And charm that host.
Arriving as a guest with champagne in-hand is always such a moment. What to say when eyes settle on label, noses smell, and palates taste?
Five independent “grower champagnes” offer starting points for interesting, almost literary, dialogue for at least looking like they were picked up last weekend while driving through Champagne-Ardenne. Solutions below for what to bring, what to say (and what jewels to wear).
Perfect gift for: The Classicist
[Guest hands Host bottle]: “It’s a champagne blending four ‘heirloom’ grape varieties. Hence Quattuor, means four in Latin, as I’m sure you remember.”
[Host looks at the bottle]: “You know DRAPPIER? First carbon neutral champagne house. They have a marvelous no sugar, no sulfites Brut Nature. Was going to bring that but thought this would interest you.”
[Guests(s) and Host taste]: “So, only white grape varieties—‘white of whites’ I guess is how you could translate it—Chardonnay, of course, but then the absolutely rare Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Blanc Vrai, all at 25%.”
[Guest looks sophisticated using adjectives]: “Mineral. Very chiselled.”
[Pair it with]: White diamonds, simple vintage setting.
Perfect gift for: The Naturalist Modernist
[Guest hands Host bottle]: “This is the brand I was meaning to tell you about. Leonardo DiCaprio is an investor. Eco-conscious, you know, bottle leaves France only by Neoline wind-powered shipping.”
[Host looks at bottle]: “Sexy packaging, right? An 85% recycled glass bottle, so not transparent like most. Gives a nice Berluti-ish patina I think.”
[Guests(s) and Host taste]: “Won six medals, a gold even at the 2022 Champagne Masters. Only black grapes: Pinot Noir and Meunier.”
[Guest looks sophisticated using adjectives]: “Extremely long on the palate. Is that a cardamon aroma?”
[Pair it with]: Brown diamonds set in warm gold.
Perfect gift for: The Romanticist
[Guest hands Host bottle]: “Do you know what saignée means? Did you take French, I don’t remember. Means ‘bled’, as in the Pinot Noir black grape skins are bled into the wine for a few hours.”
[Host looks at bottle]: “Sorry, couldn’t help it. Just love the color.”
[Guests(s) and Host taste]: “Apparently the grape skins lend a taste of red fruits, aromas of rose, strawberry and raspberry.”
[Guest looks sophisticated using adjectives]: “100% Pinot Noir. Trés gourmand.”
[Pair it with]: Rubies, only rubies. Transparent ones.
Perfect gift for: The Traditionalist
[Guest hands Host bottle]: “Seventeenth generation growers, on the same land.”
[Host looks at bottle]: “I hope you like mineral champagnes? It’s called Eocene for the period in the Tertiary Era that lasted 21 million years. Molluscs slowly created the sedimentary layers of rocks, clay and limestone above which these grapes are grown.”
[Guests(s) and Host taste]: “Mineral, definitely. Very Chardonnay. Slight lemony taste, a little smokiness—most be those French oak barrels.”
[Guest looks sophisticated using adjectives, while raising the glass eye-level]:
“What delicate effervescence.”
[Pair it with]: Family jewels.
Perfect gift for: The Theorist
[Guest hands Host bottle]: “Organic and biodynamic agriculture, no sulfites, 100% Pinot Gris. Not your everyday Champagne.”
[Host looks at bottle]: “Do you know about biodynamic agriculture? Founded by Austrian Rudolf Steiner in 1924? This producer plants, harvest, etc according to cosmic forces, planetary rhythms and the lunar calendar.”
[Guests(s) and Host taste]: “I should have brought some foie gras et truffles to go with this.”
[Guest looks sophisticated using adjectives]: “Powerful and complex nose.”
[Pair it with]: A visually narrative necklace, à la Van Cleef & Arpels.
