Spontaneous ideas are the best: a weekend surrounded by the the best wine in the world. In great company. A very bubbly weekend.
Arriving at the beautiful Champagne in France. 50 Champagnes on the menu, each offering up to 5 different champagnes – and now decide which one!
Perfect start: 3 tastings combined with beautiful food, chosen by the charming waiter. We arrived in Champagne & food heaven. That was only the first night. Mooooore bubbles to follow.
All you hear in restaurants: plop! Plop! Plop! Of course, a French monk invented the magical elixir in 1729. It took him 47 (!) years to develop the best wine of the world. Lucky us the bosses of the champagnes thought big and the gorgeous elixir was sold internationally.
Wine can only be labeled as “champagne” if made in the Champagne appellation (region) of France, the crush must consist of only the Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, or Chardonnay grapes grown within the region & champagne must be fermented twice: once in barrels, and again in bottles. And that’s how the bubbles get in there. After the second fermentation, caused by adding a little more yeast and sugar when the wine is bottled. Then the wine is left to age for at least 1.5 years in half-lit, dark underground cellars.
After aging, it’s someone’s job to turn each bottle slightly every day for about two months until the sediment settles in the neck of the bottle. After a shock freeze (-25C degrees) when the bottle is opened, the pressure forces the sediment in form of an ice-cube to come blasting out. Then the bottle is quickly corked to keep the bubbles inside, preserving the magic that is champagne. Producing this happy drink is serious business.
There’s up to 150 different wines in one bottle, prepared by specialists tasting the wine. Last step: „dressing“ the Champagne (label & neck band) – didn’t expect anything else in the country of fashion.
And finally it’s time to uncork the bubbly.
This beverage of celebration is truly delightful.
We did more than just drinking champagne… we enjoyed winding through rolling hills, along vineyard covered valleys and past quaint little villages. So beautiful, especially in fall with changing colors.
Walking along the ‚Avenue de Champagne‘, popping in at tasting rooms along the way. Breakfast, lunch or dinner – champagne is always a brilliant idea in any occasion.
„I only drink champagne on two occasions. When I am in love and when I am not.“ – Coco Chanel
There’s bliss in the bubbles. A ta sante!
Best idea to come by bus. Bringing the deliciousness back home to enjoy more of it…
Stuttgart547 