Oh joy, it was
time to taste real French Champagne this year at Wine Concepts' "Finer
Things in Life” International Sparkling Wine & Champagne Affair Celebration
at the Vineyard Hotel last Friday night.
No driving long
distances into the winelands for 10 coupons, only to find that it will cost you
five of them if you want a small taste of real Champagne, but the chance
locally to taste all of the 34 different French champagnes and a few Cavas and
Proseccos. And all this for a R500 ticket, which includes canapés and a
champagne glass. Oh, and a free raffle based on the number on your ticket. You
can take an Uber home without bankrupting yourself or, if you are feeling
celebratory, take the Vineyards special offer of a room, dinner and breakfast..
Maryna Calow was having fun
with her friend
First in the room, Bianca Brand showed us the Billecart-Salmon Champagne, imported by Ken Forrester. There were three to taste, all excellent. We had just had a licorice chocolate from the stand next door and are surprised and please to let you know that the Brut Rosé pairs very well with liquorice. Who knew?!
A very bling Italian Prosecco from Bottega. Matching glasses too
Have you tried Drappier Champagne?
A selection of marques from Reciprocal Trading, Champagnes Forget-Brimont and Jacquinot
and their Riedel wine glasses
Yes please! Lynne’s favourite of the evening
Lots of lovely Mumm Champagne, the Brut, the Cordon Rouge, the Rosé and the Demi-Sec. It seems that the younger generation loves semi-sweet bubbles. We grew up with them and are less keen. We had too many bottles of semi-sweet “Grandma's Socks” (a play on the name of inexpensive SA sparkler, Grand Mousseux) at every birthday, christening, bar mitzvah, wedding, anniversary or any excuse for a celebration. Give us lovely, dry and crisp bottle-fermented bubblies
Broadcaster at Magic AM, Guy McDonald was the MC for the evening
JP Colmant and Marina Synnott on the Champagne Tribaut table
Therèse and Alan Mullins (Woolworths wine buyer) and their driver getting some details about Lanson
Photographer Gavin Withers brought his own Riedel glass
Nice to see Piper Heidsieck this year. Their bubbly had quite a woody note,
not what one expects, but there are fans
On the Lanson table, you could taste...
the Brut, the White label demi sec (they tell us it is drier than some Bruts!?)
as well Louis Bouillot,a Brut Crémant from Burgundy
Mike Bampfield Duggan of Wine Concepts with Sarah Revell Marillier on the Vinimark table,
where she and Tracy James-Elphick showed Bollinger and Nicolas Feuillatte
Mike and his wife Renée
The Veuve Clicquot. Go big! It is always rather good
Guy McDonald ran the raffle while Maryna Calow drew the tickets
The oyster table was very popular. There were also two chocolate tables for tasting and purchasing
And a chance in the raffle to win a drive in one of these two beauties:
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2018
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