapter with heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped write it, and with the hope that its legacy will be more than the animals helped: a future in which fewer animals need help in the first place.

Aruba’s Minister Wendrick Cicilia recognizes the resort as an example for other hotels and businesses, particularly in its care and support for associates.

EAGLE BEACH, Aruba, November 6, 2026 — Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort welcomed a six-person delegation from the Netherlands’ Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate on November 2, led by Her Excellency Heleen Herbert, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate of the Netherlands, and joined by His Excellency Wendrick Cicilia, Minister of Tourism, Transport and Labor of Aruba. Coordinated through the Representation of the Netherlands in Aruba (VNO), the visit focused on how environmental responsibility, business success and care for employees can reinforce one another.

With economic affairs and climate brought together in the Dutch Minister’s portfolio, the delegation sought to learn how Bucuti & Tara integrates sustainability into a successful tourism business. Managing Director Crescenzia Biemans presented more than three decades of work by founder Ewald Biemans and the resort’s team, showing how environmental investments, community initiatives and care for associates have become integral to its business model.

During the visit, Minister Cicilia expressed that he sees Bucuti & Tara as an example for other hotels and businesses in Aruba, particularly in the way the resort cares for and supports its associates. His recognition highlighted the importance of employee well-being within the resort’s approach to responsible hospitality.

“My grandfather’s love of nature and his sense of responsibility to Aruba have guided this work from the beginning,” said Crescenzia Biemans. “Many of these investments were made for the future we share.”

Certified carbon neutral since 2018, Bucuti & Tara has invested in renewable energy, energy and water efficiency, waste reduction and responsible purchasing. The presentation reported annual savings of 3.5 million gallons of water and the diversion of 65 percent of waste from landfill. Its credentials include Green Globe Platinum, LEED Gold and Travelife Gold, and a 2020 United Nations Global Climate Action Award in the Climate Neutral Now category. Its next ambition is certification of net zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, covering direct emissions and those associated with purchased energy.

Through the Bucuti & Tara – GMC Nature Preservation Foundation, that commitment now extends to approximately 130,000 square meters, or 13 hectares, of natural land in Noord. More than 1,200 native trees have been planted as part of work to restore vegetation, protect biodiversity and create opportunities for environmental education. This initiative builds on decades of beach cleanups and wildlife conservation, marking another step in Bucuti & Tara’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its ambition to contribute to the regeneration of its destination.

The same commitment extends to associates and their families. Pay above the living-wage benchmark, performance bonuses and retirement contributions are complemented by childcare subsidies and support with elder-care responsibilities. Health benefits include insurance, preventive screenings, mental health support and fitness and wellness programs. Sponsored university studies, language courses and leadership development create opportunities to advance. The employee Savings & Loans Association provides savings and affordable financing, including green loans for electric vehicles, solar panels and energy-efficient home improvements.

These programs reflect a belief that a successful business should improve the lives of the people who make its success possible. As an independent, locally operated Aruban business, Bucuti & Tara reinvests in the island and its people. Its presentation explained how recurring savings in water, energy and waste help fund further investment in associates, community programs and clean energy, while reducing exposure to fuel prices.

The resort reports average year-round occupancy of approximately 97 percent. Guests choose Bucuti & Tara for romance, tranquility and personal service, with sustainability integrated into the experience. Its business model combines these priorities with long-term guest loyalty and associates who stay for decades, offering other tourism businesses practical ideas they can adapt.

“We are honored to share our experience,” said Crescenzia Biemans. “Our hope is that other businesses will find ideas they can adapt to their own destinations. For us, the responsibility continues: to care for Aruba, support our people and invest in a future that benefits those who come after us.”

Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort is an adults-only boutique resort on Eagle Beach, Aruba, known for its focus on romance, tranquility and sustainability. Independently owned and locally operated, the resort has been certified carbon neutral since 2018. For more information, visit www.bucuti.com.

Some brands become so much part of everyday life that we almost forget how much history, effort and creativity go into making them. Balashi Beer is certainly one of them in Aruba. For Arubans, it has been more than a beer, it is happy hour, a familiar taste, to be enjoyed in good company, a local success story and, in many ways, part of the island’s landscape.

Now, that story has a new home.

