Displaying items by tag: Champagne

Summary: 

Meunier has always been somewhat marginalized in Champagne despite the fact that it occupies a third of the territory under vine. Many Champenois consider it mere filler to bulk up the ‘star players’ Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, while for others the late-budding early-ripening variety represents little more than an insurance policy against frost.

But Meunier has its own unique personality which can make a significant contribution to a classic blend and, given the chance, the variety can also show exceptionally well all on its own.

While many vignerons were once hesitant to even admit they grew it, more and more producers have gotten behind it, proudly producing 100% Meunier wines that demonstrate the variety's true potential and offer an entirely different facet of Champagne.

In this WSG Live we’ll take a close look at the Meunier variety and assess its true significance in Champagne while also examining exactly where it grows within the region and some of the most important wines and producers that champion it.

Presenter: Alan Tardi

Peter Liem talks with us about the progressive movement in Champagne. As we’ll discover in this conversation, there’s more to the terroir story than the chalk soils and the weather.

Summary: 

In Champagne, the term prestige cuvée refers to a special selection from a producer that represents a very high quality, in most instances, their finest cuvée.

Some are vintage dated, while some are not, but a signature of each producer that makes a prestige cuvée is the luxury aspect of marketing these products.

Packaged in eye-catching, sometimes stunning bottles, several of these wines, such as Dom Perignon, Roederer Cristal and Perrier-Jouët “Belle Epoque” have become not only some of the most celebrated of all Champagnes, but also products that call to mind the good life that is the promise of Champagne in general.

We will look at the history of prestige cuvées, examine several of the most famous, and also discuss and compare other great, limited-production Champagnes that are not considered prestige cuvées.

Presenter: Tom Hyland

Tom Hyland is a Chicago-based wine writer/educator and photographer, specializing in Italian wines.

He has authored two books on Italian wines, and has conducted seminars for the trade on various Italian wines in Chicago, New York and in Bordeaux at VinExpo.

Tom is also the author of the book "The Essence of Champagne: In the Glass and at the Table"

He has been writing about these wines for 19 years, and today is a contributor to Decanter and wine-searcher.com. He is also the U.S. ambassador for the consorzio, I Vini del Piemonte.

Learn more about French wines:

• French Wine Scholar study and certification program
• Champagne Masterl-Level program
• Champagne study trips
• WSG Wine Blog

Summary: 

Everybody knows Champagne. But the vast majority of what most people are familiar with is the bubbly brand-driven non-vintage brut which, meticulously assembled in a consistent house style year after year, has set the standard for luxury and celebration for well over a century.

There’s nothing wrong with this: many of these wines are perfectly enjoyable and some can be downright exceptional.

But there are also some interesting and compelling yet largely overlooked anomalies of Champagne that offer an entirely different perspective on the area and thus a deeper understanding of the wine that is made there.

In this session we’ll explore some little-known aspects of Champagne such as:

• The two other practically unknown appellations of the Champagne viticole — Coteaux Champenois AOC (the fascinating still wines, both red and white, that preceded the development of the méthode Champenoise) and Rosé des Riceys AOC;
• producers who are focusing on lesser-known native grape varieties besides pinot noir and chardonnay;
• specificity of terroir through single-vineyards, lieux dits and clos;
• geological twists, like the southern Aube (which is essentially an extension of the Cote d’Or) and the town of Montgueux (which, though located in the south, is essentially a satellite of the Cote des Blancs);
• and interesting practices in the cellar, such as a local adaptation of the Solera technique of blending.

Presenter: Alan Tardi

Alan Tardi first became interested in wine through food, working as a cook, chef, and chef-owner in New York City.

As a freelance food and wine journalist, Tardi has authored numerous articles for publications including The New York Times, Wine & Spirits Magazine, The Wine Spectator, Decanter, and Sommelier Journal.

In 2003, Alan moved to the village of Castiglione Falletto in the Barolo region of Italy, where he spent several years working in the surrounding vineyards and wineries through all phases of the growing and production process.

