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Champagne sparkling tips from an insider

Posted Dec 14, 2010

The holiday season plus our obsession to anything that screams glamour, yes at Swide we are champagne driven this month. But to be seen as a stylish expert and to stand out at a party when arriving with a nice wrapped bottle of bubbles, one must be sure that actually the name and blend described on the label are appropriate to the occasion.

Champagne tasting

We took a few lessons with a Milan based champagne importer that we want to share with you, readers that undoubtedly are like us going to open more than one bottles to say "salute", "cheers" and "happy new year!".

Champagne tasting
We met with Fabrice Godew in a very typical Italian café where parmesan, gorgonzola and prosciutto are on display; in a word, ideal to taste champagne and understand that the first rule is to get a perfect balance between freshness and strength. But to achieve that of course the choice of the grapes and a gentle picking process are essential but not only, to enjoy champagne one must keep the bottle at least 24 hours in the fridge at 3°/4° and drink it either in a flute or an Idaho glass (the tool of professionals). To our delight, we discovered that this elixir is not only glamorous but also fashionable. Indeed, the color tone has to matched expectations so for a champagne rose stay away from anything that is dark.

 Champagne Rosé
Our favorite drink does follow trends, from a permanent offer that comprises classics to bubbles of the season, the dress code varies depending on who and where you will drink it with. The Kelly of Fabrice is called “Grande Reserve” and might be re-baptised “Grande Reserve Haute Couture”. A perfect sartorial tradition expressed in bottles that once encapsulated reveal unique aromas.
Drink for fashion or fashion in a drink… The similarities between this appellation controlée and the garment industry are more than only a few, maybe this is why the Rosé picked up suddenly and the Blanc des Blancs might have a come back soon.

 Champagne Grande Reserver Cheurlin Danguin
Tell me what you drink I will tell you who you are, a real lifestyle, Fabrice is not only trading his favorite brew but appreciates it on a daily basis and has confessed to Swide that he is up for a champagne picnic in Spring.  

Check Fabrice Godew’s selection on godew.com.

Read the interview with champagne writer Peter Liem on Swide.com.

Text by Delphine Hervieu.

Photo credits: godew.com

 

TAGS: champagne champagne tasting champagne rosé blancs des blancs godew.com fabrice godew grande reserve xmas christmas 2010 tasting lessons peter liem champagne expert