Part 27 of the Oh My God series, from The Drunken Cyclist, details the cycling group’s stop at a small champagne producer for a tasting on their way to Epernay. You can find the hilarious series here, http://thedrunkencyclist.com/, and my audio narration here, http://kriskkaria.podbean.com/.
Up until I narrated this episode, I had no idea champagne came in so many different varieties. I love champagne but usually purchase reasonably priced (ok, cheap) sparkling wine from Spain or Italy. I always thought champagne came in two varieties, cheap with a thin acidic flavor or really expensive ($50 a bottle or more if you’re cheap like me). My curiosity is piqued by the description of vintage champagne possessing a brioche flavor. I must have some to celebrate the New Year. My local wine store is closed on New Year’s Eve. Drat! The local upscale supermarket close to us is crawling with shoppers on New Year’s Eve but they have it. A Grand Cru, mostly Chardonnay grapes and its only $28 for a bottle, so I grab a cold one and sail through the 10 item or less checkout.
I ask Jack to open it because I refuse to go anywhere near a bottle that pops loudly. Yeah, I love sparkling wine but can’t open it. We taste and Jack says it’s the first champagne he’s ever liked. What? We’ve been together 20 years and I had no idea Jack did not like champagne. He never said a word when I purchased the cheap sparkling wine.
We did visit the local wine store after the New Year. The owner specializes in small producers from France so there was lots of French bubbly to choose from. I picked up and considered some Champagne but decided on a Cremant single vintage. Cremant is French bubbly made in France but not in the Champagne region and it’s about half the price. Yes, I’m a bargain hunter, aren’t I? Jack came along behind me and picked up the Champagne bottles I discarded. Now that he’s tasted the real thing, he’s going all out.
We will celebrate the New Year into 2015 with a nice selection of bubbly. I agree with The Drunken Cyclist. Sparkling wine is not just for special occasions.
I don’t think I can make it go with meatloaf unless I find a seafood meatloaf recipe. My other New Year’s surprise is Jack loves meatloaf. He never mentioned this in the last 20 years either.
Life and Befuddlement 
i love the sparklers with my nacho bel grande, heathen that i am.
Yum!
Isn’t it weird, what you learn about your husband? My husband and I realized that I think a rug cleaner should clean under the beds, and he doesn’t.
Its very weird. Mine would let dust bunnies grow into monsters under the bed. But, meticulously cleans the stove top after he does the dishes.