Only recently, Emirates obtained exclusive rights to serve top champagne on its flights; specifically bubblies from Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon. This contract means that from 2023 to 2024, Emirates would be the only commercial airline offering champagnes from these brands. Dom Perignon will be served in first class across all routes globally; Veuve Clicquot will be served in business class on routes to the Americas and Europe, and, Moët & Chandon will be offered in business class on routes to Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, including Australasia. Passengers in economy would also be able to purchase Moët & Chandon champagnes if they want.

No doubt, being the only airline to serve these top champagnes would increase the value of Emirates’ premium cabin. So far, Emirates has worked hard to ensure that its premium passengers enjoy the best bubblies: its Business Lounge in Dubai boasts a special Moet & Chandon bar and its unique wine cellar in France reportedly houses up to 6.5 million bottles that has allowed it to serve rare wines such as the Dom Pérignon Vintage 2003 Plenitude 2 on select routes.

For now, other airlines would have to contend with serving premium champagnes from other houses onboard while they work to include attractive luxury options in other categories like onboard amenity kits and even the meals served in-flight. Their wine list is no less remarkable — Qatar Airways serves Krug 2004 champagne in its first class while Etihad offers Champagne Charles Heidsieck, Blanc des Millénaires 2004 in its own first class. Air France serves passengers Piper-Heidsieck 2006 Rare Millésime Champagne in its premier cabin while those in economy can enjoy a drink from the Fleur de Champagne Brut 1er Cru, the signature cuvée of a family-owned and independent wine producer since 1859.

But in the end, none of these champagnes are a Dom Pérignon or a Veuve Clicquot or even a Moët & Chandon. And having exclusive rights to serve them onboard has definitely put Emirates ahead. For now at least.

The post Emirates ups the ‘Flight Game’ with its In-Flight Exclusive Champagne Rights first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Emirates ups the ‘Flight Game’ with its In-Flight Exclusive Champagne Rights appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

An Icon of Celebration since 1743

A long history of grand and festive events has made Moët & Chandon a global icon of celebration since 1743.

Served in the White House by the early 1900s and enjoyed at the coronation of Edward VII and Elizabeth II, Moët & Chandon has invited the world to create a sparkling ambience and shared unforgettable moments since its earliest years.

This holiday season will be no different: Moët & Chandon will once again deploy its legendary ‘savoir-fête’ to celebrate togetherness around the effervescence of its champagnes with spectacular lights to climax each event.

Effervescence Events around the World

The holiday season is about bringing people together to build and share memorable moments, marked by bubbles and lights. For the second year, Moët & Chandon will present a spellbinding display of illuminations and unmissable parties to share the joy of togetherness in more than 20 cities around the world.

It was a desire of Jean-Remy Moët, grandchild of the founder of the House, to make his champagne known to the globe and bring people together under its name and vibrancy. It is in the spirit of this that Moët & Chandon has put together a series of events — which started in mid-November and will end on New Year’s Eve — to celebrate the festive season around the world.

The Effervescence Events have been expertly designed to delight guests and Friends of the House and would include musical performances and entertainment, punctuated with cork-popping sounds and the joyful ‘savoir-fête’ of Moët & Chandon. The star of these exceptional gatherings is Moët Impérial, whose ability to appeal to all cultures everywhere has made it the most widely enjoyed champagne on earth. Its universal likability is the special ingredient of celebrations both grand and intimate.

Holiday Season 2022 Limited-Edition Bottle

To accompany its end-of-year festivities, Moët & Chandon is pleased to present a special 2022 Holiday Season bottle, allowing champagne lovers and collectors to take home a memento of the House’s legendary ‘savoir-fête.’

The special bottle, dubbed The Spark of Light, comes in the classic 75cl size and is dressed in a bespoke golden, cheerful firework pattern on a white background, symbolizing displays of radiance that have illuminated the most extraordinary celebrations throughout the history of Moët & Chandon.

A piece that defines a holiday table; a treat for families and friends; a treasure for passionate collectors; a new journey of adventure and discovery for those who are enjoying it for the first time, or, an appreciated detail for those who have it all: The Spark of Light is the gift transforming each gathering into a festive moment. This limited-edition bottle will be available exclusively during this year’s holiday season.

