Category: Champagne

Veuve Clicquot introduces Extra Brut Extra Old Champagne

Veuve Clicquot recently unveiled Extra Brut Extra Old champagne. This happens to be the brand’s novel low-dosage cuvée and an “exclusive expression of Yellow Label”.

The international launch event for the cuvée was hosted a few weeks ago by cellar master Dominique Demarville, who announced that the new creation is a result of the richness of the wines he used to make the Champagne.

The notion behind the creation of the enriched cuvee was to create a blend dedicated to extra brut, but also to bring out the imminence of reserved wines. Demarville started out with a vision of displaying how reserve wines are aged at Veuve Clicquot and showing how important they are for Yellow Label. He succeeded in creating the special Veuve Clicquot Extra Brut Extra Old which is an unique combination of reserve wines from six different vintages, including – 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 1996 and 1988. Further, a dosage of 3 g/l places the blend in the Extra Brut category, which is used for Champagne with 6g/l of sugar or lower.

The blending and maturity cycle for the cuvée takes almost three years in the bottle and another one year to age in Clicquot’s cellars post-disgorgement. This cuvee is limited to a very small production of 30,000 bottles.

Press Release: Toronto-based award-winning author Liz Palmer named a Dame Chevalier in the Ordre Des Coteaux De Champagne, Paris

Toronto, April 18, 2017 – Liz Palmer was inducted as a Dame Chevalier de Coteaux de Champagne April 7, 2017. The black-tie award ceremony and dinner took place at Ministere des Affairs Etrangers, Paris, with over 300 members of the Ordre, guests and honorees which included restaurateurs, sommeliers, and personalities from the world of politics, media, stage and music.

About Liz Palmer

Liz Palmer is a well-respected wine journalist since 2004 and has an international reputation as a critic and judge. She has had the pleasure of interviewing and tasting with some of the industry’s leading winemakers, professors and personalities.

Her articles have appeared in national and international magazines. She is one of four founding international hosts for #ChampagneDay 2011-2017; she has served as a judge for the 2013-2017 Global Traveler’s Wines on the Wing airline wine competition (New York); 2014-2017 Michelangelo International Wine Awards (South Africa) 2014-2017; and for The Stevie Awards for Women in Business (New York) (2014-2017).

Liz’s memberships include: Wine Writers’ Circle of Canada, Circle of Wine Writers (UK), International Federation of Wine and Spirits Journalists and Writers (FIJEV); Wine Century Club (NYC), The Fine Wine Reserve, Les Dames d’Escoffier (President – Toronto Chapter), and The Ordre de Coteaux de Champagne.

Liz Palmer’s first book, “The Ultimate Guide to Champagne” has received the National Award for the best French Wine Book at the Gourmand World Awards 2017.

Liz continues to support the wines of Champagne through workshops in Toronto and champagne tourism.

Liz Palmer states:

“I am deeply proud to be honoured by the most notable Champagne fraternity in the world.  I would like to sincerely thank Michael Drappier, former Commandeur of the Ordre, and Philippe Manfredini of Champagne J. de Telmont for trusting and believing in me.”

“This evening not only celebrates Champagne but also demonstrates the importance of its name, its history and its tradition, which is unparalleled anywhere else in the world.”

“I’m so happy that my family from London, Canada and France could join me and witness this extraordinary event!”

The evening followed a strict protocol, with an induction ceremony, followed by a champagne reception, then an elaborate celebratory dinner.

The trumpets sounded to announced the arrival of members of the Council, who took their place at a long table in the front of the room. The inductees were called individually to the members of the council and their career achievements were cited. Pledges were sworn, medals were bestowed and Champagne was sipped. The ceremonial pomponne is a long silver stylized antique Champagne glass.

About The Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne

The Ordre Des Coteaux De Champagne, one of the most notable Champagne fraternities in the world, is driven by celebrating the wines of Champagne and their diversity. Membership of the Ordre is granted exclusively to selected wine experts, professional restaurateurs, sommeliers who have contributed significantly to the commemoration and development of Champagne.

