Tag: Champagne

How to start off an evening in London ….

How to start off an evening …… with a coupe of Barons de Rothschild ‘Reserve Ritz” Brut NV, at the Rivoli Bar at the Ritz London – what can I say?

This is one of my favorite cocktail lounges in London.  It’s intimate and decadent with an art deco interior inspired by the Orient Express.

#champagne #champagnelover #champagnelife #instachampagne #wine #winelovers #aboutlastnight #travelling #onlyinlondon #winetravel #winetravels #traveldiary #traveling #theritzlondon #RivoliBar #drinks #londoncalling #michelin #luxuryhotels #champagnebaronsderothschild #baronsderothschild #metime

Academie du Vin + 67 Pall Mall + Tarlant

It was wonderful to share a glass of Champagne Tarlant Reserve Brut (a few days ago) with Ms Hermione Ireland, Managing Director of Academie du Vin Library at @67pall_mall Wine Club.

Amongst our many wine and business conversations, Hermione provided me with [fresh off the press] a copy of “On Champagne -A Tapestry of Tales to Celebrate the Greatest Sparkling Wine of All” Compiled by Susan Keevil

Format: Hardback

ISBN: 9781913141356

Publication Date: 1 October, 2022

Pages: 279

The book can be ordered at the special pre-publication price from their website – www.academieduvinlibrary.com

It was a lovely evening of catching up!

#winebooks #wineeducation #womeninwine #champagne #champagnelover #womeninwine #womeninwinebusiness #womenleaders #london #londonwineclub ##winelovers #wine #wineeducation #winebook #67pallmall #champagne #champagnebook #tarlantchampagne #academieduvinlibrary #champagnelovers #champagnebrut @academieduvinlibrary. @herione7031  @tarlant

Wine News: Champagne Approves Lower Planting Density

One year after Champagne growers voted to change the needed distance between vines, the Champagne initiative ‘vignes semi-larges’ has been finally approved by the Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité, but with considerable opposition.

This means that the necessary distance between rows of vines will soon be increased to 2.2 meters, up from the current maximum of 1.5 meters, a measure which has stood for more than 100 years.

Last year, Maxime Toubart, President of the Syndicat General des Vignerons del la Champagne (SGV) said the apparent environmental benefits of such a move, “it will help us to achieve our objectives of zero herbicides, 50 percent fewer pesticides and 25 percent fewer carbon emissions by 2025.”

Some members feel that the main objective of the initiative is to cut costs associated with cultivation. And there are fears that VSL is paving the way for mechanical harvesting in Champagne.

Though the environmental benefits states Toubart would certainly be worth celebrating, it’s worth noting that the VSL initiative is optional and thus the extent of carbon emissions reduction will depend on how many producers actually choose to replant.

Having said that, a study conducted by the SGV over the course of 15 years in conjunction with growers, Champagne houses and scientists which found that larger spacing between vines could lead to a 20-percent reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions.

The NoVSL collective, which as its name suggests is against the initiative, believes that the adoption of VSL will lead to a decrease in quality.

“Under the cover of environmental concerns they are implementing a business project of cost-cutting,” said Patrick Leroy of the CGT-Champagne trade union at the time of last year’s vote among Champagne growers.

#champagne #champagnelovers #wine #winenews #winelovers #champagnegrowers #vineyards #vines #champagnelive #winetrends #climatechange #winetrends

 

Wine + Spirts “Royal Warrants” become void after Queen’s death

There is a collection of well-known spirits and Champagne brands that will have their royal warrant status reviewed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Brands and suppliers including Gordon’s gin, Champagne brands: Mumm and Moët, and wine merchants Corney & Barrow and Berry & Bros & Rudd all carry the Queen’s coat of arms as regular suppliers to the royal household.

Warrant Rules

A Royal Warrant of Appointment is strictly a document that permits a company to use the Royal Arms in connection with its business in an appointed trading capacity.

Brands and suppliers receiving a royal warrant are allowed to display the relevant coat of arms and the nature of the goods or services to which the warrant applies.

After a monarch’s death the warrants become void, but the holders can continue to use the crest for two years “provided there is no significant change within the company concerned”, according to the Royal Warrant Holders Association.

The Royal Household will review warrant grants upon a change of monarch, it also states.

Until her death, the Queen and (Prince of Wales) were the only two members of the royal family able to grant royal warrants.

Drinks firms and brands with royal warrants from the late Queen II include, but not limited to: Angostura, Martini, Berry Bros & Rudd, Bollinger, Mumm, Krug, Lanson, Roederer, Moët, Veuve Clicquot, Dubonnet, Harveys sherry, Dewar’s, Johnnie Walker, Justerini & Brooks, Lea & Sandeman, Matthew Gloag, Pol Roger, Symington Family Estates, Tanqueray, Gordon’s, Taylor’s port, Royal Lochnagar whisky, Pimm’s, Hine, Valvona & Crolla, Walker & Woodhouse and Windsor & Eton Brewery.

#wineandspirits #royalwarrants #royalwarrant #queenelizabeth #royalfamily #queen #britishroyals #champagne #Angostura #Martini #BerryBros&Rudd #Bollingerchampagne #Mummchampagne #Krugchampagne #Lansonchampagne #Roedererchampagne #Moëtchampagne #VeuveClicquot  #Dubonnet #JohnnieWalker #PolRogerchampagne #Tanqueray #Gordons #Taylorsport #Pimms #Hine #wine #winelovers #winenews #London #travelling

 

 

Climate change forces an early start to Champagne Harvest

Picking officially commenced in Champagne last Saturday with start dates spread between August 20 and September 6th, depending on the location of the vineyards in the 34,000-hectare region.

The timing of the harvesting is guided by the Réseau Matu, which is a network of hundreds of representative vineyard plots spread across the appellation.

The harvest has begun far earlier in the season than normal.  This is a result of the extreme heat seen across Europe this summer. August harvests used to be extremely rare, they are now becoming common due to climate change. This warming weather may start forcing changes to how the famous sparkling wine is produced.

These high temperatures and the worst drought on record have also caused massive wildfires and led to restrictions on water usage across France, but they also boosted grape maturity.

The pickers are paid on what they pick and are rushing around in temperatures well above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) as they have to pick the grapes before they become over-ripe and supercharged with sugar.

“I think we’re at the turning point,” said Charles Philipponnat, President of Philipponnat Champagne, “So far, global warming has helped: harvest in good weather conditions without rain, without too much cold, with ripeness and little rot.”

Producers across France are expecting this year’s harvest to yield a good quality vintage when it makes its way to market, a relief after frost and mildew fungus attacks in 2021, something dry and hot weather helped prevent this year.

“Following the remarkable rebound of Champagne shipments in 2021, including record shipments to the United States, Champagne is expecting an excellent yield in 2022,” said Jennifer Hall, director of the Champagne Bureau, USA.

Champagne shipments in the first half of 2022 were close to 130 million bottles globally, representing an increase of 13.8 percent compared to the same period in 2021.

#champagne #champagneregion #champagneharvest #champagneharvest2022 #harvest #Reims #champagnelover #champagnelife #epernay #champagnetourism #wine #winelovers #winenews #winetrends #climatechange