For me, this is the season of sparkling wine. Be it Champagne from France or Méthode Champagnoise from New Mexico, it is what I want to drink whenever there is good reason. And what better reason than the Winter Solstice? the laying of the Wreath? the writing of the Cards? the wrapping of the Gifts? Not to mention Christmas Eve, Christmas Brunch, Christmas Dinner, and of course the biggie, New Year's Eve? December is full of opportunity, and I intend to take full advantage.
This year I am most excited about the Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs we plan to offer on New Year's Eve. We sampled a bottle on Thanksgiving (did I mention that TG was also a great time for champagne?) and it proved to be quite tasty - full-bodied, yeasty, little tiny bubbles. A big hit. It's not going to be cheap, that's why it is being stored in it's own little fridge at 55 degrees, in anticipation of being here for next year too. But it is so good and so unavailable, it might be a popular choice among our discerning guests. I also have a few bottles of the Henriot, the Rose being my personal favorite, which will be on the New Year's Eve list as well. As for by-the-glass, we go with the tried and true Gruet from New Mexico. Frankly, it is about as good a domestic sparkler as I've ever had...I don't really even bother with the ones from California, although they are probably extremely good...I just head straight for the Gruet.
For our own Christmas dinner - or perhaps our own anniversary, who knows? - we are saving a bottle of Charles Heidsieck vintage rose, from 1996. Of course the year has some special significance to us, and as it is a vintage champagne, it ages quite well - especially if it has been stored properly, which, for the most part, it has. Last year I also purchased another vintage champagne, for future consumption, from Deutz. The 2002 vintage, while not considered quite as great as the 1996, should be age-worthy and pretty tasty in four or five years. **(These web pages for these champagne house that I have linked to are pretty "flashy", if you get my drift...avoid if you've got a slow connection. And I have to admit, I love the disclaimer on the translated page on Deutz's webpage - "Alcohol abuse is dangerous to health if consumed in moderation" - what the heck is that all about???)
There are many, many other choices out there for your sparkling wine needs, so shop around and do a little research. Break out the champagne glasses, either those classic coupes or the modern flutes, and Celebrate the Season, whatever it means to you this time of year. There's something about those tiny bubbles that just makes everything seem a little special.
Cheers!
This year I am most excited about the Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs we plan to offer on New Year's Eve. We sampled a bottle on Thanksgiving (did I mention that TG was also a great time for champagne?) and it proved to be quite tasty - full-bodied, yeasty, little tiny bubbles. A big hit. It's not going to be cheap, that's why it is being stored in it's own little fridge at 55 degrees, in anticipation of being here for next year too. But it is so good and so unavailable, it might be a popular choice among our discerning guests. I also have a few bottles of the Henriot, the Rose being my personal favorite, which will be on the New Year's Eve list as well. As for by-the-glass, we go with the tried and true Gruet from New Mexico. Frankly, it is about as good a domestic sparkler as I've ever had...I don't really even bother with the ones from California, although they are probably extremely good...I just head straight for the Gruet.
For our own Christmas dinner - or perhaps our own anniversary, who knows? - we are saving a bottle of Charles Heidsieck vintage rose, from 1996. Of course the year has some special significance to us, and as it is a vintage champagne, it ages quite well - especially if it has been stored properly, which, for the most part, it has. Last year I also purchased another vintage champagne, for future consumption, from Deutz. The 2002 vintage, while not considered quite as great as the 1996, should be age-worthy and pretty tasty in four or five years. **(These web pages for these champagne house that I have linked to are pretty "flashy", if you get my drift...avoid if you've got a slow connection. And I have to admit, I love the disclaimer on the translated page on Deutz's webpage - "Alcohol abuse is dangerous to health if consumed in moderation" - what the heck is that all about???)
There are many, many other choices out there for your sparkling wine needs, so shop around and do a little research. Break out the champagne glasses, either those classic coupes or the modern flutes, and Celebrate the Season, whatever it means to you this time of year. There's something about those tiny bubbles that just makes everything seem a little special.
Cheers!
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