The Emperor Edition

Are you elegant and refined? And only get better with age? So is a Blanc de Blancs! A few pointers to understanding this style of champagne: Blanc de blancs A blanc de blancs is a style of Champagne which is growing in popularity and it's easy to understand why. They are divine! A ‘Blanc de blancs’ literally translates to ‘white of whites’ intimating that the wine maker has made a white wine from a white grape, most commonly in Champagne that grape is the chardonnay varietal. Blanc de blancs is most famously realised in the Côte des Blancs, south of...

Champagne should be part of any celebration and we have a number of things to celebrate in November...

It’s amazing how many times I have rescued people from the champagne aisle in major retailers. I see the same look on their faces, a cross between utter confusion and mild panic, as someone tries to purchase the right champagne to take to dinner, or as a gift. The look is justified. The wine category is a little more straightforward, with the varietal of the grape and year written on the box. Champagne has virtually no information on the label and therefore people choose their bubbles based on brand. Then they tend to stick to that brand for fear of...

Chef de Caves of Ruinart Champagne Panaiotis enters the room with an energy and an air not matched by many. Of course we are standing on the imposing and wildly impressive estate of Ruinart in Reims and he is the King of the Castle – Chef Wine Maker. Regardless of his role or his title, he owns his space and not only does he excel in his true role of creating Champagnes of elegance and finesse he is as perfectly poised leading a dinner full of journalists as he is in the cellars crafting his masterpiece. Dom Ruinart Blancs de...