Bubble Me this
It is impossible this week to find wine articles published that do not focus on Champagne and Sparkling wine from around the world. It is that time of year.
I wanted to choose a link to the most interesting Sparkling Wine story I came across, one written by Patrick Comiskey for the Los Angeles Times.
In it Patrick explores the various ways Champagne is presented with regard to terroir. On the one hand you have "houses" like Krug who, if they’ve done their job and achieved their goals, have completed obliterated any reference to the vineyards where grapes for their champagne was grown. In this case the idea is that you are buying and drinking "Krug" or "Dom" or "Veuve", not a grape or vineyard. On the other hand you have smaller producers whose Champagne is related to a particular vineyard. Very interesting stuff.
As for this compulsion to have Champagne on hand for New Years Eve, I have some suggestions for finding just the right bottle:
D&M Liquors Champagne Selection
K&L Wine Merchants Champagne Selection
Morrell & Company Champagne Selection
I’ll finish with one of my favorite wine quotes, which happens to be focused on Champagne and offered by Madame Bollinger herself
"I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad.
Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone.
When I have company, I consider it obligatory.
I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am.
Otherwise I never touch it unless I’m thirsty."
Champagne is the northernmost grape-growing region on earth? Heavens, then what on earth are they growing on those vines all over the interior of British Columbia? Eggplants?