C comme Champagne

 Yesterday I went to the French Comité Champagne's Grand Tasting.

 53 Champagne maisons/houses were represented.

 A plethora of fine brands, many not available in the US yet. It's a grand fete/soiree of gouter/tasting.

 Yet tasting is a serious business. This is for trade and press only. You're given a notebook + pen to make salient notes on each gulp.

 Last year's tasting was held at the Plaza.

 So many houses. How to choose? But one must taste Bolly, Sweetie darling mustn't one...

 About a tablespoon of sparkling wine is poured into your glass.
Swish, twirl, sniff, observe and taste.
Le mousse - look for abundant bubbles. Le nez or nose may have notes of brioche, red berries, butter and toast or honey, polish and peasches for example. Never swirl Champagne inside the mouth. The carbon dioxide dulls the tastebuds. On the palate look for balance, smoothness, acidity, refinement.

 The rep from the maison will inform you of the percentage of grapes in his maison's blend - Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay. Three wines were on offer at each house. A Brut, Rose, vintage or Reserve.

 After tasting (in the mouth only) spit and empty your glass. British wine expert Serena Suttcliff practiced spitting geysers in the bathtub by the way.

 Between tasting and spitting fromage et fruit is available to cleanse the palate and keep you upright.

 What to wear to a Champagne tasting? This woman left her horse at the door.

 You can never go wrong wearing black.

 Do you love the Perriet Jouet Belle-Epoch flower bottles too?

 For Christmas PJ has a pretty embroidered gift wrap tied with a pink satin ribbon. To-die-for.

After an hour of tasting (I have the capacity of a gnat) I twirled out the door in my ballerinas.

BOTTOMS UP!