Welcome to Champagne Tips - a blog all about champagne, but not what you’re expecting…
Best Christmas and New Years Champagnes 2020
We are in the last throes of 2020 - what a year it's been. In Australia, we are very fortunate to have ridden out the wave of COVID-19 to a place where (for now) we can spend time with family. And this is worth celebrating. Mindful of the fact that this year has been tough …
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Champagne Cheat Sheet – Christmas 2019
"What is the best champagne for a Christmas gift?" It's that time of the year again, the run into Christmas and New Years. Life is busy and you're pretty much in need of a few drinks come December 25th for either the lunch table or to wrap up as a gift. Let me save you …
Champagne Tours: Taittinger
The fourth tasting tour that I did on my recent trip to Champagne was with the family owned Taittinger; another famous house based in Reims. The house has several properties; the Saint-Nicaise house in downtown Reims, as well as the Château de Lamarquetterie - the anchor estate located in Pierry. I visited Saint-Nicaise; Taittinger HQ. …
Champagne Tours: Ruinart
The third tour on my recent trip to Champagne was with LVMH's Ruinart; another esteemed house based in Reims. The oldest champagne house (others produced still wines first) was founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart, after his uncle Dom Thierry Ruinart convinced the family that the bubbly wine was the future. Ruinart was also a pioneer …
Champagne Tours: Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin
My second tour on my recent trip to Champagne was with LVMH's Veuve Clicquot; a world famous house in Reims. Founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot, the house's proud widow ("Veuve" in french) that it is synonymous for is actually his daughter in law; Barbe-Nicole. She inherited the business on the untimely death of her …
Champagne Tours: Lanson
Recently I had my first trip to Reims, Champagne and it certainly won't be my last! While there I made the most of my two and a half days and visited as many house tours as I could fit in. My first stop was Lanson. Founded in 1760, the house is situated across the canal …
Event: Taste Champagne Sydney 2019
If you're pretty keen on Champagne and want to try as many as you can in one evening; then the public session of Taste Champagne is your best bet. Hosted by Tyson Stelzer and his team in various cities, it's $140 AUD for a 3 hour long opportunity to wander around a wide range of …
Review: Baron De Villeboerg Rosé NV
Baron De Villeboerg is a champagne brand of cooperative house CVCA (Chassenay D'Arce), who are based in Ville Sur Arce, deep in the south of Champagne. The brand (and its sibling; Chassenay D'Arce) are both imported by James Busby Fine Wines for the Coles group of liquor stores (First Choice, Vintage Cellars and Liquorland). But don't let …
Review: Perrier Jouët Blason Rosé NV
Perrier Jouët is the quiet next-door neighbour to loud and proud champagne giant Moët et Chandon, on the Avenue De Champagne in Epernay, Champagne. The Perrier Jouët house was established in 1811. It is famous for its flower-laden branding, particularly that of the prestigious and fancily painted Belle Epoqué vintage champagne bottles that you can …
Review: Charles Orban Blanc de Noirs NV
Champagne Charles Orban is recoltant maison (house) based in Troissy, deep in the Marne Valley of Champagne. The Orban family has its roots in growing grapes, and the house was founded in the 1950's after Charles Orban himself left the Troissy growers cooperative to give it a go on his own. In the 1960's Charles invested in a press …
