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Can Champagne and Hot Dogs Be A Perfect Match?

Filed under: Wine

When it comes to Champagne, the French have got it right: they drink it all the time. In the US, we tend to save it for special occasions, like weddings or New Year's Eve. That's too bad. Because Champagne is truly one of the most versatile wines.

That's probably what Jeffrey Pogash had in mind when he organized a Champagne and hot dog tasting the other day. Yes, the lowly hot dog sharing the table with the most prestigious of beverages!

And these weren't just any old Champagnes. Pogash, director of communications at Moët Hennessy USA, the wine and spirits division of luxury purveyor LVMH, brought along some bottles of Krug and Ruinart, along with the more amply-produced Dom Pérignon, Moët & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot.

Then again, these weren't your standard issue dirty water dogs, either. The tasting was held at Bark, a year-old Brooklyn joint that features artisanal hot dogs made from locally raised pork and beef (none of the nasty bits either -- we're talking shoulder and jowl) braised in smoked lard butter and stuffed into natural casings. In fact, all the ingredients used at Bark, from the pork to the cheese to the heirloom baked beans, are sustainably, lovingly even, from the sound of it, produced by some earnest local soul.

Still, could these haute dogs stand up to some of France's finest bubbles? An 8-course tasting menu (nine, including dessert) would tell.

Tags: Bark hot dogs, champagne, krug, krug champagne, Moet Hennessy, Ruinart, Veuve Clicquot

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Moet Hennessy Numbers Reveal Champagne Slump Continues

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

There are not a lot of corks popping around the world right now. One of the most popular brands of champagne is feeling a big hit. Decanter reports that Moët Hennessy Champagne sales were down 35 percent in the first three months of this year. The company owns many of the biggest brands in the category such as Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Mercier and Krug. Revenues from its Champagne and still wine business fell 22 percent in the first quarter.

Consumers are ordering less champagne and so retailers and restaurants are trimming their orders to meet demand. Official shipment figures from the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne show a 34 percent drop in volumes in the first two months of 2009 with shipments to other countries in the EU down 47 percent and exports to other countries outside the EU down 42 percent. Rumors continue to circulate about the possibility that LVMH may sell Moët Hennessy to Diageo.

These latest results are part of an overall champagne slowdown that has brought bad news for a variety of brands. France's wine industry has struggled over the past few years but champagne has remained high. Some are calling for a cut in production of the 2009 vintage in order to accommodate a market that has not reached its bottom yet and may not for some time to come.

Tags: lvmh, moet and chandon, moet hennessy, MoetAndChandon, MoetHennessy

Louis Vuitton buys Aston Martin

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Aston Martin is being bought by LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, the most high-profile luxury goods consortium in the world, joining the 60-or-so other brands that already make up the group. Aston Martin will be the first luxury car brand in LVMH's portfolio and it is the first to be run by a lifestyle/luxury goods group. The sale price wasn't revealed, but Aston Martin was reportedly valued at as much as $1.2 billion last December. Ford Motor Company, which put Aston Martin up for sale to begin with, is said to be retaining 15% interest.

We're not expecting to see a LV logo roadster entering the automaker's lineup anytime soon, but we wouldn't be too surprised if a limited edition, branded car rolled out of the factory at some point in the future.

Source

Tags: Aston Martin, AstonMartin, brand, car, cars, Louis Vuitton, LouisVuitton, LVMH, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, LvmhMoetHennessyLouisVuitton, Moet Hennessy