Taittinger to Unveil New Artist Collectors Edition Bottle at The Setai
Filed under: Spirits, Wine, Events, Art
champagne
Champagne Ruinart Stages Exhibit at The Betsy for Art Basel
Filed under: Spirits, Wine, Events, Art
During Art Basel in Miami, luxe hotel The Betsy South Beach is playing host to the works of ten emerging artists commissioned by Ruinart, the world's oldest champagne House, established in 1729. The exhibition kicks off today highlighting a commitment to the arts from both organizations. Ruinart, the official champagne of Art Basel Miami Beach, combed the country seeking talent for the exhibition and selected ten artists considered among the most creative and innovative in their mediums. Their works were produced using classic and avant-garde techniques, in a variety of mediums, including photography, painting and sculpture. Artists were inspired by many facets of the famed champagne, from Ruinart's unique bottle shape to the history of its creator Dom Ruinart. The series of unique works will ultimately be auctioned in New York to benefit the non-profit organization The Art of Elysium.
Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brand On The Block
Filed under: Wine
Booze brand Rémy Cointreau has put its Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck Champagne brands up for sale in a deal which could raise as much as 450 million euros. Possible suitors for the brands include other drinks conglomerates such as Diageo and Pernod Ricard but a private equity group could also snap up the champagne seller. Decanter reports that Piper has never been profitable in the 20 years that Rémy Cointreau has owned it. While Piper president Anne-Charlotte Amory has spent the past few years trying to build the brand, the global recession chipped away at sales and the brand cut 45 jobs earlier this year.Ltd. Edition Champagne Mumm Sabre Gift Box
Filed under: Spirits, Wine, Architecture & Design
Famed French champagne house G.H. Mumm, founded in 1827 and now owned by Pernod Ricard, has unveiled a chic new gift box in time for the holidays. The limited edition Sabre G.H. Mumm was designed by renowned Paris-based architect / designer Patrick Jouin. He very cleverly re-interpreted the iconic Mumm Cordon Rouge ribbon that adorns the bubbly's label as the handle of a modernistic sword for slicing the top off the bottle. The curled handle is covered in luxurious red hand-stitched leather while the blade is made of stainless steel with a blunt square end. The set, priced at about $850, is presented in a white lacquered wood and leather box with a pull-out drawer specially designed to hold ice and keep a bottle of Cordon Rouge at the ideal temperature for serving – after you perform the ceremony of sabre-ing off the cork.
How to Open Champagne (And Why It Shouldn't Pop)
Filed under: Wine
Champagne is supposed to open with a bang, right? Not necessarily, in fact a huge celebratory "pop!" is actually a sign that it was opened by an amateur. Experts contend that a bottle of champagne opened with skill will make only a very small popping sound, or perhaps none at all.The WSJ gives us a thorough explanation of exactly how to open a champagne bottle like a pro:
- Chill thoroughly Properly chilled champagne will fizz and/or froth over less
- Towel dry the bottle if there's condensation to ensure a good grip and prevent slippage
- Cut the foil using a knife, only tearing with fingers after you've scored the foil.
- Tilt and aim Tilt the bottle to 45 degrees and aim it away from yourself, others, and anything breakable (like windows)
- Hold the cork down with one hand while twisting open the wire cage with the other
- Twist the bottle with one hand while continuing to hold the cork down with the other
- Listen for the sound of air escaping to signal that the bottle is open. There may also be a small cloud of gas.
Once you've successfully opened the champagne the next step is pouring it. For the best results make sure the bubbly has been chilled to the proper temperature, 46º F - 57º F depending on age, and then further preserve the bubbles by using a 'beer-like' technique and pouring the liquid down the side of a tilted champagne flute.
Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Comes to Los Angeles
Famed French champagne house Veuve Clicquot will re-introduce professional polo to Los Angeles when it hosts the inaugural Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Los Angeles on October 10 at the Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades. Nacho Figueras, captain of the Black Watch team and Ralph Lauren model, will go head-to-head against some of the world's best polo players for the inaugural event. In homage to the golden era of polo in Hollywood in the 1920s and 1930s, guests are being encouraged to wear fashions inspired by that era, with help from Cameron Silver, super-stylish owner of Los Angeles and London-based vintage couture boutiques decadestwo and DECADES. Silver will offer on-site styling advice and sessions with guests and is consulting on the overall design of the event and its vintage inspiration.
