Buying Champagne - France vs UK
Discussion
I'm tying the knot in August and as the other half's parents live in Burgundy we will be making a visit to France to buy all the white/rosé/red wine. Good quality fine wines at better prices than Majestic can do similar for.
We were also planning to stop in Riems on the way back to buy the Champagne - approx 30 - 50 bottles.
However, Threshers Group have a '40% off all wine and champagne offer' which lasts until April 13th 2009.
I have emailed Veuve Clicquot to get an idea of cost (waiting for response), but does anyone know if we are likely to buy champagne cheaper direct from the makers in France (with circa £1 = €1) - or from Threshers down the road with 40% off every bottle.
Has anyone bought any champagne recently in France? What brands and how much did it cost per bottle?
Many thanks in advance.
We were also planning to stop in Riems on the way back to buy the Champagne - approx 30 - 50 bottles.
However, Threshers Group have a '40% off all wine and champagne offer' which lasts until April 13th 2009.
I have emailed Veuve Clicquot to get an idea of cost (waiting for response), but does anyone know if we are likely to buy champagne cheaper direct from the makers in France (with circa £1 = €1) - or from Threshers down the road with 40% off every bottle.
Has anyone bought any champagne recently in France? What brands and how much did it cost per bottle?
Many thanks in advance.
I wend down to Champagne to do the tourist bit and buy. All the brand stuff is the same, if not more than the UK offers. Virgin, Tesco, Threshers, Majestic and the like always have deals on. The only real bargains are the smaller houses. I found on I loved and bought loads, cheaper and better, much better than the Vervs / Moets and the main "show" Champagnes. If you like I will find the details, but they don't ship. By Law, they can't.
Eggle said:
I wend down to Champagne to do the tourist bit and buy. All the brand stuff is the same, if not more than the UK offers. Virgin, Tesco, Threshers, Majestic and the like always have deals on. The only real bargains are the smaller houses. I found on I loved and bought loads, cheaper and better, much better than the Vervs / Moets and the main "show" Champagnes. If you like I will find the details, but they don't ship. By Law, they can't.
I'd be interested to hear who you bought from and roughly how much you paid (and also roughly when so I can work out current sterling equivalent per bottle).Many thanks.
Hi 
I would strongly suggest giving a lady called Imogen a call on +33 (0)3 26 57 77 04
Imogen and her husband Didier run a Champagne House in Avize (a premier cru village just outside Epernay) and specialise in predominantly Chardonnay based Champagnes meaning you get a nice light zesty Champagne that avoids the Pinot Meunier dominately syrup's that you get a lot of in cheaper UK sold Champagnes. Chardonnay is the grape varient that adds the finesse and elegance to the Champagne and its a great option for a pre dinner drink such as you are describing. The nice thing about Pierson Whitaker Champagnes is they are 100% produced by hand, including de-gorging where as many houses even at the smaller end of the market freeze the bottle necks during the process. Should be comparable in price to a UK Supermarket brand Champagne I would think and far superior! If you get the chance to pop down there to pick them up then do - its well worth the trip to learn a little about Champagne too
There are literally thousands of Champagne producers (about 21,000 I believe at the last count producing commercially!!) so I'm sure others will have other suggestions, but Imogen is a brit and so it makes the translation somewhat easier
If you want any other suggestions or a chat then drop me a PM.
Tim
I would strongly suggest giving a lady called Imogen a call on +33 (0)3 26 57 77 04
Imogen and her husband Didier run a Champagne House in Avize (a premier cru village just outside Epernay) and specialise in predominantly Chardonnay based Champagnes meaning you get a nice light zesty Champagne that avoids the Pinot Meunier dominately syrup's that you get a lot of in cheaper UK sold Champagnes. Chardonnay is the grape varient that adds the finesse and elegance to the Champagne and its a great option for a pre dinner drink such as you are describing. The nice thing about Pierson Whitaker Champagnes is they are 100% produced by hand, including de-gorging where as many houses even at the smaller end of the market freeze the bottle necks during the process. Should be comparable in price to a UK Supermarket brand Champagne I would think and far superior! If you get the chance to pop down there to pick them up then do - its well worth the trip to learn a little about Champagne too
There are literally thousands of Champagne producers (about 21,000 I believe at the last count producing commercially!!) so I'm sure others will have other suggestions, but Imogen is a brit and so it makes the translation somewhat easier
If you want any other suggestions or a chat then drop me a PM.
Tim
Edited by TimCrighton on Tuesday 31st March 19:56
TimCrighton said:
Hi
I would strongly suggest giving a lady called Imogen a call on +33 (0)3 26 57 77 04
Imogen and her husband Didier run a Champagne House in Avize (a premier cru village just outside Epernay) and specialise in predominantly Chardonnay based Champagnes meaning you get a nice light zesty Champagne that avoids the Pinot Meunier dominately syrup's that you get a lot of in cheaper UK sold Champagnes. Chardonnay is the grape varient that adds the finesse and elegance to the Champagne and its a great option for a pre dinner drink such as you are describing. The nice thing about Pierson Whitaker Champagnes is they are 100% produced by hand, including de-gorging where as many houses even at the smaller end of the market freeze the bottle necks during the process. Should be comparable in price to a UK Supermarket brand Champagne I would think and far superior! If you get the chance to pop down there to pick them up then do - its well worth the trip to learn a little about Champagne too
There are literally thousands of Champagne producers (about 21,000 I believe at the last count producing commercially!!) so I'm sure others will have other suggestions, but Imogen is a brit and so it makes the translation somewhat easier
If you want any other suggestions or a chat then drop me a PM.
