Champagne, France

Spending the last three days in Champagne, France was nothing short of absolutely, luxuriously fabulous.

Every 2 seconds a bottle of Champagne is opened.

I feel I was in an out-of-body experience as I was sitting in the mansion of Louis Roederer Champagne House comparing Dom Perignon to Cristal vintage 2002. In other words, sipping 300 dollar bottles of Champagne amongst professionals sitting by the fire being served… by butlers.

I am not joking. Wow.

 

In total, we visited 6 Champagne houses which are : Louis Roederer, Dom Perignon/Moet-Chandon, Bollinger, Ulysse Collin, Duval Leroy, Jaques Selosse… We had private tours of their productions facilities, traveled down to their cellars and had multiple Champagne tastings … not to mention fabulous multi-course lunch and dinners prepared by private chefs. Some of the best meals I have ever had in France… and that speaks volumes. Seriously, the best quality of food and wine… I am so honored. I was treated as a top professional at all locations. I felt a bit like royalty. It was a little surreal.

Presents! Bottles of Moet and Dom Perignon!

Who am I???

Tasting ~ Duval Leroy. We tasted 8 of their champagnes… and had to precisely compare all of them… one after the other. This was a very luxurious experience, yes… but I was also required to be immensely focused.

 

I was required to speak to the professionals on my thoughts of the Champagne. Wow… talk about pressure. It was very nerve-racking but so good to develop me as a professional in the wine world. The room was silent as my name was called to discuss the Dom Perignon vintage 2006. If I can be comfortable talking to the sommeliers of Dom Perignon about the vintage of 2006…. I think I can go out in Paris, or anywhere in the world and discuss wine with anyone 🙂

 

Champagne, France is so beautiful. There are 300 houses that make Champagne… if sparkling wine is made outside of these houses… it is not allowed to be called Champagne. The feeling there is rich as you drive along the roads and see all the vines and top producers of this 4.5 billion dollar industry. I seriously had the most amazing time. A truly unique experience… we had a mountain of fun but I am also saturated with knowledge regarding the making of Champagne, the region as a whole, and how the top Champagne houses do this business.

To think my classmates and I have 4 more trips across France like this ~ makes me so elated. Next stop… the beautiful Burgundy region of France. If it is anything like this experience I will go back to my slice of heaven on earth again 🙂

After our long days of “work” we celebrated with dinners out and fun times in the hotel. I swear even after our professional tastings all day…we can still discuss the wine list at dinner with great passion.

 

Back to Paris now…. Au Revoir Champagne.

 

I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and I drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it, unless I’m thirsty. ~  Madame Jacques Bollinger 1961