Tag Archives: Champagne

Dom Pérignon New Release

6 Jan

Dom Pérignon was a Benedictine monk. He was responsible for the wines and cellars at the abbey of Hautvillers, north of Épernay, France, around the time of Louis XIV in the mid-17th to early 18th-centuries. It was here that he wrote “L’Art de bien traiter la vigne et du Champagne” (“How to care for the vine and Champagne”) and developed the process of blending wines from vines that were carefully harvested and pruned to produce low yields.

In viticultural terms, he was a pioneer who greatly improved the still wines of Champagne. He is also the man who is widely credited with the invention of the sparkling wine we know as Champagne; a wine produced by a process that sees a secondary fermentation in the bottle, which gives the liquid its bubbles. (more…)

Best way to pour champagne?

2 Jan

In a study that may settle a long-standing disagreement over the best way to pour a glass of champagne, scientists in France are reporting that pouring bubbly in an angled, down-the-side way is best for preserving its taste and fizz. The study also reports the first scientific evidence confirming the importance of chilling champagne before serving to enhance its taste, the scientists say.

Their report appears in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. (more…)

The Fizz Is Back

13 Dec

Champagne sales are bubbling again.[Bubbly]

The French industry is preparing for a bumper holiday season, a significant recovery from just two years ago, when it slashed production in the face of the global economic downturn. By the end of September, the Champagne industry had shipped 192 million bottles, and the festive fourth quarter is usually the strongest, accounting for a third to a half of annual bubbly sales. That could put it on track to near the record 339 million bottles shipped in 2007.

The champagne rebound reflects the effervescence in the luxury-goods industry as a whole. The world’s largest luxury-goods group, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the owner of fashion and beauty brands such as Louis Vuitton and Guerlain as well as several champagne labels, recorded 15% sales growth over the first nine months of 2011. Luxury fashion rivals such as Hermès and PPR’s Gucci logged similarly robust growth. “Champagne sales are faring well ahead of the holiday season and are up 15% compared to 2010,” said Emeric Sauty de Chalon, president of French online wine shop 1855, which last month organized a major champagne tasting in Paris. Though sales may not reach the levels seen before the crisis, “we’re getting closer,” said Stephanie Mingam, the spokeswoman for drinks group Pernod Ricard’s champagne division, which owns Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagne.

The industry took a serious hit in 2008 and 2009. Champagne makers—famous-brand and independent producers alike—cut production drastically to avoid a large drop in prices, leaving tons of grapes rotting in the fields during the harvest. (more…)

Top 12 Rosé Champagnes

16 Nov

Tom Stevensons top 12 rosé Champagnes champagne

Its estimated that 150 million bottles of Champagne are produced every year with the majority being consumed throughout the festive season. With the rise in popularity of rose Champagne we ask Champagne expert Tom Stevenson to give Decanter his picks for this years best bottles plus three great British alternatives.

…more

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