About Moët & Chandon:

Moët & Chandon was founded in 1743 by Claude Moët and elevated to international renown by his descendant, Jean-Rémy Moët, who dreamt of “sharing the effervescence of Champagne with the world.” From royal court to red carpet, Studio 54 to Grand Slams, Moët & Chandon has been bringing people together around thrilling, extraordinary moments. With the largest, most diverse vineyards in the region, the House offers a universal & versatile portfolio of champagnes for every occasion and palate. Easy to love, each creation – from the iconic Moët Impérial to the refined Grand Vintage Collection, the glamorous Moët Rosé Impérial to the refreshing Moët Ice Impérial – dazzles and delights with a broad spectrum of flavours and aromas to capture the astonishing breadth of its terroir. Through Natura Nostra, Moët & Chandon’s long-term sustainability program, the House works to protect biodiversity in the region and, since 2009, Moët & Chandon also supports philanthropic initiatives through Toast for a Cause. For nearly three centuries, Moët & Chandon has been the champagne of choice to mark both significant events in history and personal celebrations, enhancing each toast with the spark of effervescence.

The post Effervescence Events: Moët & Chandon illuminates the Holidays with Sparkling Champagne and Lights first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Effervescence Events: Moët & Chandon illuminates the Holidays with Sparkling Champagne and Lights appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Including here in Africa. Currently, the Business Development Director for the region Africa, Middle East and Global Travel Retail for Maison Moët & Chandon, Charles de Pontevès, is touring the continent following his appointment back in March 2021. We sat down with him when he came to Lagos to learn more about the Moët & Chandon brand and why it is loved globally.

In conversation with Charles de Pontevès begins now

ALM: Is this your first time in Africa?

CdP: It’s my first time in Africa … I started to really visit Africa early this year. I tried last year, but last year, with the COVID, it was very difficult to travel. I managed to go to Dubai in November 2021, you know, which is kind of different.

But since January, I visited South Africa, I visited Ivory Coast, Kinshasa, Israel. And today, Lagos – very, very happy to be here. And I need to continue to really understand as much as I can this beautiful diversity that you have in Africa. It’s completely fascinating, and I am really enjoying that very, very much.

ALM: In your role as Business Development Director AFME & GTR for Moët & Chandon, what have you found to be most surprising so far?

CdP: The way that the brand is understood in Africa amazes me. People are completely connected, especially in Nigeria. But also … you have this very strong link between the brand and people: there is an understanding of the quality, understanding of the image. And this is really spontaneous. There is an immediate connection both with Moët & Chandon and Don Perignon.

I could see that yesterday in Lagos – each time that we had a chat with people, there is this very strong connection which for me is fantastic. And wine and food pairing, it works. History, everybody understands. Precision of the quality, everybody understands. This is amazing … and there is a fascination also about how these brands have evolved, have been created. So for me, it is a great surprise.

ALM: What inspired your career path?

CdP: At the very beginning of my professional career, I was into computers – nothing to do with wine – and I moved into champagne a bit by passion. I knew nothing, and I started in 1990 with Ruinart, which is a fantastic champagne house. And I learned really most of what I know today being on a daily basis with the serving master of Ruinart who taught me a lot about Ruinart, about champagne. And then I moved to Moet&Chandon and Don Perignon, and I continued to learn.

This world is in fact very complex and you don’t stop learning. And I believe that I really enjoyed very much discovering this world which is moving all the time, improving all the time, changing, becoming more and more complex. And it is also a world where you meet people, and I like to share, just like with you now (smiles). I really like to meet people, exchanging, sharing passion; we don’t necessarily always have the same point of view, but it is a world where you’re really connecting a lot.

ALM: Is there anything you still do not know about the brand?

CdP: Oh yes, there are so many things!

First of all thanks to … well, I think it’s good news for you. I am fortunately not in charge of making a bottle of wine. (we laugh) It is extremely complex. You have the choice of the grapes, how do you analyse them, then how do you blend them, Each step of the process is very technical, you know, up to the end of the process, where you’re adding a little dosage … and all that. These steps are very, very precise, and you need to be an expert to make that happen.

On the sales side, I am a little bit more knowledgeable; on the marketing side as well. But even so, I continue to learn every day. Today, for example, we’re very much into sustainability. We’re really paying attention on making sure that our soils are as clean as possible. We did not know 20 years ago that when we were adding products, fertilisers, sometimes it was not a good idea. Today we know that what we have done in the past sometimes was not really optimal.

