Posts Tagged ‘champagne’

Pour bubbly like beer say the French

And who should know better? Reported in Decanter latest news is this article.

Champagne

Champagne

French scientists have discovered the secret to keeping the fizz in a glass of Champagne: pour it like a beer.

A new study reports the best way to pour Champagne is in a ‘beer-like way’ with the glass held at an angle.

It reveals the sparkling wine remains bubbly longer when poured in this way rather than pouring straight into the glass and waiting for the mousse to settle before topping up.

However, Tom Stevenson, chairman of the Decanter World Wine Awards’ Champagne panel, said: ‘Pouring Champagne like a lager is a seen as a really naff way to serve it. You would not see a sommelier doing it in a million years.’

‘Pouring it like the sommeliers do, does you a favour by letting the free CO2 escape from the glass so the bubbles don’t get up your nose,’ he added.

The research also discovered that Champagne served at lower temperatures retains its fizz. At higher temperatures, carbon dioxide is lost more quickly.

‘The beer-like way of serving champagne has much less of impact on its dissolved CO2 concentration than the champagne-like way of serving, especially at low champagne temperatures (4 and 12 °C). The beer-like way of serving champagne is much softer than the champagne-like one,’ the study said.

The report published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry was led by Gerard Liger-Belair, a professor at the University of Reims and author of Uncorked: the Science of Champagne.

[Muti] [Laaik It] [Digg] [del.icio.us]

Tags: , , , , ,

Champagne and Method Cap Classique

Allan Mullins, Cape Wine Master and wine selector for the major South African retailer Woolworths, presented a tasting of Method Cap Classique wines from the Constantia Valley as well as a French champagne from Alexander Bonet which is sold exclusively at Woolworths under the label, Comtess Alexia. Allan’s extensive knowledge provided many interesting bubbly facts pointing out that champagne sales have fallen as a result of the recession but that demand for cap classique which is made in the traditional French manner is at an all time high. Best to get our festive season stocks in while they are available. Oozing humour and personality, Allan seasoned his talk with a mousse of hilarious anecdotes.

Alan Mullins

Allan Mullins and his beautiful wife, Therese

It is interesting to note that Archim von Arnim of Cabriere who famously opens bottles with a sabre, was the pioneer of champagne in South Africa in the early eighties.

On tasting champagne Allan mentioned that the best glasses have imperfections which allow the mousse to fizz better. If glasses are not up to scratch simply take a diamond and roughen up the surface.

The venue was the unique and spectacular new cellar door Bistro, 1682, at Steenberg Vineyards which has views across the Constantia valley with False Bay in the distance.  This interesting food and wine destination has everything to entice visitors to stay and soak up the beautiful surroundings.

These are the wines that we enjoyed with Allan:

Duncan enjoying the Bistro 1862 deck

Duncan enjoying the Bistro 1862 deck

Steenberg Chardonnay MCC 2008

Steenberg Pinot Noir MCC 2006

Klein Constantia Brut 2006

Groot Constantia Cap Classique 2004

Constantia Uitsig MCC 2006

High Constantia Clos Andre 2006

Buitenverwachting Brut MCC

Comtess Alexia (Alexander Bonet)

 

 

Winston Churchill was an aficionado of Pol Roger champagne and made this well known statement:

In victory, deserve it

In defeat, need it

[Muti] [Laaik It] [Digg] [del.icio.us]

Tags: , ,

Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne festival

Franschhoek, South Africa’s food and wine center will host the largest local Cap Classique and Champagne Festival, boasting an impressive array of celebrated Cap Classique producers while simultaneously showcasing some of the finest French champagne houses.

Champagne

Champagne

Franschhoek’s best restaurants will also be opening their doors to visitors and compiling special menus to complement the bubbly.

4th, 5th and 6th December 2009

R180 entrance fee per day

R350 per weekend pass – includes complimentary wine tasting coupons and a glass

Venue – Franschhoek Huguenot Memorial

[Muti] [Laaik It] [Digg] [del.icio.us]

Tags: ,

Better Tag Cloud