A Great Gatbsy post
May/11/13 16:20 Filed in: Champagne General | Champagne Movie
Isn't this is beautiful pic! In a scene from Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby," a flapper pours a 15-liter bottle of Moet & Chandon Imperial Champagne over a towering pyramid of Champagne flutes at one of Jay Gatsby's lavish parties. (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Picture)
My guess is that it is a Nebuchadnezzar size bottle, equivalent to 20 bottles… so about 80 to 90 glasses. See my post on this awesome champagne bottle! FUN!
"The parties in F. Scott Fitzgerald's iconic novel are the stuff of legend, not only in fictional West Egg but the real world as well. Now "The Great Gatsby" is inspiring Champagne-soaked soirees from coast to coast. New York City's Plaza Hotel, a Fitzgerald hangout featured in both the book and Baz Luhrmann's movie, opening May 10, is celebrating by turning its famous lounge into a Gatsby-esque Moet Champagne Bar with Imperial Gatsby cocktails."
Can't wait to see the movie..though it's going to be difficult to improve upon Redford and Farrow! Read more here: By Jackie Burrell, Contra Costa Times
jburrell@bayareanewsgroup.com
Read More...
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Champagne in the Arts Exhibition
Feb/02/13 08:37 Filed in: Champagne Art
The Musee des Beaux-Arts de Reims is hosting an exhibition on "champagne in the arts" at until May 26, 2013.
Read More...
My nickname is Bubbles
Dec/20/12 18:41 Filed in: Champagne Trivia | Champagne General
Brigadier Sawai Bhawani Singh Bahadur was the last Maharaja of Jaipur.
(October 22, 1931 – April 17, 2011)
I know what you are thinking…. yah, that is nice, but what does that have to do with champagne?
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Champagne Pliers
Nov/25/12 09:06 Filed in: Champagne General
Looking for an easy way to get the cork out of a champagne bottle?
Well, give Champagne Pliers a try! Read More...
A Champagne Thanksgiving
Nov/19/12 07:24 Filed in: Champagne General | Champagne Recipe
Let’s pretend these pictured grapes are Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, the three varietals in champagne. Yes, champagne is a perfect wine for Turkey and the Thanksgiving meal! The following are some menu pairing suggestions Read More...
A Champagne for all reasons by Crain's Chicago Business
Nov/15/12 17:59 Filed in: Champagne General | Champagne Press
Bottoms Up
Sep/25/12 20:04 Filed in: Champagne General
Champagne Champaign
Sep/13/12 18:41 Filed in: Champagne General
In the early 1600s, the region of Champagne in France was a “broad, rolling plain”, where agriculture grew successfully. The Romans named this area campus, which translates to “plain” or “field”, which eventually morphed into the word campana in Italian and champagne in French. (Roman armies invaded Champagne in their conquering of Gaul. They also dug out the crayeres for limestone for roads and buildings, now these ‘chalk pits’ are used as underground cellars for storing champagne.) Read More...
Champagne Crop Report 2012
Aug/20/12 18:53 Filed in: Champagne General
“This year has been unprecedented,” said Dominique Moncomble, the director of technical services of the CIVC, Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne. And not in a good way. Read More...
Be like Bond, as in James 007
Aug/07/12 20:55 Filed in: Champagne General | Champagne Movie
For many, when they hear the name James Bond they think “ Shaken, not stirred.”
But for others, it’s Read More...
Grower Champagnes are Growing in Number
Jun/08/12 19:57 Filed in: Grower Champagne | Champagne General
Grower Champagnes are growing in number. While the big, established champagne brands account for the vast majority of global market sales, there are also much smaller producers. Hundreds of grape growers now create their own champagne, instead of selling their grapes to the larger houses. This trend started to increase around two decades ago. Though these grower champagnes (also called estate grown champagnes) are imported into the States in limited quantities, they have a very loyal (fierce) following. Often, their champagnes are snapped up as soon as they hit the store shelves. Read More...