For example, today, we’re putting ‘vertes’ between our vines – grass. Why? Because we discovered that the grass reduces the evaporation of the water and also grass reduces the erosion. Many of our vineyards are on slopes and 90% of our own vineyards today are [covered] with grass. Of course, we need to work a bit more in order to ensure that the grass is not growing to eat too much of the food which is for our vineyard.

This is a recent discovery and we keep discovering new things. And I think that as long as all the people on our team continue to be passionate, we will progress, slowly, but we will progress.

ALM: Which of the Moët-Hennessy brands would be the best for a new convert?

CdP: Ehrrr, Moët &Chandon (we laugh)

And now, I am going to explain to you why. Moët &Chandon … the vision of Moët &Chandon is to propose champagne for every palate and every moment of consumption. So, in fact, the number of qualities that we have is extremely large. It goes from Moët Imperial which is a fantastic brut, but it is a brut which is very versatile, very easy to drink. Because we are blending one-third, one-third, one-third basically – chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot Meunier – and as a result, the champagne is not aggressive, it is very round, it is very smooth when you drink it. It has some aromas – white flowers, citrus notes – but you can drink it for brunch, you can drink it during your lunch, you can drink it for an aperitif, you can drink it at night. You’ll never have a headache with Moet Imperial. And if you like this brut style, it’s very very nice. It is not too rough, we don’t put too much pinot noir, we don’t put too much chardonnay which is another style. So it’s a very approachable quality [drink].

If you have a sweet tooth, you have Nectar Imperial with the dosage which is different. The notes that you will get are very much into tropical fruit notes like the pineapple, the mango, this direction. It is a completely different experience, but, if you like this kind of taste, it covers this palate. And Nectar Imperial is fantastic with spicy food. So, if you enjoy spicy food, you will enjoy Nectar Imperial.

This is why I am suggesting Moët & Chandon. You have the Rose Imperial, you have the Grand Vintage, you have Ice Imperial – if you prefer to enjoy champagne on ice, you take a bottle of Ice Imperial, you add 3 ice cubes and then you will still get also a different experience.

ALM: If you were not doing this, what would you be doing?

CdP: I’ve tried always to do something where I was passionate. And I am really passionate now with champagne, you know, it has been quite a long time. So, to quit champagne, I don’t know. I’ll probably continue to move in the direction of the wines, because I find that there is really a lot to still discover, both in Europe where we are producing wines — but we’re changing as well the way that we are approaching wines — and also in the new world wines. There are fantastic opportunities, so I don’t know.

Otherwise, computers, why not? Because you know, I was not bored, I just wanted to discover a new world, But I believe that my first direction would be wines or perhaps hospitality because I also enjoy very much meeting people, sharing passions … You’re helping me discover what I could do next! (we laugh)

ALM: What are the 3 largest misconceptions about your job?

CdP: I would say that because we’re always sharing, enjoying celebratory moments, perhaps, sometimes, we give the impression that this is an easy job. And also, we’re always having a good mood, we smile, we laugh and this is normal because the moment is one of celebration. In reality, I believe we are also very precise, very serious, and that is something that people don’t necessarily see. On the other hand, I think – who said that? – the people who never smile are not necessarily serious people. So, we like to do very, very well: we’re passionate about what we do, but we do it with a smile.

We can be perceived probably sometimes as a bit artificial? Then, there is a second dimension of which we are very careful. This is the link with the alcohol. You can enjoy our champagnes without being drunk. As a consequence … we don’t want young people especially to become drunk. So we have lots of programmes to educate our younger ones. We do that through hotel schools, but also through lectures in universities or écoles or schools in order to explain that you can really enjoy your bottle of wine, your bottle of Don Perignon with really one glass, two glasses…

And we organise radio rallies, presentations, lectures[and] tastings with these young ones in order to educate them. We also organise events in sometimes nightclubs. We educate as well, we distribute tests [breathalyser] to check if you can drive or not. And there is internally … we have a lot of control … because we really don’t want to associate our champagnes … we don’t want to associate our brands with exaggeration, consumption exaggeration.

