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World Champagne Day: Celebrating Bubbles and Heritage 🍾🥂 On October 25th, we raise a glass to Champagne, the iconic sparkling wine that symbolises celebration and elegance. For sommeliers and wine specialists, this day is an opportunity to reflect on Champagne’s unique terroir and history. Key Facts: 🍇 Only sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France can be called Champagne. The appellation is strictly regulated under French law and the AOC system. The grapes primarily used are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier. Champagne is one of the first appellations globally to welcome a PIWI grape (resistant to mildew) into its classification - let's see how Voltis performs 😉 🍾 The méthode champenoise (traditional method) sets Champagne apart from other sparkling wines. It involves secondary fermentation in the bottle, creating those fine, persistent bubbles that enhance its texture and complexity. ✨ Champagne’s story began in the 17th century with Dom Pérignon, a Benedictine monk credited with pioneering quality improvements, though he didn’t invent Champagne itself. Over the centuries, the region’s producers have refined the craft, with many iconic houses and producers making their mark. 🌡️ Vintage vs Non-Vintage: While vintage Champagne is crafted from grapes harvested in a single year, non-vintage Champagne blends multiple years, ensuring consistency and house style. 🍇 Fan of RM Champagnes? Growers' champagne has proved to be a trend in the recent years, yet small, but already proven to stay. Nothing wrong in being a NM fan neither 🤩 For sommeliers, knowing how to highlight Champagne’s versatility in pairings is crucial. From seafood and light appetizers to delicate desserts, Champagne’s bright acidity, fine mousse, and layered flavours offer endless pairing possibilities. Celebrate with a glass of your favourite Brut Nature, Blanc de Blancs, or Rosé, and share your love for this timeless wine! #asisomms #asebestsomm #asinews #sommelier #wine #ChampagneDay #WorldChampagneDay #SommelierLife #ChampagneLovers #WineProfessionals #BubblesAndBeyond

Drinks Business announces the winners of the 2024 NV Champagne Masters. “Non-vintage Champagnes are those that employ wines from across a range of years, as opposed to vintage expressions, that use wines from a single harvest.” A dozen masters of wine and master sommeliers judged the entries blind at a United Kingdom venue, hence the prince in Pounds Sterling (roughly $1.25). Judges awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals to the top wines. Two received the highest accolade of Master: NV Champagne Vielle France (40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Meunier), 12.5% alc., 8 grams/liter residual sugar, retail price £30.00; Champagne Collery (80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay), 12.0% alc., 7g/l RS, retail price: £50.00. Notable Gold winners available in the U.S. include Duval-Leroy Brut Reserve, £40; Champagne Pommery Brut Royal NV, £32.00; Champagne Piper-Heidsieck Cuvee Brut, £35.00; and the Blue Top Brut NV from Heidsieck & Co., £34.00. For complete results: https://bit.ly/4ddiyXa

　 Académie du Vin Tokyo Lecture on December 21, 2024 Topic: Les grands clos de Champagne 2002 https://lnkd.in/gVW7DzS6 　 1. Krug Clos d'Ambonnay 2002                   2. Jean Vesselle Le Petit Clos 2002                          3. Billecart-Salmon Le Clos Saint-Hilaire 2002 4. Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2002 5. Philipponnat Clos des Goisses 2002        6. (Wine X) Cristal 2002                              7. Krug Clos du Mesnil 2002                       　 Twelve educated enthusiasts tasted above seven wines in blind format. All the wines were in fine condition. Wine #5 Clos des Goisses showed the deepest color of all, reminded us of sunlight reflection from Canal Latéral à la Marne. Paradoxically Wine #6 Cristal was the palest, although the bottle was disgorged much earlier than the others. 　 Krug Clos d'Ambonnay was the most popular wine in the evening receiving four votes, followed by Clos du Mesnil with three. Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises and Cristal received each two votes. 　 Years ago we have conducted similar flights featuring Champagne originated from ‘Clos’ with earlier vintages. In the past we found some Blanc de Noirs Champagne were excessively heavy due to low acidity, particularly with 1999 vintage. It was a pleasant surprise that such brands were balanced this time with refreshing acidity presumably due to cool nights just before the harvest. 　 I personally loved Krug Clos du Mesnil for its biscuity flavor with vivid effervescence. High acid was balanced by viscosity and the lemony after-taste last long. 　 After the tasting and presentation, tasters debated whether ‘Clos Champagne’ is superior to ‘Blended Champagne’. There were several opinions but clear consensus was that ‘Clos Champagne yields more money’ as we see more and more new ‘Clos’ appears in the region. 