Tim
Thanks Tim, that's really helpful.I would strongly suggest giving a lady called Imogen a call on +33 (0)3 26 57 77 04
Imogen and her husband Didier run a Champagne House in Avize (a premier cru village just outside Epernay) and specialise in predominantly Chardonnay based Champagnes meaning you get a nice light zesty Champagne that avoids the Pinot Meunier dominately syrup's that you get a lot of in cheaper UK sold Champagnes. Chardonnay is the grape varient that adds the finesse and elegance to the Champagne and its a great option for a pre dinner drink such as you are describing. The nice thing about Pierson Whitaker Champagnes is they are 100% produced by hand, including de-gorging where as many houses even at the smaller end of the market freeze the bottle necks during the process. Should be comparable in price to a UK Supermarket brand Champagne I would think and far superior! If you get the chance to pop down there to pick them up then do - its well worth the trip to learn a little about Champagne too
There are literally thousands of Champagne producers (about 21,000 I believe at the last count producing commercially!!) so I'm sure others will have other suggestions, but Imogen is a brit and so it makes the translation somewhat easier
If you want any other suggestions or a chat then drop me a PM.
Tim
Edited by TimCrighton on Tuesday 31st March 19:56
I've Googled Didier & Imogen Pierson-Whitaker and there's certainly some very good reviews of their Champagne. Also interesting that they've fairly recently planted a vineyard in Hampshire to produce their own UK 'Champagne' here.
I will contact Imogen and take it from there.
Thanks again.
RSGulp said:
Also interesting that they've fairly recently planted a vineyard in Hampshire to produce their own UK 'Champagne' here.
There have been on going rumours of large acreages of southern England being bought by French firms to both grow grapes, and also to stop the growth or the UK Wine industry. UK Sparkling has been doing rather well in blind tastings. Its something to do with the terroir on this side of the channel being the same as that surrounding Reims. Its a huge chalk bowl, we ar at oneend of it, they are at the other.
We were a bit short of time when we were there so after doing a couple of tours/tastings at IIRC Moet and Mercier we wandered down Epernay High st and picked a couple of houses we liked the look of, had a chat and a taste and came away with a really nice (Sorry, not a connoisseur* ) vintage for the price of a big seller's NV. Can't for the life of me remember who it was though, and the souvenir bottle we kept has gone AWOL in a house move
) vintage for the price of a big seller's NV. Can't for the life of me remember who it was though, and the souvenir bottle we kept has gone AWOL in a house move*Truth be known I think champagne's vastly over-rated and spectacularly poor value.[/heresy]
RSGulp said:
I have emailed Veuve Clicquot to get an idea of cost (waiting for response), but does anyone know if we are likely to buy champagne cheaper direct from the makers in France (with circa £1 = €1) - or from Threshers down the road with 40% off every bottle.
Has anyone bought any champagne recently in France? What brands and how much did it cost per bottle?
Many thanks in advance.
Sainsburys in Calais sell Veuve Clicquot for EUR 27 a bottle as a guide price Has anyone bought any champagne recently in France? What brands and how much did it cost per bottle?
Many thanks in advance.
Steve_T said:
There are loads of Champagne houses in the region with owners/staff who speak excellent English - it's full of tourists after all. I'd suggest you go there and find out what you like. I also don't believe that shipping to the UK is a problem.
IIR, the house has to have an importer who will buy and import to the UK. The house by Law can't just post the stuff to you in the uk.I agree with a lot of the comments, the 'show' chamapgnes are just that - all fizz and no flavour. Unless I am buying a special bottle of champagne then I would rather drink Graham Beck Sparkling pinot/chardonnay or Haute Cabriere (both South African). They are much better value for money and far superior to the likes of Moet etc. its just that ignorance often gets the better of the public and foolishly assume a champagne must be superior to any other sparkling white.
The South African fizz is hard to beat !!
(from a South African wine fan - if you like SA wines then visit Franschoek)
The South African fizz is hard to beat !!
(from a South African wine fan - if you like SA wines then visit Franschoek)
drfrank said:
I agree with a lot of the comments, the 'show' chamapgnes are just that - all fizz and no flavour. Unless I am buying a special bottle of champagne then I would rather drink Graham Beck Sparkling pinot/chardonnay or Haute Cabriere (both South African). They are much better value for money and far superior to the likes of Moet etc. its just that ignorance often gets the better of the public and foolishly assume a champagne must be superior to any other sparkling white.
The South African fizz is hard to beat !!
(from a South African wine fan - if you like SA wines then visit Franschoek)
Duly noted. I've not tried the SA alternatives you mention, but compared to the other offerings in the region Moet is rather average. The South African fizz is hard to beat !!
(from a South African wine fan - if you like SA wines then visit Franschoek)
I was avoiding mentioning English, Spanish or SA sparkling as the OP had specified Champagne. In VFM I love SA sparkling, I was in Franshoek recently and found this Moreson - http://www.htfwines.co.uk/scripts/prodView.asp?idp... we had a mixed case delivered.
They also do excellent Normal Reds and Whites.
My Fave vinyard from the trip.
They also do excellent Normal Reds and Whites.
My Fave vinyard from the trip.
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