And then, there’s perhaps a third point, since you asked me [for] three points. There is a perception that when you are a large champagne house like Moët & Chandon, it is a bit less qualitative. And in reality, in champagne, because of the fact that the vineyard is very much north, one harvest, we’re going to have fantastic grapes in this piece of vineyard, but the next harvest is going to be a disaster.

So, in order to really have a very high quality consistent year after year, you need to have supply from many, many different vineyards in champagne. And the larger the champagne house, the better. This is why we can achieve this quality with this volume because we have this very, very large source of supply. Either through our own vineyards – and then we own about 50% of what all the champagne houses own. The champagne appellation, it is 35,000 hectares. All champagne houses together own about 3,000 hectares, 10%. We own 1,200hectares, almost 50% of the total champagne houses. This is huge, you know. And when you add the vineyards owned by Veuve Cliquot, which is our first cousin, we are more than 50%, because Veuve Cliquot owns 450 hectares roughly.

So, as a group, we are really extremely strong with our vineyards, and we are actually showing the champagne region how to improve the culture of our vineyards because we are sharing of course, what we are discovering with everyone. So, to be big in champagne is a great advantage. And that is not necessarily understood because very often … you know sometimes small is beautiful, this is what we keep in mind very often. In champagne, it is not the case.

ALM: There have been lots of partnerships between luxury brands recently. If you were to pick an African luxury brand to collaborate with any of your own brands, which would you go with?

CdP: Nigeria (But what brand in Nigeria?) Nigeria is a brand (laughs) Nigeria is a fantastic brand: Nigeria and Nigerians. When I look at all the fantastic things you’re doing in Nigeria and outside Nigeria: I mean you have so many fantastic talents. There is a lot of creativity. And this is probably what also helps connecting (sic) Moët and Don Perignon with Nigeria. There is really an understanding; you have a lot of refinement in fashion. This is amazing. In cultural (sic), in art, you have a beautiful story. So all that creates wonderful touchpoints, contacts. You understand wine and food pairing intuitively.

We had a dinner yesterday evening, it was amazing… at least I enjoyed it very, very much. And so this is why I am saying Nigeria, because it goes in all directions. And you’re also extremely good in having great, young Nigerian students targeting the newest technologies. Somebody from our team recently decided to join Bitcoin technology. Fantastic, fantastic! This is why I don’t want to limit my answer to something too tiny because I would be unnecessarily restricted. This is why I said Nigeria.

ALM: How do you enjoy your champagne?

CdP: Oh, every day!

But how? I enjoy them at different times of the day with moderation. I enjoy them as an aperitif; I enjoy them by the beach; I enjoy them during lunch or dinner. And then I don’t only drink them; [but] really, I find you’re not tired. They have this style which is very nice because you can drink them on a regular basis without being tired. And I can tell you that [because] I have been 30 years in this area. So, I don’t drink them a lot, but I drink them regularly.

ALM: Do you find a difference in the way Africans consume your brand in comparison to the rest of the world?

CdP: There is more passion in Africa. There is an instinctive connection, There is a huge understanding of the complexities to produce Moët, to produce Don Perignon, and there is a huge respect behind it.

And then, there is a great connection in celebrating. With Don Perignon, [it is] a bit also a status symbol, you know, ‘I am going to have a lovely moment with my friends, I am going to celebrate something special, I take a bottle of Moët, I take a bottle of Don Perignon.’ This, in more mature countries, is not necessarily the case. There is this kind of ‘I love the brand,’ which is not necessarily as much the case in ehhrr, countries which perhaps drink Moët since longer time. (sic) There is intuitively an understanding in Africa, and in Nigeria in particular.

ALM: What are your 3 favourite African cities and why?

CdP: That’s a difficult question because in fact … before being in charge of Africa, I was in charge of France and before that, I spent 10 years in Belgium. Before that, I was in North America. So I don’t know yet very well the African continent.

I visited Johannesburg, I visited Abidjan, I visited Kinshasa and now Lagos. But, I love each of them completely, passionately. Because each time you have the history, you have the culture, you have a lot to discover. You have stars in the eyes of … or bubbles in the eyes of the people I meet, which is really energetic for me. It transmits a lot of passion and understanding of the brand. And so I want to continue to discover. And I will continue to travel a lot and come back to Nigeria. I really enjoy very much Lagos, but it is difficult for me to give you a definite answer because I need to visit more (African countries).

