The joy of life-- CHAMPAGNE
It was at the end of the 17
th century that the
Champenois really started to master the sparkle. The
wine was no longer the sole prerogative of the clergy and could assume its rightful place as guest of honour at secular festivities.
Its seductive lightness enchanted and delighted the dilettantes of the 18
th century. Philip of Orléans’wife tells of the passion of the ladies of her time for ‘the wine of the popping corks’. It was drunk at the intimate suppers at the Palais Royal. The records that remain show considerable orders from Madame de Pompadour for her outdoor feasts. No fewer than 1,800 bottles of
Champagne were drunk at a masked ball given at the Hôtel de Ville in 1739.
Casanova mentioned Champagne as one of the indispensable accoutrement for his evenings of seduction.
International reputation
The wines of Champagne travelled very early on. Dogged and adventurous Champenois set out to make them known on every continent. The first to become enamoured of these wines were the English. Champagne became a ‘must’ at the royal court and for dandies like Beau Brummel and Sheridan. When Tsar Alexander I organised a dinner lasting four days in September 1815 during a military parade on the Camp de Vertus in the heart of Champagne, 300 guests were served a menu created by the great French chef Carême and the wines of Champagne were the main accompaniment. Only a few years later, glasses of Champagne were raised in New York and on the coast of California as the New World discovered the delights of these wines.
By the end of the 19th century, the wines of Champagne had gained a reputation throughout the world of being the ideal wines for joyous gatherings to which one wanted to give panache and a touch of class.
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Popularity
The ever-increasing speed of transport, particularly the spread of railways, allowed Champagne to be at festivities everywhere, but it was in Paris that it became indispensable. It was served in the cafés on the Grands Boulevards – at the Café Anglais, at the Tour d’Argent, at the Jockey Club and at la Taverne Olympia. It was ordered by everyone and was called simply ‘Champ’.
After the Franco-Prussian War, it became a democratic drink. Feydeau and Offenbach mentioned it in works like ‘Take care of Amélie’ while in Johann Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, they sing ‘His Majesty Champagne is King, let us line up under his rule’. Glasses are also raised in Verdi’s La Traviata. When the whole of Europe was living in the golden years of the 1920s, those at the height of fashion were prepared to try anything…as long as it included Champagne. They ordered it in all the most fashionable places – in Paris, Deauville, Biarritz and Monte Carlo. Of course it was served at all the great society events – Boni de Castellane had Champagne at his parties in his pink marble palace and it was served at the balls of Princess Murat or Clermont-Tonnerre.
Generosity
When General Eisenhower set up his headquarters in Rheims in February 1945 it was clear that the Liberation of France would be celebrated with Champagne – and what a party that was!
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Champagne has become the wine that unite people and guarantee conviviality. In most recent years, it has been almost unthinkable to have a celebration without Champagne. Whatever the occasion, be it an imperial event, like that organised by the late Shah of Iran in the ruins of Persepolis to celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of the creation of the Persian Empire, or more populist such as the celebrations of the bicentenary of the French Revolution or the opening of the 1998 World Cup. Champagne is present at film festivals, cultural exhibitions, sporting occasions, commemorations and anniversaries.
As with almost any product, premium Liquors, Spirits, Fine Wine and Champagne, can be purchased online. While this can be a convenient alternative to driving to the local liquor store tailer, it also comes with its own set of worries.
Online shopping on its own brings about a new set of perils to consider. There is always the chance that identity theft can occur, as well as having random thieves accessing your credit card numbers, so be aware of what sites you are surfing and which ones you make purchases from. It pays to be an informed consumer in this market.
Shopping for wine has been made quite easy through a number of new websites and wine clubs that host various shopping experiences for the wine enthusiast. Accessories from corkscrews to vintage bottlings can be found via the internet. But be aware of some important factors before purchasing wine online.
The perks associated with buying from a winery that operates on line can be quite numerous. There are definite mark downs on many bottles, as well as the ability to order wines that have not yet been released to the general public. You may also be interested in joining their specific wine club, which will send you various wines each month. This is a bit more risque, as you will not know what you are getting until it arrives, with the fear that you will not like the selection provided. While the price may be enticing, it is best to look into what wines are included in the club membership before joining.
When ordering online, you will find that the shipping charges associated with these well priced bottles can exceed their value. How they are shipped is also a concern, since you do not want your precious cargo to sit around inside a hot transport vehicle in the middle of August.
One other hassle can ruin your shopping experience; shipping restrictions. These will vary, and can become quite complex, so it important to check this out first. Different websites will ship to different areas, at different costs. Some will allow wines to be shipped within the state; others will allow no interstate shipping. There are currently thirty-three states that allow interstate wine shipment from a winery to an adult consumer over the age of twenty-one, within these thirty-three, only twelve allow retailers to provide the same service. This means that you can order directly from a winery that is out of state, but you cannot be shipped wine from an out of state retailer that provides said wine. Seventeen states have made it a felony to ship wine from out of state. These states include: AL, DE, GA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MS, MT, NJ, OK, PA, SD, TN, UT, VT.
Wine websites afford the average wine enthusiast with more then just a line of products. Many will give information about the region that the wine is from, the winery itself, food pairings, and ratings. While this information may be general, many large retailers in your local area can?t afford the same customer service. Large bargain wine warehouses or discount retailers are not usually equipped to handle these sorts of questions. With an online retailer that offers various wines, there is no push to sell a particular product, so the buyer never feels pressured towards a certain vintage or region. Online shoppingcan also help the prospective buyer to find what they are looking for, even if they are not quite sure themselves! Access to wine data is important to may buyers, and buying online allows this access to be delivered instantaneously.
If you are sure of the type of wine you are looking for, then buy liquor online shopping is no problem. If, as the consumer, you wish to sample before you purchase, then going to the local wine shop is the only alternative. This is one of the most common sentiments when wine enthusiasts are asked to comment on this subject. Many feel that when you buy liquor online,takes away from the dignity of the wine experience. Others feel that it is ridiculous to feel this way, and wish that all states would allow wine to be shipped nationally, especially since the number of websites has assured many patrons the availability of hard to locate wines. At Boutique Liquors when you purchase liquor online you will find only the premium Liquors, Spirits, fine Wines and Champagne from around the world delivered to your home.
