The Ultimate Guide to Champagne by Liz Palmer confirms its title as the best achievable book on Champagne of its kind. It sparkles with details in both facts and visuals and is easily browsed through or read in depth. Her creative approach in the layout reveals that Champagne is about much more than the region where it is grown, fermented, and bottled.
Amazon Review: http://amzn.to/2kbMgRF
Anna Thompson, Sommelier
“What a grand accomplishment, Liz. There is so much practical information in your book that I do not find in other books about Champagne. So much so that I cannot think of any aspect of Champagne you do not cover. Not only do you give the reader the basics of Champagne, its history and buying and serving tips but you remember the traveler to the region with information about what Champagne houses to visit and what else there is to see and do.
I send you every good wish that your book will be a smashing success, and I hope we have the opportunity to raise a glass of bubbly to that!”
Eunice Fried
Director of the Annual International Airline Wine Competition
GLOBAL TRAVELER Magazine
The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) has recently voted and approved the Cités des Vins de Bourgogne. This new wine tourism, cultural and education facility will be built on three sites located in Mâcon, Beaune, and Chablis.
According to Louis-Fabrice Latour, President of the BIVB, it will be “a project that will affect an entire generation”. Partners include the Association for the Climats of Bourgogne, the tourism industry, and local and regional authorities.
The main site of the Cités des Vins will be located just outside the town of Beaune, which will also include a five-star hotel.
From the Cité des Vins de Bourgogne –“Each Cité des Vins de Bourgogne is a place where people can find out about Bourgogne wines, with shared content and communication tools, each site also acting as a local showcase. The Climats of the Bourgogne winegrowing region, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and a real differentiator for Bourgogne wines, will be presented in each site, in Chablis, Beaune, and Mâcon.”
This project has won € 17.1 from BIVB and local authorities.
Next steps:
– To define the economic and legal model for each of the Cité des Vins de Bourgogne;
– To select the architects and exhibition designers for the Cités des Vins in Mâcon and Chablis;
– To work with the city of Beaune on integrating the Cité des Vins into the urban project; and
– To design the museographical model of the whole.
The Consorzio per la Tutela dei Vini Valpolicella is happy to announce the countdown for Anteprima Amarone – the 2013 Vintage. The event will take place at the beautiful and historical Palazzo della Gran Guardia, Verona, from January 28th to the 30th.
The three days include: January 28 is press day, January 29 is reserved for enthusiasts and general public, with the last day, January 30th being reserved for industry. This year there will be 78 participating wineries with over 150 labels, with some older vintages.
The VDglass Company will also be launching a new stemware specifically designed for Amarone wines that is said to “enhance its expression”.
On Saturday, January 28th there will be a presentation with art critic Philippe Daverio and journalist Andrea Scanzi. The latter will discuss the parallelism—perhaps a bit of a stretch and probably quite entertaining—between works of art and Amarone.
For a complete list of participating wineries and ticket prices visit: www.anteprimaamarone.it
Sponsors include: AGSM, ATV, Banco Popolare, Faberest, Grafiche Valpolicella, Idea Grandimpianti, Stipa Spa, VDglass, Volkswagen Group Italia Spa.
Consorzio per la Tutela dei Vini Valpolicella
Founded in 1924, the Consorzio per la Tutela dei Vini Valpolicella is an association that includes viticulturists, winemakers, and bottlers from the Valpolicella wine production area, a territory that embraces 19 municipalities in the Verona area.
There are over 80% of the producers that use the “Valpolicella” designation, the consortium creates initiatives that enhance the entire territory: the wine and its land of origin.
The consortium handles the promotion, enhancement, and awareness of the wines and of the Valpolicella territory, protection of the trademark and the viticulture in the Valpolicella wine production area, supervision, safeguarding, and defense of the designation.
Taking Champagne with Madame Champenoise
Liz Palmer graced the Wine Angels with her presence in the Cave (Toronto) last month to toast to the release of her new book The Ultimate Guide to Champagne. Liz’s love affair with wine began nine years ago, as she made the transition from law to a studying Somm. As we sipped, savoured, and yes, SABERED in her honour, it became apparent that we could all agree that no matter the question – Champagne is ALWAYS the answer. As we poured ourselves some champers and settled into chat – Liz told us about her continued book tour plans (Paris, New York and Toronto), and how she will soon be launching her own Champagne brand- How cool! Liz is fondly known as the “Queen of Champagne”, but we call her “Madame Champenoise”!
If you could describe the purpose of your book in one sentence, what would it be?
The Champagne Bible
Do you consider yourself a Champagne purist?
I’m a purist when it comes to vintage Champagne, but I am still open minded. There are people in France who don’t believe that you should cook with Champagne. Then, there is the topic of decanting Champagne, it does change the taste and effect the bubbles – true purists don’t agree with decanting.
What was the very first Champagne you drank in the region?
Drappier Champagne from the Aube region. Champagne has been produced by the Drappier family for eight generations and I’ve have the honour to meet and taste with three generations Andre, Michel and Charline. I just fell in love with their wines when I visited them several years ago. They a “champagne table” that holds your champagne glass and purse – what else do you need.
What is your favourite Champagne?
The 1998 Dom Pérignon, I tasted with the chef de Cave Richard Geoffroy and a sommelier in a private intimate tasting experience a few years ago – It was memorable! (Find it in the LCBO here)
Is there another female that inspires you?
It’s difficult naming one, but Maggie Henríquez, the CEO of Krug stands out, she is quite a dynamic woman. There are more females in ownership, management and board roles than ever before. I’ve interviewed quite a few of these women and have mentioned a few of them in my book “The Ultimate Guide To Champagne” (even our very own Angela Aiello).
What is your favourite wine pairing?
Oysters and champagne –there is nothing better!
What are you wearing if Champagne is the perfect accessory?
Either an elegant evening gown or a bathrobe.
If you were talking to someone who didn’t know anything about Champagne, what would be the key thing you would want to tell them?
Two things – firstly, how to shop for champagne, and secondly how to taste it.
When you’re not writing, or drinking Champagne, where are you and what’s in your glass?
I love Chablis. I also been going in between Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. During the spring time I focus on Provence rosé.
And the final question – have you ever sabered!?! And tell us about your experience.
I’m a beginner – I just bought my first saber from Reims, France and it is a Laguiole brand. I’ve been practicing off the back of my boat!
Liz’s champagne and wine adventures! Follow me on Instagram here!