During the mid-17th century a group of aristocrats at the court of Louis the XIVth, namely: Mortemart, Ollonne, Brousse and the satirist Saint-Evremont, founded the Ordre. They were wine connoisseurs and particularly fond champagne from the three “coteaux” (hillsides) Ay, Avenay and Hautvillers. Hence the name given to this association “Ordre des Coteaux”. It disappeared shortly before the revolution. Around1956 a group of “champenois” led by Roger Gaucher and Francois Tatittinger decided to revive the “Ordre des Coteaux”. Taittinger, Laurent-Perrier, and Mumm were among the founding members.

There are three ranks in the Ordre Des Coteaux De Champagne Chevalier, Officier and Chambellan.

 

Websites:

http://www.ordredescoteaux.com/english/index.php

https://www.liz-palmer.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide-Champagne-Liz-Palmer/dp/0991894634

Media enquiries:

French and English

Florence Auffret, Communications Specialist

florenceauffret16@gmail.com

The Official #Champagne Experience Day – London

ProWein 2017: Record Number of Exhibitors and Participants

With new record exhibitor and visitor participation, this year’s ProWein, International Trade Fair for Wines and Spirits, impressively confirmed its status as the world’s most important business platform for the international wine and spirits sector. Over 6,500 exhibitors from more than 60 nations presented their creations to 58,500 trade visitors from 130 countries (2016: 55,700 from 126 countries) at the fairgrounds in Düsseldorf, Germany.
 A total of 50% of the exhibitors were from Italy (1,600) and France (1,500), followed by Germany (1,000), the New World (600), Austria, Spain and Portugal. In focus were the new wines from all relevant winegrowing regions complemented by 300 spirits specialties. A famous exhibitor was Sting with his Il Palagio winery from Tuscany. Together with his wife Trudie Styler the superstar presented his wines at ProWein 2017.
  This year visitor numbers also set new standards. Every second trade visitors came to Düsseldorf from abroad. Particularly pleasing was the high number of managers: at least two-thirds of all trade visitors were top decision-makers and came to ProWein with the intention to invest: almost 60% of all trade visitors concluded their business deals during the trade fair or plan to place orders after the show. Every second trade visitor visitors also found new suppliers. “ProWein is an incredibly intensive trade fair. For three days very concentrated and effective business is done here. Visitors included key players – important importers and representatives from large international commercial chains. Again this year the sector showed how strong and capable it is. An extremely high number of orders were placed and many new business ideas were discussed,” stated Hans Werner Reinhard, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf.
  The exhibitors’ comprehensive ranges were supplemented by special focal points such as the Champagne Lounge, the Organic World with organic wines, the Tasting Area by Mundus Vini and the fizzz Lounge. At the “same but different” special show companies presented unusual wine and spirits production and marketing concepts. The concurrent ancillary program consisted of some 500 tastings and events, either at the exhibitors’ stands or in the ProWein Forum. These events were geared towards retail and restaurants and provided key impulses and information. One highlight was British wine critic Jancis Robinson’s presentation of her personal ProWein favorites.
  Of particular interest this year was the new ProWein Business Report, developed in collaboration with the renowned Geisenheim University (Germany). About 1,500 wine sector experts from 46 countries took part in the survey about international wine markets, marketing trends and the development of wine sales channels. The report provides an overview of the sector’s current mood and in future will serve as an annual barometer of trends. Participants included wine producers (small and large wineries, cooperatives) as well as marketers (specialty retailers/wine merchants, wholesalers, importers/exporters, hotels and gastronomy).

Global Champagne Shipments for 2016

Today, the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne released its sales and shipment results for the Champagne sector in 2016.

Here is the list of the top markets for 2016, along with some findings:

  • Champagne exports continues to progress, especially outside Europe;
  • Consumers are diversifying their tastes and turning to Rosé Champagne and Prestige Cuvées  – Rosé Champagne grew (+8,6% in vol) and Prestige Cuvées grew (+4,7%);
  • 2016 is the second record year (4.71 billion euros) after 2015 (4.74 billion euros); and
  • Many countries confirm their status as growth drivers: (+ 9.4% Canada), United States (+ 6.3%), (+12% Mexico), (+ 15.1% in South Africa), (+ 25.4% in New Zealand), and (+ 14.2% in South Korea).