ALM: Do your products appeal to people as an alternative investment option?

CdP: I am sure that many people do it, especially with champagnes that you can age a bit. So the champagnes you can age are definitely Don Perignon, the Grand Vintage of Moët &Chandon. The Imperial range of Moët &Chandon is produced to be consumed in the next 3-5 years max.

But some people do … because you know, champagne is a wine I would say, ehrr … I hope that they are successful. We are producing our champagne to be consumed, I would say between 3 years for the Imperial range, up to 10-15 years for Don Perignon. It is not necessarily produced originally to be kept for a long period of time.

In fact, for a bottle of champagne, we’re taking out of the bottle just before being sold … we’re taking out the yeast, you know the sediment. So the evolution of a bottle of champagne is not like a bottle of wine. It’s going to be a lot slower, and you’re not going to gain – the ageing process is done in our cellars.

I’ll say yes, of course, you can buy some bottles; unfortunately, the price of the bottle is going up and up every year – so you can certainly capitalise a bit on that. I’ll be just careful… and I don’t want to give advice on something that I really don’t control: I am a bit careful about that.

ALM: Complete the following sentences

• I never leave home without…

CdP: Giving a huge hug to my wife.

• I never go into a meeting without…

CdP: Smiling. As I like to say… I think that if you go to a meeting with a [frown] you should cancel the meeting because you’re going to give a negative energy and it is going to be a catastrophe. So I like to transmit passion and be positive as well.

ALM: What are you doing in Nigeria for the next few days?

CdP: Oh, I have a huge program… meeting people, training, visiting as many points of sales to understand… But as it is, I am already fascinated by the way. So yea, meeting people, doing lunches, dinner, field visits, restaurants, to understand even more. Discovering also your beautiful cuisine cos I love it! I have a sensitive palate, so spices are not for me. But the chef understands so usually, they bring it down. But really, I enjoy it very much.

The post In Conversation with Charles de Pontevès, Business Development Director AFME & GTR, Moët & Chandon first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post In Conversation with Charles de Pontevès, Business Development Director AFME & GTR, Moët & Chandon appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

What are special moments without a drink to get things really going?

If you are confused on what to get your significant other this Valentine’s, a bottle of bubbly is always a good option to go with. Also, can you imagine anything more romantic than a bottle of champagne nestled in an ice bucket on a balmy Sunday evening? Us neither, which is why Moët & Chandon’s Valentine collection should be a must-have on your gift list.

Moët & Chandon

Moët & Chandon is without a doubt the world’s most loved champagne brand. With over two decades of success encompassed by glamour and luxury, the brand continues to share the magic of champagne globally.

Founded in 1743, the French champagne house has passed down unequalled winemaking savoir-faire and an innovative and pioneering spirit from generation to generation. Moët & Chandon boasts of a distinctive style that is the result of the slow, gradual progression from vine to cellar.

For Valentine’s Day, the house is offering an impressive range of unique wines that are the perfect accompaniment for your dinner or as a gift to a loved one.

Moët & Chandon Impérial  

Alluring, Generous, Vibrant

Moët Impérial is the House’s iconic champagne. Created in 1869, it embodies the house’s unique style, a style distinguished by its bright fruitiness, its seductive palate, and its elegant maturity.

Moët & Chandon Impérial Rosé

Enticing, Radiant, Spontaneous

Rosé Impérial is a spontaneous, radiant, romantic expression of the Moët & Chandon style, perfect for a candlelit dinner or a gift to a loved one.

Moët & Chandon Nectar Impérial

Exotic, Lively, Rich

Nectar Impérial is a rich and delicious expression of the Moët & Chandon style.

Moët & Chandon Nectar Impérial Rosé

Intense, Smooth, Versatile

Nectar Impérial Rosé brings its savvy and vibrant style to create a unique night experience. Moët & Chandon decided to come up with a new cuvée, intense and fruity, perfect for nightlife.

Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial

Fresh, Fruity, Intense

Ice Impérial, the first and only champagne especially created to be enjoyed over ice. A new champagne experience combining fun, fresh and free sensations while remaining true to the Moët & Chandon style.

Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial Rosé

Luscious, Refreshing, Vibrant

Ice Impérial Rosé, is the first and only rosé champagne especially created to be enjoyed on ice. A new champagne tasting experience that brings together pleasure, freshness, and the free spirit of summertime.

Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2009

Accomplished, Enveloping, Fulfilled

Grand Vintage 2009 perfectly embodies the Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage spirit, a spirit founded on three essential values- freedom of interpretation; selection of the year’s most remarkable wines, and the individuality of the vintage.

Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Rosé 2009

Accomplished, Delectable, Joyous

Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2012

Fresh, Harmony, Softness

The 2012 Grand Vintage evokes the transition from spring to summer. It offers superb harmony, accompanied by softness and freshness. The 74th Grand Vintage, exceptional in its maturity, complexity, and charisma

Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Rosé 2012

Coral, Delicate, Fresh

The 2012 Grand Vintage Rosé evokes the transition from spring to summer with its exquisite delicacy and fresh, beautiful shades of coral.

To get yourself a bottle or bottles of any of the Moët & Chandon ranges this Valentine’s Day, click here 

The post ASPIRE Valentine Edit (Day 5): Valentine Collection by Moët and Chandon first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post ASPIRE Valentine Edit (Day 5): Valentine Collection by Moët and Chandon appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

As the world’s leading champagne producer, Moët & Chandon has always been an influential figure in creating new celebratory customs. The iconic French Champagne House believes celebration is an essential part of life and introduces the first-ever Champagne Personalisation Machine in Nigeria available exclusively at Shoprite in Ikeja City Mall.

From the 18th of December 2020 through to the 15th of January 2021, you can create your very own personalised Moët moment with a message which is then transferred onto the bottle as you and your loved ones celebrate the holiday season and the promise of a bright new year. In the spirit of the holiday, you can also create a personalised bottle for a loved one as a gift.

Messages can range from generic greetings of ‘Merry Christmas’, ‘Happy New Year’, and ‘Happy Holidays’ to the name of your loved ones or friends. But what if the message you want on your bottle isn’t related to the holidays? The brand’s personalisation service can still get that down for you! You can ask for a ‘Will you marry me’ message on your bottle; a ‘Congratulations’ message to mark an iconic event like a graduation; a ‘Happy anniversary’ message for that special and memorable date; or just a simple ‘I love you’ to remind your significant other about your feelings for them.

Beyond personalised bottles, the champagne house is taking the spirit of celebration a step further by also offering its holiday-season giftbox. The festive gift box is filled with the House’s signature champagne, Moët Impérial, defined by a bright fruitiness, a seductive palate, and an elegant maturity, all distinctive characteristics of Moët & Chandon’s blends.  Its assemblage is designed to mirror the richness and diversity of the Champagne region’s vineyards, structured with a slight dominance of Pinot Noir, textured by Meunier and enhanced by the freshness of Chardonnay.

So, whether you’ve had all your gifts wrapped and ready to be shipped for the holidays, or you’re still confused on what extra-special gift you can get for your loved ones; do yourself a favour. Head over to Shoprite at the Ikeja City Mall if you’re in Lagos and pick up a bottle of Moët & Chandon, or its special gift boxes. Once done, move over to the personalisation stand and get your heartfelt messages on your bottle to make this season and your celebration(s) extra memorable.

The post Give a Personalised Moët&Chandon Gift This Season first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Give a Personalised Moët&Chandon Gift This Season appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Which is why Moët&Chandon, one of the world’s most prominent champagne houses and largest champagne producers, is bringing back its Specially Yours programme, a gifting service that allows you to personalise a gift box for that special someone.

The concept of personalising champagne packages was conceived by the French house in 1891, making Moët&Chandon the first champagne house to offer this service. In the spirit of making this holiday season an extra special, bubbly one, the company will be allowing you put your text of choice on the metallic boxes that contain Moet’s Impérial Brut or Rosé Impérial champagnes only. They will be providing a healthy list of suggested words for those unsure of what to say or you can offer your own message as long as it remains within the 16-character limit.

Moët Impérial Brut is the house’s flagship golden wine brimming with fruity notes of apple, pear, white peach and citrus. Moët Rosé Impérial, on the other hand, has a distinct pink hue (and coordinating box) with a flavour profile rich in red fruits and berries. They both share a crisp, bright taste that’s almost universally appealing and a safe bet even for those with extremely picky tastes.

