Perlage the Year

​Sparkling wine season is upon us and another reason to enjoy sparkling wines from around the world, and all year around. According to many wine aficionados, the mother of all Sparkling wines is Champagné, so one can imagine my thrill to enjoy a glass of Champagné in Champagné, France. 

​The French Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée mandates the three grapes used are Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. If only Chardonnay is used then it is called blanc de blanc. The appellations are Aube, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne. The location of the vineyards (east, west, north, south) to its ratio with sunlight tenacity matters a great deal to which grapes are grown where.

​The AOC also requires how the sparkling wine of Champagné is made. The méthode Champenoise, also known as the traditional method.

​Empty spots need to be filled in due to limited bottle movement. Many times, the bottles fall off the racks due to accidental prematurely popping out (disgorgement) while undergoing the process of formation and/or aging. 

There are Vintage (all three grapes have same year harvest) and Non-Vintage (NV, three blended grapes have different harvest years) Champagnés and the labels should list this on the bottles. The NV is usually less expensive than Vintage Champagné because of the complexities and guidelines of same harvest, blending still grapes, and the list goes on.
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The styles of Champagnés differ and is subjective. We all have unique level of sensory thresholds and having a chance to juxtapose a flight of Champagné is marvelous. The levels of residual sugar such as Sec for a sweeter and Extra Brut to a drier style is noticeable.

​Perlage is all about the quality and character of the bubbles, also called ‘the collection of pearls’ or the ‘effervescence’. The higher quality of sparkling wines have bubbles that are pinpoint small and rapidly upstreaming until the last sip taken from the bottom of the narrowed glass stem. The ideal glass to taste Champagné has a potbellied shape and is tightened at the top, called a tulip glass.

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​Pictures taken from Champagné Houses and the Grower Champagnés while touring the cellars and popping in and out of Ave d’ Champagné tastings bars.

​The money shot. This sculpture is well known if one has taken the
Moet & Chandon/Don Perignon cellar caves tour.

The oldest Champagné House in France

I can only imagin living here pied-à-terre

Once a Roman territory, there are Roman ruins throughout the Champagné area and the House of Taittinger showcases their Roman artifacts.

This Bouzy train comes in handy to hop on & off, up & down Champagné Ave and popping in and out of the tasting bars. A beautiful Autumn day.

​I loved admiring the 13th c. Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Reims from across the courtyard café. Twenty-five French kings were crowned here over the centuries. Yes, it was lunch with a view.

If you are a fellow military history buff, then you too may enjoy the Musee de la Reddition.

​When we take a public bus, I like to sit in the front; all smiles, widen eyes, fully alert, checking out window views and totally giving off giddy tourist vibes, and all walking distance from Champagné Ave. I must admit that I spent a good two hours at the Tourist Office located on Champagné Ave. Yes, on scale, that is a comfortable stool to sit on while reading through the local happenings.

If you are into sparkling wines and want to experience a winecation, this place will not disappoint.  I have studied Champagné in books and participated in public tastings (even that was limited to USA distributors) and learned so much about this sparkling wine. During my Champagné experience I delved deeper, which included popping in and out of Champagné Ave tasting bars, juxtaposing glasses of sparkling wines with education, exploring their houses, caves, and actually feeling the temperature fluctuating in the different vineyard locations I visited. May your New Year be filled with bubblies. Cheers! 

References:
https://musees-reims.fr/fr/musees/musee-de-la-reddition/
https://musees-reims.fr/reims-museums/
https://walkingontravels.com/reims-cathedral-france/
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/imi-knoebel-church-windows-reims-cathedral-296664
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/chagall-drafts-for-famous-mainz-church-windows-displayed-at-last-273412