When it comes to celebrating special occasions, Champagne is often the drink of choice, but its high cost can be prohibitive. For those looking to enjoy the sparkle without breaking the bank, sparkling wine serves as a budget-friendly alternative. While true Champagne must originate from the Champagne region of France, many refer to all sparkling wines as Champagne, even though they may come from different regions around the world. Despite this technicality, many sparkling wines offer similar flavor profiles and the same festive bubbles. In an effort to find the best affordable "Champagne," the author sampled 12 popular and widely available sparkling wines that are easier on the wallet. These selections, although not true Champagnes, are meant to provide the same celebratory experience at a fraction of the cost. The wines were ranked based on their taste, bubble quality, and overall value, providing a helpful guide for those who want to enjoy a sparkling wine that feels special without spending too much. The rankings give readers an idea of which sparkling wines offer the best balance of flavor and price, making it easier to choose a bottle for any festive occasion. Whether you're celebrating a wedding, anniversary, or just enjoying a casual get-together, these budget-friendly sparkling wines can help make any moment feel a bit more special.

The Forgotten Grapes of Champagne are making a comeback!   This is a statement I made a few years ago, which was met by a lot of resistance, and more than a few raised eyebrows. These four grapes were ripped out after WWII because of their low yield, late ripening and susceptibility to disease, but with climate change and improved technology, they are now showing incredible potential. Don't get me wrong, they will never replace the noble grapes of Champagne, but Arbane and Petit Meslier are showing great capability to retain acidity even in riper years. This will be an asset if temperatures go up even in the slightest. On the other hand, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris are a fascinating way to showcase terroir through a different lens. They are fruit forward and their smoky and nutty aromatics make them approachable and complex even in their youth. I believe that with recent vintages being so ripe, in particular the 2018 vintage, a lot of producers have decided to replace a small portion of their vines with one of these four grapes. The figures from the Comité Champagne have specified that 0.3% of the appellation is planted in forgotten varietals. I wouldn't be surprised if this doubled in the next five to ten years. This would result in just over 200 ha under vine or 1.5 to 2 million equivalent bottles produced per year. Compelled to share the story of these cépages d'antan, I have put together a list of all the cuvées containing one or more of these grapes. What I thought would be quickly compiled into a short list of 20 or 30 has grown to over 70 wines including 8 coteaux champenois. To explore these wines in depth, I now have almost a dozen of these bottles in my cellar and will be opening them up for a tasting in Singapore. Should you be interested in joining for what promises to be a hell of a tasting, send me a message. The full list of wines can be found here: https://lnkd.in/dvJ5YHZT

As a wise man once said: "Money in the bank loses value, while collection wines increase in value. And if they don't, you drink them? You can't lose." Want to give an unforgettable present? You're in luck, I'm selling a couple of gems. How it started: in the nineties, I got an exceptional present from a professional relation: a case with three Italian top wines. It was the start of my wine 'journey'. I'll be honest, these three first wines never made it to my collection. But these bottles have definitely sparked my interest. I started reading about the best Piemontese and Tuscan wine-makers, and I slowly started buying wines from the best vintages. Every now and then I sell a couple of bottles to make space for newcomers. For those interested, this is what I have in the offering: 🍷 2017 Bartolo Mascarello, Barolo - magnum - 97 points (on average) including original wooden case (OWC) 🍷 2000 Bruno Giacosa, Barolo Rocche del Falleto riserva - magnum - 100 points (Wine Spectator - "This is the Romanée-Conti of Barolo") 🍷 2010 Sassicaia - magnum - 93 points (on average) including OWC 🍷 1985 Biondi-Santi Riserva - Brunello di Montalcino - bottle - 94 points (on average) 🍷 2002 Dom Pérignon P2 Plénitude - bottle - 96 points (on average) in original metal case 🍷 2000 Giacomo Conterno, Monfortino - Barolo - magnum - 97 points Robert Parker Prices on request (DM me). All wines have been stored in an electronic wine cabinet. #wine #collection #investment