Coming up with the perfect gift sometimes can be stressful and time-consuming, With Moët&Chandon’s Specially Yours programme, however, you are sure to thrill that wine lover with a gift that is as thoughtful as it is unique. Head over to their website now to find out more.

Source: Robb Report

The post Moët&Chandon’s Specially Yours Offer is a Perfect Gift Idea first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Moët&Chandon’s Specially Yours Offer is a Perfect Gift Idea appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Back in 1805, Barbe-Nicole Clicquot found herself in a difficult situation. At just 27 years, she lost her beloved husband to a fever, and the champagne business he had left her to run alone was failing miserably, giving rise to rumours that he had committed suicide because of his failing business.

Barbe-Nicole had to act fast, both to preserve her husband’s legacy and to create a sustainable business for herself. Going to her father-in-law, she requested for a loan: twice, in fact, and set out to make a success out of what was not very profitable or popular at the time.

Her wit and perseverance finally paid off in 1811, the year the legendary vintage of 1811 was born. Focusing on a country other than her native land, she smuggled her champagne out of France to Amsterdam (it was the period of the Napoleonic Wars) and waited for peace to be declared. Once that happened, she sent the bottles to her intended market, Russia, beating her competitors by weeks.

But she did not stop there.

To preserve the champagne bubbles, she created the ‘table de remuage,’ a slanted table that allows winemakers take out the yeast from champagne without transferring it into an altogether new bottle, which would cause the drink to lose a bit of its taste and uniqueness. And to further ingratiate new customers while keeping existing ones loyal, Madame Clicquot wrote thousands of letters to them regardless of their location, extolling the quality of her champagne.

It is in honour of this impressive legacy that the House of Veuve Clicquot teamed up with Baccarat to create one of the world’s most glamorous champagne buckets. Made from a single block of crystal – one of the largest objects to ever come from a single block of crystal – the champagne bucket took two years to develop and over 1000 hours of work. Only 15 of this exclusive buckets, made in the shape of an inkwell, is available.

The base holds six fantastic vintages — 1989, 2004 and 2008, both Brut and Brut Rosé — of La Grande Dame champagne, as well as four Baccarat crystal champagne glasses and a leather serving tray.

Everyone lucky enough to acquire the inkwell receives a private invitation to Champagne, France to visit the château and take a deep dive into the history of Veuve Clicquot and its famous namesake.

This limited-edition inkwell-shaped bucket costs $55,000 and can be purchased via the house’s website.

Source: Elite Traveler

The post Veuve Clicquot with Baccarat Creates Exquisite Crystal Champagne Bucket first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Veuve Clicquot with Baccarat Creates Exquisite Crystal Champagne Bucket appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

However, word doing the rounds is that the latest cuvée from the brand commits to being even more extravagant. Enter Blanc de Noirs Assemblage Three (A3), the third assemblage of Armand de Brignac’s cuvée (the first debuted in 2015), which retails for $1,000 per bottle. Scheduled to launch September 5, A3 is the brand’s rarest, most expensive cuvée to date.

To maintain its exclusivity only 3,535 of these bottles are created. The bouquet is said to have hints of apricot, blackberry, butter, and gingerbread—the palate is described as “luscious,” with expressions including blackberry, pastry, blackcurrant, vanillas, cherry, strawberry, and plum.

The Champagne will be available to buy in the US from 5 September while in the UK; Assemblage Three will be launched exclusively at Harrods, available for purchase from 16 September.

Source: Food & Wine

The post Armand de Brignac to Release Rarest, Most Expensive Cuvée to Date first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post Armand de Brignac to Release Rarest, Most Expensive Cuvée to Date appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

Champagne

Made in: The Champagne region of France

Primary grapes used: pinot noir, pinot meunier & chardonnay

The Kleenex of sparkling wine, so to speak, champagne is so closely tied to the identity of the entire category that we use the word to refer to products that aren’t necessarily true champagne. Authentic champagne isn’t just made from the three specific grape varietals grown within France’s champagne region; it also must be prepared in the traditional champenoise style, which sees the wine undergo a second fermentation after the addition of sugar to the bubbly brew.

Although we tend to associate champagne with the French for good reason, the product (and entire industry) would never have been made possible without the contributions of the English. It was the English scientist Christopher Merret who pioneered the production techniques that are today known as méthode champenoise, and it was English glassmakers who successfully created the first glass bottles that were strong enough to stand up to the enormous pressures of the contents within.

