Champagne Archives

Searcys Champagne Bar goes mobile

Searcys has taken its Champagne bar concept to the streets in London with the launch of a vintage style Champagne van.

The mobile Searcys Champagne Bar has popped up in front of 30 St Mary Axe (also known as the Gherkin) in a bid to capitalize on the Olympic crowds.

Searcys has been the contracted catering partner in the Gherkin since it opened in 2004 and the Champagne van will remain parked outside through September, accompanied by an outdoor seating area.

Christian Rose, managing director of Searcys Retail, said “the vintage Champagne van combines the traditional heritage of Searcys with a new, modern twist” and “By taking our Champagne bar concept outdoors, people can enjoy everything that is great about British summers. We hope that people will join us to toast our Olympic victories and soak up the fantastic atmosphere that is London right now” he added.

Searcys operates five Champagne bars across London, including St Pancras International, Westfield Stratford, Westfield London, Paddington and One New Change.

Liz Palmer
@Champagnehouses

2000 Dom Pérignon Rosé has been moved to a near-perfect 98 points

It’s always a big moment when a wine score is upgraded. Originally rated by Antonio Galloni at a highly respectable 96 points, the 2000 Dom Pérignon Rosé has been moved to a near-perfect 98 points in a recent publication of the ‘Hedonist’s Gazette’ by Parker himself.

Richard Geoffroy, Chef de Cave of Dom Pérignon says: “2000 is a major vintage of Dom Pérignon Rosé, which allowed me to push and refine Dom Pérignon’s ideal. The main paradox is of course the ardent expression of the Pinot Noir: lively, facetious, vibrant—combined with the devotion to the assemblage. Finally the audacity of the Pinot Noir stands in stark contrast with the extreme classicism of the 2000 vintage.”

Tasting Notes:

Dom Perignon Rose Vintage 2000 disrupts the classicism of the millennium and reveals its daring side. This pivotal vintage is an interpretation of the millennium in rosé.

The colour is deep and strong, glinting with amber and copper.

On the nose, the first floral notes immediately give way to black cherry and candied citrus peel, complemented by cocoa and smoky accents.

On the palate, the flawless construction achieves a perfect classicism on the palate, dominated by a sensation of balance, consistency and integration. The wine has a surprisingly brilliance and fleshy fruitiness. Its initial solidity becomes more tactile and finally sappy, with a subtly bittersweet note.

Liz Palmer
@Champagnehouses

This Weekend: Open cellars in France’s Champagne Region

La Route du Champagne en Fête takes place this Saturday and Sunday in France’s Champagne region. The villages of Côte des Bar will offer special performances, exhibitions, dining and a chance to sample some exceptional bubbly!

You can expect the festivities to have a true local flavor and you have a chance to tour Champagne caves and sample Champagne with special-edition champagne flutes, which are available at tourist offices and welcome points along the route.

http://2012.routeduchampagne.com.

Liz Palmer
@Champagnehouses

The “OenoPass” Launched last week in the Champagne Region

Launched last week by the Champagne region is the wine tourist friendly “OenoPass”.

The idea is simple and ingenious – Visitors pre-pay 50Euros and have access to ten plus participating partner venues include Champagne houses and Champagne cultural and historical points of interest.

OenoPass is best adapted to tourists who have a car. Participating properties include: Champagne de Castellane in Épernay, Cristallerie Royale de Champagne et Musée du cristal in Bayel, and the Drappier Champagne Estate in Urville, Champagne G.H. Mumm located in Reims, Domaine Pommery and their sister property, Demoiselle, also both located in Reims, as well as Le Phare which is an old lighthouse that an eccentric businessman, Joseph Goulet, built in 1909 in Verzenay which has been restored and resurrected as a modern museum paying tribute to the history and techniques of champagne with state-of-the-art audiovisual installations. All participating venues are along the “Route du Champagne”. Both French and English are spoken.

Tourists have a choice of the 5 coupon ticket [25Euros] or the 10 coupon ticket [50Euros] which are both good until the end of the year, with the special introductory price of 25Euros. Most cellar visits and tastings in Champagne are priced from about 15Euros/per person.

Along the Champagne Route make some stops for regional delicacies such as the ham from Reims “jambon de Reims” which is triple boiled – the legendary Café du Palais in Reims city center serves a generous slice of it accompanied by Langres cheese. Also further down south French foodies never pass up the opportunity to try Andouillette AAAAA from Troyes. Don’t forget the emblematic “biscuits rose” or pink cookies dusted with powdered sugar that so perfectly accompany a glass of rosé or blanc de blanc Champagne!

http://www.oenopass.net

Liz Palmer

@Champagnehouses

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Searcys St Pancras Grand Champagne Bar refreshes guest experiences with refurbishment just in time for the Olympics!

Searcys St Pancras Grand Champagne Bar is ready to provide a bubbly welcome to visitors arriving in London through St Pancras International Station for the Games or to meet-up with friends!

Europe’s longest Champagne bar has undergone a £250,000 refurbishment, which includes heated seats, new signage, and the additional of a “Champagne Button” in the booths (for guests to alert a waiter when their glass needs refilling).

The Champagne list is quite extensive which includes grower Champagnes, and the largest selection of Grand Marque houses in the UK. The most extraordinary selections are available by the glass, which is the most extensive of any bar in Europe and varies from 15 to 30.

The carefully produced list includes a Glossary and a ‘Size Matters’ section to help educate Champagne novices to choose the right size and taste! Range and size where all are represented on the list from Magnum to Nebuchadnezzar.

Situated on the upper Grand Terrace of St Pancras International station overlooking the platforms where Eurostar trains arrive and depart who knows which Olympic athlete you will see or sit beside!

Liz Palmer

@Champagnehouses

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