Serve THIS at your next holiday party or dinner if you want to impress... Henri Bourgeois Sancerre La Cote des Monts Damnes 2022 At $41.99 on Wine.com, this isn’t a cheap bottle of Sancerre, and you can certainly taste the difference. The green notes in this Sauvignon Blanc are subtle. The acidity is bright, and mineral driven, but balanced. There are lovely florals and even a touch of butter. (I strangely picked up a hint of corn.) It’s elegant and round, but also precise. One of the best things about Sancerre? It’s a white wine that appeals to almost everyone, no matter what white wine they prefer. If you’re hosting a party or have guests with varying tastes, you can never go wrong with a beautiful Sancerre, especially one like this. While I have your attention, some fun facts to smarten you up on the subject of Sancerre: 1️⃣ Sancerre is in the most eastern, inland part of the Loire Valley. 2️⃣ Sancerre is best known for its white wines, which are always made with Sauvignon Blanc grapes. 3️⃣ Sancerre was once considered part of Burgundy, so the region also produces exceptional red wines from Pinot Noir grapes. (And they are usually much cheaper than Burgundies.) Chin! #wine #whitewine #frenchwine #sancerre #sauvignonblanc #holidayparty

Prosecco anyone? Prosecco hails from Northeast Italy, a small region called Conegliano Valdobbiadene. It has protected status to ensure quality and is only produced in the Veneto region in northeast Italy. Prosecco is typically frizzante (fizzy) or spumante (fully sparkling). As far as sweetness, Prosecco comes in four levels. From driest to sweetest: Brut, Extra Dry, Dry and Demi-Sec. The bright and effervescent wine features flavors of melon, pear, and honeysuckle. It’s relatively low in alcohol. But isn’t Prosecco really just Champagne? Prosecco and Champagne are both sparkling wines with protected status, but there are a few key differences. Prosecco can only be made in Veneto, Italy, while Champagne is only produced in the Champagne region of France. Champagne gets its bubbles during a final fermentation inside the bottle, producing a fully sparkling wine with minuscule bubbles. Prosecco ferments in pressurized tanks before being bottled. Do you prefer Prosecco or Champagne? Why? Looking for wine inspired gifts? Visit us at www.bizzywinehub.com. And don't forget, raise your glass if you love wine!

Quite hilarious but I think this is one of my fav videos on Wines Education!😃 And this scenario happens almost EVERYDAY! Champagne and Prosecco are both Sparkling wines but they are different. And the main differences lie in: -the grapes used to make them - the regions the grapes are from - the production method. Watch the video below to understand the differences and next time don’t ask for a Champagne when you actually want a Prosecco!😊 Moët & Chandon Marco Fantinel #sparklingwines #champagne #prosecco #sommelier

Champagne styles The first wines produced in Champagne – more than a thousand years ago now – were unlike those we know today. They were typically pink-hued still wines made mostly from black-skinned grapes. There was certainly nothing like the variety of styles we now enjoy. Depending on exactly how a Champagne is made, can take any one of various forms. The key Champagne styles differ in their color, sweetness, base grape varieties, and whether they are the product of a single vintage or several (Non-Vintage). The whites may be either Blanc de Noirs (made from black-skinned grapes), Blanc de Blancs (made from green-skinned grapes) or just plain Blanc (made from any combination of the permitted varieties). Pink Champagne Rosé is made either by adding red wine to a white blend or sometimes by fermenting the juice in contact with the skins. These types all come with varying degrees of sweetness – not necessarily the result of residual sugar, but due to the addition of a dosage just before the wine is finally bottled. Champagne from the Ultimate Art Collection Victoire de la Dignité is the masterpiece that embodies elegance and depth. This Millésimé 2015 is meticulously created with 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Noir, each bottle aged for over six years to achieve a refined complexity that resonates with the artistry behind it. The champagne captures the essence of the year and craftsmanship, balancing the freshness of Chardonnay with the depth of Pinot Noir, resulting in an extraordinary cuvée that mirrors the spirit of resilience and deep values inherent in this unique collection. Please contact us directly to place an order: +38 097 000 23 88 inquiries@victoiredeladignite.com