Champagne Smarts
May/11/12 20:08 Filed in: Champagne General
Royal Warrants for Champagne
Apr/02/12 18:51 Filed in: Champagne General
Anointing of Louis XIV“Champagne… the wine of kings, the king of wines”, Guy du Maupaussant. Read More...
History of Champagne and Chicago Parallels
Mar/14/12 09:12 Filed in: Champagne General
This connection probably sounds very strange to your ears, especially since there are no commercial vineyards in Chicago, but when I was researching for Champagne Journal (film series based upon the history of champagne), I found several interesting parallels to Chicago. Let me explain: Read More...
Champagne helps the brain
Jan/22/12 18:52 Filed in: Champagne Health
Champagne has something healthy for our minds. Yet another medical study (this one published March 2011) shows the brain benefits from moderate alcohol consumption and particularly for people over 75 years old to lower their risk of developing dementia (cognitive and intellectual deterioration). Read More...
Late Disgorgement
Jul/04/12 09:55 Filed in: Champagne General
What is Disgorgement? It is when the sediment (lees) is expelled from the bottle. Lees is the wine’s leftover yeast sediment from the 2nd fermentation in the bottle. It is moved into the neck of the bottle via remuage, then flash frozen and expelled completely (disgorgement).
“To be sold as non-vintage Champagne, French law dictates the wine must age at least (on lees) 15 months after the second fermentation begins, and three years if it will bear a vintage date...
Read More...
Nebuchadnezzar
Mar/01/12 18:53 Filed in: Champagne General
A Nebuchadnezzar is equivalent to 20 bottles… so about 80 to 90 glasses. Handle with care! And open with care for that matter too! Read More...
Thomas Jefferson on champagne
Oct/23/12 20:09 Filed in: Champagne General
In two weeks, America will be voting in another Presidential election. And speaking of U.S. Presidents... this post is in honor of Thomas Jefferson, THE wine connoisseur of the 18th century and esteemed founder of our nation, who was born 269 years ago... on April 13, 1743. Yes, he was, indeed, an incredible patriot. He suffered numerous family tragedies, but persevered - thank goodness. It’s recorded he was soft spoken and had a speech impediment (no gift for oratory) and thus, would probably not have been selected for public office today, as now the media discourages candidates from running who are not ‘mediagenic’ on tv, but that is a story for another blog. Here is a short list of his magnificent achievements on behalf of America. Thank you Mr. Jefferson!
Another Thomas, Mr. T. J. Craughwell, writes in his new book, Thomas Jefferson’s Crème Brûlée, "...by the time Jefferson toured the (Champagne) region, the famous houses of Moët et Chandon, Taittinger, and Veuve Clicquot (under a different name) were already flourishing... Naturally, Jefferson sampled the renowned wines of Champagne, but initially found them not to his taste..."
Read More...
Champagne Bar Paris
Jan/05/12 08:45 Filed in: Champagne Bar
Next time you are in Paris... be sure to check out Le Dokhan’s Champagne Bar. It’s housed in a former 18th century residence, now a charming boutique hotel.
“Featuring celadon wood paneling enhanced with gold and antique mirrors, this hotel bar in Paris lights up at night with a fantastic atmosphere. Keeping with its origins as the first Paris champagne bar, the passionate sommeliers introduce patrons to a different champagne house every week with three different cuvées. Le Dokhan's Bar also offers special monthly champagne-tasting events and a choice of over 50 prestigious champagne brands.”
I like the Empire inspired interior very much! Tres chic!
117 rue de Lauriston - 75116 Paris - France Phone: 011 33 1 53 65 66 99
New World Record for Sabrage - 32 Champagne Bottles in 1 minute
Jan/16/12 09:31 Filed in: Champagne Trivia
Sabrage (also called sabering) is the art of opening a champagne bottle with a sword, first credited to Napoléon’s Army, who is thought to have started this when leaving for a military campaign in a rush... or to celebrate a victory. Read More...
