Glass of Bubbly
‘R’ is for Ruinart
Of all the houses in Champagne, a lady of course has her favorites. One of mine happens to be the oldest established Champagne house, that has been producing Champagne since 1729. That house is Ruinart, located in the historic city of Reims. Ruinart currently produces three non-vintage selections; Blanc de Blancs, ‘R’ Brut and a…
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The Art of Sabrage
The Art of Sabrage originated in France during the Napoleonic wars. The story says that the legendary Barbe Nicole Ponsardin, known today as Veuve Clicquot, after her husband’s death (veuve in French is widow), took over the company and managed to became one of the largest exporters of Champagne for the royal courts in Russian…
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Interview with Jean-Claude Mas of Domaines Paul Mas
Nestled in the Coteaux de Languedoc AOC between Pézenas and Sète on the Mediterranean coastline, Château de Conas has been in the Mas family home for over one thousand years. Fourth-generation vintner, Jean-Claude Mas took over the helm in 2000 and his mission has been to use only premium quality grapes to craft superior wines…
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A Woman Amongst Men – Moët & Chandon’s Elise Losfelt
A woman running a business was unheard of in 19th Century France. Yet the Champagne widows did just that, ‘veuves’ who stepped in to fill the shoes of husbands killed in battle or dying otherwise: Mathilde Emilie Perrier lost her husband Eugene Laurent and went on to launch the first “Grand Vin Sans Sucre,” or…
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An Evening of Laurent-Perrier at Stratos
As the only revolving Lounge Bar and Grill in Abu Dhabi, Stratos at Le Royal Meridien Hotel has come to epitomize tasteful luxury where the food & beverage offerings match the hype that surrounds the restaurant. The moment I take the elevator up to Stratos on the 26th floor, there is already a feeling of…
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Champagne – The Better Half
As an avid Champagne drinker, I have discovered that a half bottle is often the perfect treat for a casual brunch, to start a meal, the right amount for an afternoon delight, or an evening nightcap. Here are some of the many that I love. Lanson Black Label Brut In 1798, the Maltese Cross became…
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Label or Content? How do you Judge your Bubbly?… Honestly?
I love blind tastings. I love them because they are so honest. There is just the wine and your taste buds, nothing else to lean back on. Maybe I like this form of tasting because I’ve never felt the pressure to ‘like the right stuff’, so I can really relax and be honest, but the…
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Bollinger & Japanese Cuisine
It is a gorgeous, cool evening in Abu Dhabi. Spring is upon us. Anyone who has been here or to Dubai will know what a premium a temperate evening is., especially as we await the onslaught of Summer. KOI, the restaurant, lounge and bar that celebrates the elevation of Japanese cuisine to a different level…
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A New Dawn For The Aube
The word ‘aube’ in French means ‘dawn’ in English and it’s also the name of the southernmost region of the Champagne region. So far, so straightforward, but this area of Champagne is also referred to as La Côte des Bar. You may not have heard either name and it’s true that the region is much…
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