Bubbles Flow Wherever You Go, Anytime…Asante

I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it – unless I’m thirsty.     

With the POP of the cork, the fizz of the pour, the clink of the crystal, and the dancing of the bubbles on your tongue – whether in a group, with a special someone, or by yourself, champagne – Eau de Vie – is my water for life! It is always my first choice at home or wherever in the world I may be. Lilly Bollinger – President, House of Bollinger from 1941-1971 – famous quote above, sums it up perfectly. Champagne can be enjoyed for any reason, season or occasion, with or without cuisine, alone or with friends. It is essential for bubbles to flow wherever I go, anytime…Asante!

Champagne and I became aquainted back in the mid 1980’s while I was studying at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis/St. Paul. My boyfriend and I were strolling down Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis after dinner on a Saturday night when the sky opened and a torrential downpour ensued. Soaked, we ducked into a little restaurant – Mitterhauser La Cuisinein for an escape from the weather and to enjoy a drink inside this cozy, romantic find. It was here that I imbibed champagne in it’s truest sense – from the Champagne region in France – for the very first time. I was in love……in love not only with the intimate, romantic, European hideaway tucked behind a bus shelter but moreover with the taste of the champagne and how the bubbles danced on my tongue.

Mitterhauser’s quickly became a favorite spot for dinner, dessert, or just bubbles. The restaurant still remains one of my most favorite in the history of me, curator of many fond memories and introductions to haute cuisine and champagne. Sadly, Mitterhauser La Cuisinein closed in 2015 after the death of Klaus Mitterhauser – a worldwide trailblazer who “was at the helm of several top-rated Twin Cities kitchens — including La Tortue, 510 Groveland and the Anchorage — before branching out on his own with Mitterhauser La Cuisinein downtown Minneapolis in 1982.”

On that fateful, stormy Saturday night in downtown Minneapolis my love for champagne was conceived and has grown and developed as I have over the years. My quest to find new unknowns and favorites has become somewhat of an obsession and fed my desire to visit the Champagne region in France.

Approximately four years ago as part of a big birthday celebration, my husband, four dear friends and I journeyed to the Champagne Provence of France for a seven day adventure, a dream come true! Once a brick factory, this Relais & Chateaux property has been transformed into a gastronomic hotel, La Briqueterie nestled in the peaceful countryside of Vinay was our home base as we explored and discovered all of the glorious gifts that the  Champagne region has to offer.

Located in the Northeast part of France very near to the Belgium boarder, the region is home to hundreds upon hundreds of growers and producers of sparkling wine, called champagne designating that the sparkler is a true product of the region. Our itinerary included tasting, and tours at almost all of the eleven different wineries. Some of our visits were prearranged by connections in the industry providing us with a more intimate experience while others were booked on-line at larger properties catering to groups with a more touristic feel. Regardless, each Champagne House was unique and proudly showcased their history and specialties. Following you can learn more about the Houses that we we visited.

• Billecart-Salmon
• Claude Cazals
• DeSloovere-Pienne
• Deutz
• Duval LeRoy
• Fabrice Roualet
• G.H. Mumm
• Jean Milan
• Nicolas Feuillatte
• Pommery
• Tarlant

A poem referenced in Destination Champagne: The Individual Traveller’s Guide to Champagne – The Region and Its Wines  by Philippe Boucheron paints an accurate vision about an experience in Champagne and the surround. Going to Champagne once was beyond nice, indeed a dream come true. Now, I yearn to go twice as visiting only eleven of the thousands of growers and producers leaves the door wide open to go again, and again, and again and never visit the same place twice. It’s magical, a place where bubbles flow wherever you go, anytime…Asante!

A trip to Champagne would be nice,

Go once and you’ll want to go twice;

The Countryside’s fine,

The wine is divine,

And the people are awfully nice.

Since that amazing journey, one friend who was on the trip has made it his mission to continously find new bubbles to quench my thirst. I must say with resources he has utilized in the San Francisco Bay Area, he has been quite successful thus far. I too, continue the quest for resources to feed my yearn and desire to find new unknown champagnes, until I can go back for further exploration of the region again. I am happy to report that recently, I have found two.

San Francisco Champagne Society – SFCS is a reservation only, private Champagne lounge. From the outside, very reminiscent of a speak-easy – discrete on the street. Even with an address, it took a bit of effort to find. Seconds after buzzing in, the door opened and we were greeted by the Master of the House – Bill Marci. The interior was intimate and mysterious with dimly lit lights and Stephane Pompougnac’s Hotel Costes – Volume 15 playing in the background. Pompougnac’s mix was definitely an atmosphere enhancer, discussion initiator, and a wonderful a new musical find which is now part of my collection.

The specialties here – the unknown, hard to find, small grower-producers who make as little as 833 cases or 10,000 bottles annually, and the knowledge and experiences of Marci. Our experience included 4 ounce pours from Tarlant, Gaston Chiquet, Jacques Selosse, Mousse Fils, and Marc Hebrart coupled with a “lite bite” of Brillat Savarin Triple Cream Cheese with 34 degrees Natural Crisps. Marci has owned and operated out of this San Francisco loft for the past 16 years. It is a great place for a date, a special occasion, private event, team building, happy hour, wine club and more. It’s a memorable place to go where bubbles flow, anytime…Asante!

Envie de Champagne is a fruitful find and it’s on-line! Envie de Champagne is the first internet site dedicated exclusively to Champagne. Since launching in 2004, they have grown to be the largest on-line retailer with the largest collection of sparklers – 1200+, available in many formats. They also offer associated accoutrements and gifts.

While visiting La Maison de Deutz (referenced above) a beautiful set of flutes with carved angel (symbol of Deutz) stems were on display. I have been a collector of special champagne flutes (in pairs) since the early days back in Minneapolis where my love for Champagne was born. I knew that I could not leave France without them. Unfortunately the retail shop was closed when we finished our special tasting and tour and we were not able to make it back before continuing on our journey. My obsession and quest to find Les Flutes Amour De Deutz, drove me to find Envie de Champagne. My heart sank when I found out that they currently do not offer shipping to the United States. Fortunately, I have a couple dear friends across the pond that I could ship to and solve this conundrum. Currently, shipping is offered only to Europe and the United Kingdom.

My experience with Envie de Champagne was exceptional. Number seven of their 10 Reasons to  Choose the Leader claims their “customer service always available and happy to assist you quickly whenever you need…24 hours response guaranteed.” This statement is accurate and true. They were quick, friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Feedback for improvement – ship to the USA s’il vous plait! With a collection of 1200+, Envie de Champagne is a wonderful enabler allowing bubbles to flow wherever you go, anytime…Asante!

There are many resources in the world that cater to a Champagne lovers desire for exploration and finding new unknowns.  San Francisco Champagne Society – SFCS and Envie de Champagne are two of my new favorites to satiate my desire and continue my quest. I not only invite you to check these out but also I challenge you to find a new favorite as champagne can be enjoyed for any reason, season or occasion, with or without cuisine, alone or with friends. Let bubbles flow wherever you go, anytime…Asante!

Featured Champagne Bottle image is from Ikon-Images. They have a huge selection of unique, cool images. Check out all that they have to offer.