The Balashi Beer Experience, BBE, officially opened on November 7, following a soft opening on October 4, welcoming a glittering guest list to Gloria Entertainment Center. Aruba’s Governor was handed an impressive pair of giant scissors to cut the ribbon, accompanied by MetaCorp CEO Eddie de Veer, the company’s visionary founder Eduardo de Veer, and Marcus Sandenburg, whose Dutch company Sandenburg Experiences helped bring the attraction to life.

And it is a big deal for the island.

The Awg 30-million-investment took approximately 30 months to complete, created 17 new jobs and occupies 1,300 square meters. Twenty local companies were involved in the construction process. Visitors are guided through twelve themed scenes featuring immersive video projections, special effects, interactive displays, and plenty of flaps that may be lifted for surprise content. The developers anticipate welcoming between 200,000 and 250,000 visitors annually.

The guide of the experience is Buchi, a fictional but thoroughly Aruban brewmaster who introduces us to his family, takes us around the island in a beat-up red truck, and explains the complex journey from ingredients to the familiar green bottle with the red cap. Along the way, we meet enthusiastic young staff members who bring the story of Aruba’s landmarks, culture, and folklore to life.

One of the most interesting parts is learning how beer is actually made. Who knew it involved such a magical combination of science and chemistry? The story of beer goes back thousands of years, with evidence of brewing in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. At Balashi, the ingredients have an international journey of their own: Aruba’s desalinated seawater, malt from Scotland and hops from Germany, all coming together to produce a distinctly local product.

The experience ends in a traditional Aruban rum-shop setting, where visitors can enjoy their beer, followed by a well-stocked gift shop, and an inviting lounge/bar. There are also photo opportunities along the experience, and at the gift store, personalized beer labels. When the tour is over, Gloria’s restaurants, movie theatres and other entertainment options are right there to complete the outing.

The story of Balashi Beer really begins much earlier, CEO Eddie De Veer briefly touched on the highlights of the company’s trajectory and on the birth of Balashi, in his welcome address, at the ribbon cutting.

In 1996, when news broke of the groundbreaking ceremony for a local brewery in Balashi, some people wondered whether the venture could possibly succeed. After all, how much beer could a small island drink?

Quite a lot, as it turned out!

With a substantial investment and German expertise, MetaCorp combined Aruba’s excellent drinking water with modern brewing technology. Balashi became a successful national product, followed by Chill, introduced in 2006 and quickly embraced as a favorite beach beer. Magic Mango, by a female master brewer, later joined the family, adding another popular flavor to the local market.

The brewery has continued to evolve, with modern production facilities, strict quality controls and a strong emphasis on freshness. Sustainability is also part of the story. More than 90% of the bottles are recovered through the return system and cleaned for reuse, helping reduce waste.

With the opening of the BBE, MetaCorp took a familiar local brand and invested in turning its history into a tourism experience. It gives visitors something beyond the traditional beach-and-sun holiday, while reminding residents of a homegrown business success.

Among the VIPs taking the tour and enjoying a cold brew or two, former island governors Olindo Koolman and Fredis Refunjol, former prime minister Nel Oduber, a couple of former government ministers and a handful of former state-owned CEOs. All members of the exclusive Eduardo de Veer coffee circle. It’s the island’s senior set, all looking lean and handsome. Kudos, to aging gracefully!

Marcus Sandenburg successfully debunked the myth that the Dutch are dry, with an entertaining speech.

Impressive opening ceremony with great graphics, and useful fans, in the heat outdoors, fantastic live music indoors, and useful giveaways! I placed the branded beer opener on the fridge.

According to the Aruba Tourism Authority, 69.0% of Aruba’s stay-over visitors came from the United States during January through September 2026. With such a strong dependence on the American market, understanding developments in the U.S. economy is essential. Aruba increasingly attracts higher-income American visitors, but how might America’s K-shaped economy affect their travel decisions and spending habits? In this courtesy blog by Rene Paalman examines America’s widening economic divide and why these potential developments could be relevant to Aruba.

ECONOMIC COMMENTARY   |   NOVEMBER 2026

From the Gilded Age to a K-Shaped Economy

The Gilded Age, the Golden Age, and the divide in today’s prosperity

By Rene Paalman

Whenever we are told that the American economy is growing, my first question is simple: Growing for whom? A rising Gross Domestic Product (GDP), record stock market gains, and increasing corporate profits may paint a picture of national prosperity. But do these numbers reflect the financial reality of ordinary Americans struggling with rising living costs, strained purchasing power, and inadequate savings? Economic growth matters, but how broadly its benefits are shared matters just as much. American history offers two contrasting lessons: the Gilded Age and the Golden Age. Today, our increasingly K-shaped economy raises the troubling question of where America is headed.