Bond 007 Dom Perignon 1959 Scene
Feb/27/12 09:43 Filed in: Champagne Movie
Gigi Champagne Scene
Oct/19/12 19:17 Filed in: Champagne Music | Champagne Movie
Notorious Champagne Scenes
Jul/16/12 19:12 Filed in: Champagne Movie
Notorious by Alfred Hitchcock 1946
This is such a great suspense filled movie!!! You may scroll to 6:20 to begin the champagne drinking (notice her diamond earrings! so exquisite!! Me like! )
The story all works out for the good in the end... that is all I will say for now.... perhaps the champagne helped?!
Need I say more?
This is such a great suspense filled movie!!! You may scroll to 6:20 to begin the champagne drinking (notice her diamond earrings! so exquisite!! Me like! )
The story all works out for the good in the end... that is all I will say for now.... perhaps the champagne helped?!
Need I say more?
Champagne by Alfred Hitchcock 1928
Jan/01/12 10:10 Filed in: Champagne Movie
Alfred Hitchcock was a unique genius...most likely never to be repeated ... like Bach and Mozart. Read More...
Real Men Drink Pink Champagne
Yes, the title of this blog is play upon the old saying ‘Real men wear pink’... as in pink ties, pink shirts, pink sweaters... In short, this color is definitely not reserved for women only. Watch this above clip and note one of the world’s most handsome, most debonair, most romantic, most sophisticated, most suave, most urbane, most all around wonderful ladies man orders some pink champagne.
The trend is clear, rosé champagne imports into the USA are increasing annually. American men are, indeed, ordering it more frequently. Read More...
World's most famous champagne toast
Jan/15/12 10:45 Filed in: Champagne Movie | Champagne Trivia
Over 22,000 champagnes!
Dec/23/11 15:48 Filed in: Champagne General
Did you know there are over 22,000 champagnes!
Yes, indeed, and the number is expanding...here are a few new labels to add to that list. Read More...
La Traviata's Drinking Song
Dec/18/11 07:13 Filed in: Champagne Music
This above Youtube version has helpful English subtitles, but there is another clip of clearer visual quality below without subtitles.
Note: Violetta is celebrating with champagne her recovery from consumption / tuberculosis.
Sadly, she dies in the end. (Yah, yet another opera where the lead woman dies...) but in the meantime, she is paying tribute to life, love, and happiness! And we should too!
Act 1
The salon in Violetta's houseVioletta Valéry, a famed courtesan throws a lavish party at her Paris salon to celebrate her recovery from an illness. Gastone, a count, has brought with him his friend, the young nobleman Alfredo Germont, who has long adored Violetta from afar. While walking to the salon, Gastone tells Violetta that Alfredo loves her, and that while she was ill, he came to her house every day. Alfredo joins them, admitting the truth of Gastone's remarks. The Baron, Violetta's current lover, waits nearby to escort her to the salon where the Baron is asked to give a toast, but he refuses, and the crowd turns to Alfredo (Alfredo, Violetta, chorus: Libiamo ne’lieti calici – "Drinking song"). Read more about La Traviata on wikipedia.
Love Wine and Opera? Here’s a link to a fabulous wine auction benefiting Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Charity Screening of Champagne Journal
Nov/26/11 18:52 Filed in: Champagne Event
Please join me at a charity screening of Champagne Journal!
Click here for invite
Event Details:
Thursday, December 1, 2011
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Champagne tasting
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Music scholarship awards and Champagne Journal screening
8:30 - 9:00 p.m. Champagne tasting
At Columbia College’s Sherwood School of Music, 1312 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago
Tickets are $30 (includes champagne tasting, appetizers, and Champagne Journal screening)
All proceeds from this screening go towards scholarships at the Sherwood School of Music.
Champagne Charlie
Nov/25/11 13:36 Filed in: Champagne Music
‘Champagne Charlie’ was the nickname Americans first bestowed upon Charles Hiedsieck, because they had difficulty pronouncing his last name. Charles was the first owner of a champagne house to visit the United States (1861). Read More...