Wineletter #234 October 2017

Champagne

Champagne. Just the word evokes visions of, well, some sort of champagne lifestyle, doesn’t it. And while most of us can’t inhabit that elevated terrain for sustained periods of time, it is quite nice just to pop in and visit every now and then. As we glide on into the seasonal frivolity, champagne tends to bubble towards the top of the shopping list. Always there to assist, we’ve put together the ultimate guide, the only one you’ll need to see you sorted over the Christmas holiday period. And as New Zealand’s No. 1 exponent of the good stuff, with the largest and most diverse range of authentic champagnes you’ll find in the country, why wouldn’t we?
We have, from day one, imported our champagnes in refrigerated, tempera-ture-controlled containers, something that is vital when it comes to ensuring that they reach your door in pristine condition. We also purchase only from reputable sources, given the shoddy practices associated with parallel importation can take the fizz out of your bubbles quicker than a popping cork; or in this case, one that won’t. There are many options; from the sleek million-dollar brands to the intriguing independent Grower champagnes, the groundbreaking left-fielders to the aspirational Prestige Cuvées. Our range is immense; the following pages are by no means all of it.