THE GILDED AGE  |  APPROXIMATELY 1870–1900

In the decades following the Civil War, railroads, steel, oil, and banking transformed the United States into an industrial powerhouse. Men such as Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Morgan accumulated extraordinary fortunes. Yet behind this glittering prosperity, many workers endured low wages, long hours, and few protections. The term “gilded” was deliberate: a thin covering of gold could conceal profound inequality. America was growing richer, but the rewards were far from evenly shared.

THE GOLDEN AGE  |  APPROXIMATELY 1945–1973

After World War II, the country experienced a different kind of prosperity. Manufacturing expanded, wages rose, and the middle class grew. Unions, public investment, education, and stronger worker protections helped more families buy homes and build financial security. Research by the Peterson Institute finds that typical family income grew roughly 3% a year between 1948 and 1973. This era was not equally golden for everyone, particularly those facing racial and gender discrimination. Still, its defining achievement was that ordinary families shared more widely in economic progress.

TODAY’S K-SHAPED ECONOMY  |  THE 2020s

Today, commentators describe a “K-shaped” economy: the upper arm represents affluent households with strong investments and spending power; the lower arm represents households struggling to keep up with housing, food, insurance, and other necessities. The evidence on precisely how sharply spending paths have diverged is mixed. But the unequal financial cushion is hard to ignore. A 2025 Federal Reserve survey found that 39% of adults could not cover a $1,000 emergency using savings alone.

Consider the percentages. According to estimates from Moody’s Analytics, the highest-income 10% of households account for about 46% of total consumer spending. The middle 30% of households account for about 31%, while the lowest-income 60% of households account for just 23%. But these estimates are disputed: Federal Reserve survey research puts the top 10%’s share closer to 28%. Why the gap? Moody’s infers personal outlays from financial and savings data, whereas the Federal Reserve surveys households. Both measures nevertheless show that affluent households account for a disproportionate share of spending. Wealth is even more concentrated. By mid-2026, the wealthiest 10% held 68.9% of household net worth, compared with just 2.3% for the bottom 50%; the top 1% alone held 32.5%. A nation can generate extraordinary prosperity while millions struggle to achieve financial security.

That is why a growing GDP or rising stock market cannot, by itself, tell us how the average family is doing. The uncomfortable resemblance to the Gilded Age is not that history is repeating exactly. Today’s labor laws and social protections are vastly different. The risk is that national prosperity becomes increasingly disconnected from household opportunity and security.

A bill is also coming due. By October 28, 2026, gross federal debt had reached about $40.55 trillion, while fiscal year 2026 brought a deficit of nearly $2 trillion. Net interest costs exceeded $1.05 trillion, or almost $2.9 billion every day. Borrowing can serve legitimate national purposes, but an ever-growing interest bill limits future choices. The Congressional Budget Office projects that debt held by the public could reach 120% of GDP by 2036 under current law. The question is whether America can meet its obligations while still investing in the people and skills its future prosperity demands.

A university degree is not the only path to financial security. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects roughly 72,700 annual job openings for electricians and 62,800 for carpenters, on average, from 2025 to 2035, including openings to replace departing workers. Community colleges, trade schools, apprenticeships, and modern technical training can help more Americans build marketable skills, earn well-paid livelihoods, and strengthen the middle class.

This is not an argument against wealth, business success, or assistance to those genuinely in need. Both political parties must confront spending and revenue honestly, promote a fair and understandable tax system, and make education and workforce development national priorities. Fiscal responsibility and broader opportunity should be shared goals, not another source of political division.

The true measure of a successful economy is not how much the GDP grows, how high the stock market climbs, or how wealthy the wealthy become. It is whether ordinary Americans can afford a decent living, provide for their families, and build a financially secure future. Economic growth means little if those already prospering enjoy its benefits. America should strive for a new Golden Age of broadly shared prosperity, not return to a Gilded Age where the nation grows richer while millions struggle to get ahead.

Written by Rene Paalman

West Palm Beach,

Florida