Fun fact: Due to the tendency of bottles to explode at random, champagne was commonly referred to as “the devil’s wine.”

Cava

Made in: The Catalonia region of Spain

Primary grapes used: macabeu, prellada, xarello

Although cava production is technically identical to theméthode champenoise, that protected term only refers to winemaking activity within Champagne itself. In Spain, where cava is dreamt up by winemakers, the methodology is instead called traditionnelle. Like champagne, cava undergoes in-bottle fermentation, though the wine within is stored at lesser pressures.

Cava may not have been the first European sparkling wine developed, but cava makers left their mark on the industry just the same with the invention of the gyropallet, a device that allows the removal of fermented yeast from many bottles toward the end of the winemaking process all at once.

Fun fact: Even though it is not legally allowed to be called champagne, cava is commonly referred to as champán and champaña across Spain.

Prosecco

Made in: Nine regions in Italy, most notably Veneto

Primary grapes used: glera, though up to 15% volume can come from verdiso, bianchetta trevigiana, perera, glera lunga, chardonnay, pinot bianco, pinot grigio and pinot noir grapes.

While champagne and cava align quite closely, despite their differing countries of origin, prosecco deviates a bit from the formula. Italy’s chief sparkling wine is created using the charmat-martinotti method, in which fermentation of the grapes takes place in stainless steel tanks instead of glass bottles. This ultimately makes prosecco a less costly sparkling wine to produce than cava and champagne, and makes for lighter, frothier bubbles when corked. A good quality bottle of prosecco will often cost less than half that of a comparable champagne.

Fun fact: All the world loves a deal, making prosecco, and not champagne, the world’s best-selling sparkling wine.

Espumante

Made in: The Douro, Ribatejo, Minho, Alentejo & Estremadura regions of Portugal, as well as parts of Argentina

The country that brought us delicious green-tinged vinho verde has its own take on sparkling wine, espumante. Though much of the small country produce sparkling wines, the very best of the best espumantes hail from the winemaking region of DOC Bairrada, to the south of Vinho Verde.

Sekt

Made in: It’s complicated, but let’s say Germany & parts of Austria.

Primary grapes used: riesling, pinot blanc, pinot gris and pinot noir

You’re forgiven if you’re less familiar with Germany’s take on sparkling wine, owing to even the own country’s reliance on Italy, France and Spain for winemaking. As much as 90% of the grapes used in Sekt making comes from those three countries, though in the homegrown all-German iteration of the sparkling wine called Deutscher sekt, the familiar German riesling grape takes center stage.

Fun fact: Sekt is so highly pressurized that bottles are rarely ever sold without protective metal cages.

Cape Classique

Made in: South Africa

Primary grapes used: Chardonnay & Pinot noir

South African sparkling wine making closely mirrors that of champagne, but the results of those efforts are quite different. The dramatically warmer winemaking region of South Africa, compared at least to the more temperate zones of Europe’s top spots, makes for exceptionally fruit-forward, candy-like sparkling wines.

Sparkling wine

Made in: USA

Primary grapes used: Oh man, take your pick – chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier, pinot blanc, riesling, muscatel, traminer, chasselas

U.S. sparkling wine may not have a fancy name unto itself a la champagne or prosecco, but the country produces plenty of the stuff just the same. Production generally falls into two groups: expensive champagne rivals hailing from California and the Pacific Northwest made using the méthode champenoise, and inexpensive “mixing” sparkling wines like André and Cook’s that are made via the charmat method.

The jumpoff for American quality sparkling wine occurred way back in 1892, when the Korbel brothers (yes, those Korbel brothers) began experimenting with the méthode champenoise after immigrating to California from Bohemia.

Fun fact: As U.S. sparkling wine’s reputation ascended, some of France’s top champagne producers invested heavily in California. Moët et Chandon created Domaine Chandon, Louis Roederer’s set up Roederer Estate, and Taittinger begat Domaine Carneros.

Source: EatSipTrip

The post A Guide to the World’s Most Popular Bubbly Wines first appeared on Aspire Luxury Magazine.

The post A Guide to the World’s Most Popular Bubbly Wines appeared first on Aspire Luxury Magazine.