Did you know that later this month there is a full day dedicated globally to the celebration, enjoyment and appreciation of Champagne?
What is International Champagne Day?
Since 2009, every year the 4th Friday in October is designated as International Champagne Day.
It was originally created in America, by Christian Oggenfuss, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Napa Valley Wine Academy
This year in 2023, it falls on Friday the 27th of October, so make sure you mark the calendar.
It’s a great excuse to pop a bottle of your favourite Champagne or Sparkling wine, learn more about Champagne and make time for the people closest to you.
As if we needed that excuse….But we are global citizens, non?
If you’re looking for something special to do, you can peruse the official ‘Champagne Day’ website to check for Events near you. There are 14 events in Australia alone.
I am hosting my own International Champagne Day Zoom Masterclass Friday Oct 27th at 6:30pm – Join us!
Contact me and I will advise the Zoom room number, plus which Champagne I’ll be tasting LIVE on the night, and where to purchase them in advance
We will do a “Glass Experiment” on the Zoom class, to explore what the shape does to the flavour & evolution of the champagne in the glass..
Bring your strangest/ oddest different selection of 3 or 4 glasses to discover more on the night!
If you’re in Sydney, let me know, and you could join me in person in the evening (quiet, private location to be advised).
Until then, here are some ideas to celebrate your International Champagne Day!
1. Learn more about Champagne:
I’ve written articles on a range of champagne topics including:
- Champagne Glossary,.. Your ABC’s
- Les Veuves de Champagne / Widows of Champagne
- Napoleon & the Art of Sabrage
- Plan a Sabrage Event for yourself & Friends avec Moi!
- Paris’ Best Kept Secrets: Champagne Bars, Bistro’s and Hidden Gems
- Prosecco: Italy’s Famous Sparkling Wine with Tyson Stelzer
2. Indulge and pop open a bottle of your favourite Bubbles
Who needs a better excuse to treat yourself to a bottle of your favourite Champagne or Sparkling wine?
It might also be a great chance to expand your horizons and open that different bottle you’ve been longing/ meaning to try
( Hint: French! Hang the expense. It IS the International Champagne Day after all!)
Conde Nast Traveller has got a fantastic article on ‘The Best Champagnes of 2023’ packed with practical information on the best vintages and how to store, chill, serve and travel with champagne.
3. Whip up some simple Champagne Cocktails
Here are some refreshing recipes that you can make easily at home, with minimal ingredients needed. C’est parfait.
Mimosa Cocktail, made of Orange Juice and champagne this one is normally best enjoyed with breakfast, brunch or lunch
St. Germain Spritz a refreshing cocktail, with brut champagne, soda water, cucumber and St. Germain, delicious
French 75, Gin, Lemon Juice, Sugar and Champagne, a combination made in heaven!
Sparkling Fig Cocktail, one you’ve got to try, made with fresh figs, vodka & champagne. Fabuleuse.
Bellini Cocktail, The combination of peach and champagne is perfect for the hot Spring and Summer months.
4. Put on a Champagne Playlist with a Champagne Breakfast or Lunch
A champagne breakfast can be a nice treat with a choice of food like eggs benedict (œufs Bénédicte) croissants, brioche with salted butter and citrus marmalade, pancakes, waffles with fruit, blini with smoked salmon and caviar, omelettes .. and more.
I’ve created some light, dreamy champagne Spotify Playlists just for you: Bienvenue au Printemps (Welcome to Spring) and L’Hiver au Paris (Winter in Paris) that can accompany your culinary delights.
5. Watch a Documentary on the Champagne Region
Alors, Sparkling: The Story of Champagne is an informative, visually beautiful and FREE documentary exploring the Champagne region, vineyard owners and champagne history.
It’s not to be missed.
The film blurb reads:
“The film is a love letter to the joys and pleasures of champagne. Major champagne houses featured include Pol Roger (Winston Churchill famously drank over 40,000 bottles in his lifetime), Bollinger (appearing in 15 James Bond movies), as well as Piper-Heidsieck (Marilyn Monroe’s favorite), Taittinger, JAY-Z’s Armand de Brignac, Cristal, Veuve Clicquot and Queen Elizabeth II’s vineyard at Windsor.”
It explores the legend of the French monk, Dom Perignon, who famously declared “I can taste the stars” when he discovered champagne and examines the theory that the English actually invented champagne decades before Dom Perignon (Mon Dieu)
And it also looks at the impact of climate change.
The champagne region is gradually becoming too hot, leading to the likes of Pommery and Taittinger acquiring vineyards in southern England, where the chalk soil is the same as the champagne region in France.
By the end, this film will have you wanting to visit France yourself.
And speaking of visiting France, I will be going to France next year in July 2024 for 2 Tours (yes,TWO)… Read on
I will be doing a Champagne Tour & cruise in collaboration with Avalon Waterways lasting 10 days, that includes a plenty of excursions, tastings and history, read ALL the details about it here.
(Psst: special price offer for Champagne Goddess readers if you use my code! Read the Post)
AND….Before this Avalon Waterways tour/ cruise, I will be in France myself, to do a smaller, more ‘bespoke’ guided tour through Paris and Nice for a week for a select few.
(Stay tuned for more information on this Champagne Goddess bespoke tour)
No matter how you celebrate, enjoy Champagne day with your partner, family or friends and make it a day to remember… À votre santé!