Riedel Launches New Champagne Stemware from the Superleggero and Veritas Collections

4425-28 gefÅllt auf schwarzEarlier this year Maximilian Riedel launched the Sommeliers Superleggero series — he says: “Drawing on 60 years of wine experience and expertise, the new Sommeliers Superleggero Series is designed to carry the charm of a handmade glass with added superior lightness.” The hand blown Superlegerro Champagne stemware retails for £270/pair.

Riedel also launched this year, from the Veritas range, machine blown Champagne stemware that retails for £55/pair.

I met up with Matt Knight, Business Manager of Riedel UK, at The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, at the Royal Opera House, London yesterday and he was very happy to show me the new champagne stemware. Both have the same bowl shape and size, are lead-free and the stems have been lengthened creating a more slimmer and elegant steamware.

My preference is the Superlegerro – the stem was a bit longer giving it a bit more elegant feel.

Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Height: 260mm

Liz Palmer

UNESCO adds Champagne Slopes, Houses and Cellars to World Heritage List

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has decided to include the Champagne slopes, houses and cellars on its World Heritage List.

The 21 representatives of the state parties to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention unanimously voted in favor of including the Champagne slopes, houses and cellars on the World Heritage List in the Living Cultural Landscapes category. The committee members recognized their ‘Exceptional Universal Value’ and deemed that the protection and management conditions for the proposed property had been fulfilled.

The Association Paysages du Champagne spent eight years putting together and managing the area’s application. President Pierre Cheval said: “Inclusion on the list is a form of recognition but also an undertaking to the world’s nations, so we must ensure that we are worthy of it. We are duty bound to preserve and maintain this landscape, know-how and heritage so that we can pass them on unspoilt to future generations.

The application Milestones include:

2002: Included on France’s tentative list.

2008: The Association Paysages du Champagne was founded.

2009: First submission of the provisional Application to the French Properties Committee and appointment of a rapporteur to steer the Application process.

2010: The French Properties Committee approved the Exceptional Universal Value of the Application.

2011: The French Properties Committee approved the geographical area and comparative analysis.

2012: The French Properties Committee approved the management plan.

January 2014: The Application was selected by France.

Autumn 2014/Spring 2015: ICOMOS and IUCN international experts assess the Application.

Summer 2015: 39th session of the World Heritage Committee in Germany.

July 2015: The Committee approves the Application

 

The three distinct ensembles that have been recognized: the historic hillside vineyards between Hautvillers and Aÿ; the architecture of the Champagne houses on Saint-Nicaise Hill in Reims, and the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay..

The Champagne region can only welcome this global recognition, which in turn will increase in wine tourism.

UK Remains Champagne’s #1 Market

Champagne exports across the globe has increased by 3.4% in value while the number of bottles exported fell by four million in 2012, according to the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC).
UK remains Champagne’s number one market, for the 17th year in a row. Amounting to 32.4m bottles; the UK is 6.1% down in volume but 0.5% up in value.

The increase in value was due to heavy spending from wealthy consumers of Russia and China living and visiting London. Restaurants, hotels, elite bars and clubs account for 30% of UK sales.

“We are seeing a new market emerging, as discerning consumers come and settle in London from developing Champagne markets such as China, India and Russia,” said Françoise Peretti of UK Champagne Bureau.
She pointed out that the value increase is due to restaurants, hotels, elite bars and clubs that account for 30% of UK sales.

“London truly is leading the way as the place to come and explore the best of Champagne’s diversity,” said Peretti.

Perrier-Jouët unveils “Belle Epoque Florale Edition by Makoto Azuma”

Last night marked a new historical event for Perrier-Jouët champagne House, with the international unveiling of Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Florale Edition by Makoto Azuma – the first designed Limited Edition of cuvee Belle Epoque, since the creation of its iconic anemones by Emile Gallé in 1902. The launch event took place in Japan, which has a strong historical relationship with the luxury house.

Created by a renowned floral Japanese artist Makoto Azuma, Belle Epoque Florale Edition is a reverential homage to Emile Galle’s famous Art Nouveau design. This was originally inspired by Japanese art culture, and has become the iconic image of Perrier-Jouët artistic heritage through its prestige cuvee. Challenging the aesthetic boundaries, Makoto Azuma created a unique combined artwork, made of a single delicate botanical arabesque dotted with white Japanese anemones. These recall the original 1902 design, which is further reinforced with a handcrafted motif of golden flowers on the bottle of Belle Epoque 2004**, carefully selected by Cellar Master Hervé Deschamps.

The artist explains: “I wanted to make something extraordinary, taking inspiration from the sensation of champagne inside the mouth, and the delicate movement of the ivy and leaves with a special attention and tribute given to Emile Gallé’s anemones”.

The unique Limited Edition was revealed as part of a very exclusive international event attended by over 150 media and VIP guests, at the most beautiful and traditional Japanese Happoen-garden at the heart of Tokyo city. Guests enjoyed an elegant and imaginative exhibition, telling the story of both Emile Gallé and Azuma Makoto in a creative and contemporary way. Amongst the stars attending the event were local Japanese celebrities such as actress Miki Maya, top model Ai Tominaga, Music producer Verbal, and musician Tomoyasu Hotei, as well as other international VIPs including Chinese Haute-Couture designer Wendy Yip and Hong-Kong Fashion Designer Dorian Ho, socialite Kennis Tai and actress Isabel Leung.

Commissioning Japanese artist Makoto Azuma came as a natural choice for Perrier-Jouët; Emile Gallé chose white Japanese anemones for its original design in 1902 because of his passion for botany but also his admiration for Japanese art that draws inspiration from the primal force of nature, the true spirit of the Art Nouveau movement.

Lionel Breton, Chairman & CEO Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët explained: “Makoto Azuma and Perrier-Jouët share the same values of tradition, passion for Nature, and genuine originality and we are delighted to have found in M. Azuma the Emile Gallé of modern times through his unique creation”

From the specific choice of flowers, to the endless series of adjustments and motif on the bottle itself, Belle Epoque Florale Edition perfectly expresses the luxurious and craftsmanship cues of Perrier-Jouët, whilst delivering a contemporary vision of beauty.

Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Florale Edition will be available only in limited quantities worldwide commencing September at 300 euros.

 

Liz Palmer

@Champagnehouses

iPad2 WINNER ANNOUNCED: ERIC MUELLER IS THE OFFICIAL WINNER OF #CHAMPAGNEDAY LABEL CONTEST

The Champagne Bureau recently hosted a contest as part of the #ChampagneDay celebrations. To promote appreciation for and protection of true Champagne, the Champagne Bureau asked participants to send and post pictures of authentic Champagne labels.

Over 300 submissions were received, and can be viewed on their Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/pGmv1F.

Congratulations to Eric Mueller, he is the lucky winner of an iPad2!

Did you know that October 28th is the second annual Champagne Day?

To participate in tomorrow’s festivities, follow the #ChampagneDay hashtag on Twitter, Facebook, and on other social media sites. For more information about #ChampagneDay or the worldwide effort to protect wine place names and origins, please visit http://bit.ly/rhBcbh or www.champagne.us.

Liz Palmer
coHost for #ChampagneDay
@champagneHouses