Hello Holidays: December 2022

Yes, tis the sparkling season and the time of the year to reward our loved ones, our families, and best friends and not to forget ourselves with the right bubbles!

Champagne is undoubtedly the most elegant, noble, and romantic sparkling wine to have… it is exclusive,  it is very elaborate to produce, so it is also the perfect way to celebrate the end of the year and welcome the new year! Let’s do this the right way! 

We stock sparkling wines from all over the world, from the delicious Italian Prosecco to the French Crémant, from Spanish Cava to German Sekt, in the dry Brut style to the sweeter, Brachetto or Moscato D’Asti style, made from only white wine grapes in the Blanc de Blanc style, or in the classic Champagne blend from white and red grapes and even made with 100% red wine grapes, for example, Pinot Noir. All of them are guaranteed delicious in their very own way.

The most famous area of production is the Champagne itself, situated between and around the villages of Reims and Épernay, about one hour north of Paris in France.This region gave the name to those wonderful creations and has a brand empire on the Champagne name since Napoleon Bonaparte, also known as Napoleon I. secured it for his country. But there are many wines made with this elaborate technique from all over the world today, not called Champagne on the label but using  the same Methode Champenoise for their production.

The pressure created from a second fermentation in a bottle of Champagne, or other wines made in the Methode Champenoise, is 5 to 6 standard atmosphere (73 to 88 psi); this sounds very technical, but these delicious wines, come with more than twice the pressure in the bottle than required in a correct pressurized automobile tire!

Shaking the bottles before opening them is only an option if we want to waste the delicious content and don’t mind getting wet. It is also a good idea not to aim at someone while taking away the muselet, the wired cage ‘muzzling’ the cork and holding it under pressure in the bottle.

There are so many legends and stories lingering around these wines, but here we just want to tell you how delicious they are with and without food. 

Shellfish, in particular Lobster and large Prawns with their delicate sweetness, Sushi with raw fish, Caviar and Avocado is excellent, or as an aperitif with Cevice to open up the appetite,

But we also recommend trying Champagne with grilled meat! However, you decide to combine it, it is quite a way to celebrate!