This led to his first book, 'Romancing the Vine: Life, Love and Transformation in the Vineyards of Barolo' (St Martins Press, 2006), which won a James Beard Award for Best Wine and Spirits Book of 2006.

In 2015, Tardi became the first-ever US Ambassador of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco.

His new book, “Champagne, Uncorked: The House of Krug and the Timeless Allure of the World’s Most Celebrated Drink” (Hachette 2016) recently won a Gourmand Best in the World Award.

Learn More About Champagne:

• French Wine Scholar study & certification program
• Champagne Master-Level program
• Champagne Study Trip with Essi Avelan MW
• Member discount on Alan Tardi's Book "Champagne, Uncorked”

Summary: 

The winegrowing area of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, historic birthplace of Prosecco, a wine that has skyrocketed to international popularity in a remarkably short period of time, is currently at a crossroads.

While some producers are happy to ride the huge wave of success by producing just what the market expects and wants, others are re-evaluating who they are and how to best express their long viticultural tradition and complex, multi-faceted terroir.

This webinar will pickup precisely where the previous one: Conegliano Valdobbiadene left off, providing profiles of many of the wines, wineries and producers — big and small, old and new — that exemplify the many aspects that make the winegrowing area of Conegliano Valdobbiadene truly unique.

Presenter: Alan Tardi

Alan Tardi first became interested in wine through food, working as a cook, chef, and chef-owner in New York City.

As a freelance food and wine journalist, Tardi has authored numerous articles for publications including The New York Times, Wine & Spirits Magazine, The Wine Spectator, Decanter, and Sommelier Journal.

In 2003, Alan moved to the village of Castiglione Falletto in the Barolo region of Italy, where he spent several years working in the surrounding vineyards and wineries through all phases of the growing and production process.

This led to his first book, 'Romancing the Vine: Life, Love and Transformation in the Vineyards of Barolo' (St Martins Press, 2006), which won a James Beard Award for Best Wine and Spirits Book of 2006.

In 2015, Tardi became the first-ever US Ambassador of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco.

His new book, “Champagne, Uncorked: The House of Krug and the Timeless Allure of the World’s Most Celebrated Drink” (Hachette 2016) recently won a Gourmand Best in the World Award.

France’s white wines can be counted among the best in the world. Whether you are looking for the best sparkling wines, chiseled white wines, decadent dessert wines, rich Rieslings or ageable Chardonnays—France has it all.

Summary: 

Sure, everyone knows Prosecco — or at least thinks they do.

But most people are familiar with only the very tip of the iceberg, which also happens to be the simplest, most commercial part of it.

In this webinar we’ll take a close look at the unique winegrowing area of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, located in the hills north of Venice where Prosecco was born, to get a clear understanding of what distinguishes it from other sparkling wines, especially Prosecco DOC: of its incredibly complex and diverse terroir; and of the many different typologies, styles and production methods that are utilized to express the extraordinary landscape and long viticultural traditions of this area.

Presenter: Alan Tardi

Summary: 

Contrary to popular belief Franciacorta is not a new wine region in fact wines have been produced in this region since the sixteenth century. However, the modern history of the region began in 1961 with the production of the first sparkling wine in the region by Franco Ziliani, winemaker at the Guido Berlucchi winery.

The popularity of these wines attracted the attention of successful entrepreneurs from neighboring Milan and Brescia and by 1967, when the area received its Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC) 11 producers were making sparkling Franciacorta.

In 1990 the voluntary consortium was created ensuring a focus on only the highest quality methods, which resulted in the region gaining DOCG status in 1995.

Today Franciacorta is synonymous with the finest sparkling wines coming out of Italy, produced according to the strictest methods in the world for this type of wine.

Join May Matta-Aliah, Regional Educator, and learn how the vision and passion of one man lead to the creation of a classic sparkling wine region.

Presenter: May Matta-Aliah