Bollinger is one of the most recognized names in all of Champagne for a variety of reasons. It’s the Champagne of James Bond and of the Royal family. Its history dates back almost 200 years, it is one of the original Grande Marques of Champagne (a group of roughly 20 of the top houses that have been leaders in building the Champagne brand) and it remains family owned. Most importantly, it makes damn fine Champagne.
There are few things more pleasurable in life than sipping a glass of wine while enjoying a stunning view. For those of us lucky enough to live in BC, our local wine regions serve up among the most beautiful and unique around, along with the wines to pair perfectly.
When people think of Champagne, it typically evokes visions of well-known houses with historical names that represent a sense of formality and grandeur. Our recent visit there certainly provided plenty of that, but we were most intrigued by Olivier Horiot, a winemaker who is working on the very edge of the region, both literally and figuratively.
Since its inception more than a century ago, AR Lenoble has developed into somewhat of an anomaly in the region remaining solely family-owned throughout its entire history. One of the smallest houses in Champagne, AR Lenoble’s focus is on quality over quantity producing just over 26,000 cases per year.
As we edge closer to the most celebrated night of the year (which also happens to be #internationalchampagneday ), we thought it particularly appropriate to revisit our trip to the home of the drink of special occasions, and in our opinion, one of the finest wines around. Our recent trip to Champagne included a combination of well known Champagne Houses and along with some lesser known gems including Champagne Taittinger, Champagne Alfred Gratien, Champagne AR Lenoble, Champagne Bollinger, Olivier Horiot. Click the link below for the video & visit advinetures.ca for individual write ups and recommendations. Cheers!
The name Taittinger will be well known to Champagne drinkers. It is one of the region’s top 5 largest producers and is one of Champagne’s original Grande Marques, a syndicate of 24 of the top houses that includes Bollinger, Krug, Pol Roger, Dom Perignon, among others. They are thought of as among the most elite and prestigious producers within Champagne. Taittinger is also known for its extensive vineyard holdings, 700 acres, among the largest in Champagne, that supply about 50% of the grapes Taittinger ferments in a typical year.
The holiday season is one of the most popular times for popping the question and if the New Year has you planning your nuptials, wineries have a lot to offer in terms of venue choice. However, since the pandemic, there are several wineries that either no longer host weddings or have put events on hold. Our latest article for the Daily Hive lists 6 BC wineries that range from small to large, down to earth to lavish, and intimate to grand, that all offer something distinct to help make your special day exclusively yours. Click here for the full story.
It’s safe to say, we’ve rarely met a champagne we haven’t loved. But as we’ve delved deeper into the different houses and their comparable styles, we’ve discovered how seemingly subtle choices can have a profound effect on the finished product. In the case of Alfred Gratien, none are likely to question the House’s respected reputation as a top producer, and likely everyone will acknowledge its dedication to certain methods that have resulted in a truly distinct quality.
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