In addition to the exclusive VIP Marquee, one side of the field will be free and open to the public. Angelenos will be able to watch the match from bleachers overlooking the legendary polo grounds – the last of Los Angeles' original 22 polo fields – where Hollywood celebrity and polo connoisseur Will Rogers used to play the sport himself along with fellow polo enthusiasts including Clark Gable, Walt Disney, and Spencer Tracy. The site is located just outside Rogers' former estate, which still stands today. Spectators can also expect plenty of Veuve Clicquot champagne bars and premium snacks, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Will Rogers Ranch Foundation and California State Parks.
Remy Martin Unveils $1,000 "Diamant" Cognac
Filed under: Spirits
Rémy Martin has unveiled a new super-premium cognac it will begin selling through travel retail this October."Diamant" Fine Champagne Cognac is crafted from some of the most sought after grapes in the Champagne region. According to Cellar Master Pierrette Trichet, Diamant contains very rare grapes and boasts traditional distillation methods and long maturation in Limousin oak casks. "To create Rémy Martin Diamant, I have selected the rarest eaux-de-vie from the heart of Cognac – from among the top 10% that are the most prized - and polished them like a precious stone," says Trichet.
Fine Champagne Cognac blends between 300 and 400 eaux-de-vie made exclusively with grapes from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne regions. Rémy Martin selects each year eaux-de-vie from Petite and Grande Champagne, from among the local distillers' best production.
On the nose, Rémy Martin Diamant has delicate floral notes of honeysuckle and iris, followed by an aromatic heart of summer fruits such as plum and fig. After that come notes of hazelnuts, candied orange and hints of saffron and jasmine.
Inspired by a faceted diamond nestling in a jewelry box, Diamant will be launched in October at DFS stores in celebration of the leading travel retailer's 50th anniversary. Price: US$1,000. The DFS launch will be followed in December by the Cognac's introduction at other key travel retail outlets.
Golden Jeroboam from Moet & Chandon
Filed under: Wine
If you're looking for a way to make a real impression at your next party, pulling out a Jeroboam of Moet & Chandon champagne is a sure way to get attention. But for the truly extroverted, the French masters of the bubbly have now announced an even more impressive presentation.Released ahead of the holiday season, Moet's Golden Jeroboam is dressed in authentic gold leaf by Parisian jeweler Arthus Bertrand, and packs three liters – equivalent to a Double Magnum – of the finest sparkling wine.
Representing the year of the vineyard's founding, only 1743 examples will be offered, each fetching a handsome €800 ($1045).
British Polo Players to Take Breathalyzer Tests - Prince Harry, This Means You
Champagne is the perfect accompaniment to the aristocratic sport of polo, but if you're playing rather than merely watching it at Britain's most prestigious fields you'll have to do your quaffing after the match. The game's regulatory body in the UK, the Hurlingham Polo Association, is introducing random alcohol testing for players in a bid to promote professionalism. Yes, that includes polo and party-loving royal Prince Harry (above). The limit will be set at half the amount considered unsafe for driving a car. Failing a breathalyzer test will not get a player banned for the season, the Guardian notes, but they will be prevented in playing in the day's match.
Many polo pros have welcomed the move, pointing out that a "good lunch", i.e. one accompanied by plenty of bubbly, never improves performance or safety. "It's always been in our regulations that alcohol and drugs aren't acceptable," notes HPA's chief executive David Woodd, "but now we have the machines which we didn't have before and a doctor or official on hand to use them....At the country club I wouldn't argue that there are players who will have a decent lunch and play afterward. But at the top end of the sport, most of them won't even eat, never mind drink, before they play."
Ruinart Golden Thread Wine Stopper by Patricia Urquiola
Filed under: Wine
Ruinart, one of the oldest champagne houses in the world (since 1729), has released a special wine stopper called The Golden Thread, designed by Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola (pictured above).
The Fil d'Or or Golden Thread was created to encapsulate the same twisting motion used in the opening of ordinary wire cork cages; the part of the bottle top you have to untwist before opening your champagne. What does it do? Nothing. But it looks very pretty and comes attached to a bottle of delicious Blanc de Blanc. This makes a sophisticated and unusual gift now, or at any point up to and including the holidays. We've never seen anything like it, and imitations are sure to follow.The Ruinart Golden Thread bottle stopper is available from Sherry-Lehmann for $69.95 (bottle included). It's beautiful enough to keep on display when you're not using and reusing it.
The Veuve Clicquot Mini Fridge, and the Story of an Iconic Yellow
What could be more festive than a Veuve Clicquot Mini Fridge?Veuve Clicquot has many a holiday package in store for you this coming season, but in this case, Christmas has come early. This charming little "Le Fridge" case retails for $44 (bottle included) and is available now if you can manage to find one. It's a gift that keeps on giving; this reusable champagne bottle holder can keep your Clicquot cold for up to two hours. The retro design features a glossy plastic cover in Veuve's iconic yellow with a silvery handle, and is engraved with the Veuve Cliquot logo in silver.
A bit more about that iconic yellow: did you know why it was chosen? Back in the 1860s, Madame Clicquot wanted to create a special champagne for the British, as their tastes tended to be dryer than the French. To distinguish it from her classic Ponsardin, at the suggestion of a British retailer, Veuve Clicquot darkened the then-white label, but everyone complained that you couldn't really tell the difference in the dark, or distinguish it from another white-labeled bottle which was dirty after some time in the cellar. So, in the spring of 1876, Madame Clicquot's business partner Edouard Werle chose the particular yellow you see today; an ingenious move which has led us all to be able to spot Veuve Clicquot from across the room.
Doesn't all that just make you want to drink some champagne?
Pour Your Champagne The Beer Way
Filed under: Wine
Want to get the most bubbles out of your bubbly? Scientists (French scientists of course) have discovered that the best way to keep your sparkling wines effervescent is to pour it in a "beer-like" way. Instead of pouring straight into the glass and waiting for the bubbles to settle before adding more, the best way is to pour the way you would to minimize the head on a beer, by tilting the glass and pouring the liquid down the side of the glass. This way the Champagne keeps its bubbles longer. The flute is also better at holding bubbles than the charming old-fashioned champagne coupes. The French research found that the serving Champagne at lower temperatures helps keep it fizzy.Luxist Visits Cattier Champagne's Cellars in Chigny-les-Roses
Filed under: Wine
The ancient house that rests above Cattier champagne's cellars in Chigny-Les-Roses, France, is set back about forty feet from Rue Dom Perignon. Finding a street number is difficult – the only obvious identifying mark is the sign on the front fence that says "Chien Méchant." Not to worry: On a recent visit, a guide gave assurances in a heavy French accent that "the dog is dead."
The Cattier family, which now produces over one million bottles of champagne per year, purchased the house in the 1960s. Today, its windows are shuttered and it is only used to receive guests on rare occasions. The real prize is buried far below the chalky soil – a vast network of naturally air-conditioned cellars where Cattier's finest vintages gain their character. In a garage next to the house, a narrow spiral staircase wends its way some 30 meters into the ground. There, the temperature quickly drops from the balmy 25C temperature outside down to a chilly 8C, the still air packed with 90% humidity.
The cellars are about 150 years old, relics of the early days of champagne making. During World War II, they served as part of a vast underground network of shelters throughout the greater Reims area; every few feet, a patch of bricks still bears the burns of candles used to illuminate the long corridors when electricity went out during air raids. These days, the cellars shimmer with the golden bottles of Cattier's flagship champagne, Armand de Brignac.
Billionaires Compete to Get Highest Champagne Tab
Filed under: Wine
Billionaires entertain themselves differently than everyone else, case in point at St Tropez last week when two partying tycoons got into a competition over who could rack up the highest champagne bill. The competitors were Malaysian billionaire Zhen Low, little brother to the more famous Jho Low, and Winston Fisher of the prominent New York real-estate family. The competition to see who could order more £600 bottles of Cristal took place at Les Caves du Roy nightclub and the winning bar tab, belonging to Zhen Low, came out to be a whopping £1.77 million ($2.6 million). That's a lot of champagne. And among the guests witnessing the competition and helping Low to celebrate his win was none other than the infamous Paris Hilton who has been spotted all around St. Tropez this summer with her sister Nicky.
Divers Find 230-Year Old Champagne
Filed under: Wine
Divers in the Baltic Sea are believed to have discovered a trove of 230-year old Veuve Clicquot Champagne, believed to be the oldest drinkable Champagne ever found.About 30 bottles are believed to be in the wreck. One of the dive-party's members reportedly opened one and tasted it, saying, "it tasted fantastic."
Swedish wine expert Carl-Jan Granquist estimates each bottle could bring around euro50,000 if the corks are in tact.
The bottles were discovered Tuesday, July 13 near the Aland Islands in the Baltic between Sweden and Finland.
The bottles are believed to be Vueve Cliquot, owned by Moet-Chandon, because of an anchor design on the cork, which the Champagne house used. The identity of the ship has not yet been determined.
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