Image (a) depicts bubbles ascending in a laser-etched glass containing 100 milliliters of Champagne; (b) shows a network of convective cells revealed through 3D computational fluid dynamics modeling; and (c) shows the corresponding velocity field along the axis of symmetry of the glass.

The Science of Bubbles

Bubbles are the hallmark of all sparkling wines, and they play a significant role in the cachet that surrounds this category. Even the terms “bubbles,” “mousse,” and “Champagne” elicit a pleasurable response in expert and novice consumers alike.

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Champagne Piper Heidsieck's Émilien Boutillat

Interview with Champagne Piper Heidsieck’s Émilien Boutillat

I spoke with Émilien Boutillat, chef de cave at Champagne Piper Heidsieck, this week from New York for an update[…]

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Carpe vinum vitrum

No matter one’s knowledge of wine, there is simply no substitute for tasting. For those of us who keep an eye on the world’s ever-evolving wine regions, that means seizing an opportunity to taste as well as to meet the makers.

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Age drives complexity in sparkling wine

After tasting the Piper-Heidsieck Hors-Série 1971 ($499), a rare, late disgorged Champagne that spent 49 years resting peacefully on its lees, I was inspired to delve deeper into the role yeast autolysis plays in the flavor development of sparkling wine.

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Brut Sous Bois Q & A with Mathieu Roland-Billecart

No one needs a reason to drink Champagne but ringing out 2020 is certainly a good opportunity to reach for something beyond your sentimental favorite. In an effort to learn more about Billecart-Salmon’s Brut Sous Bois, I asked Mathieu Roland-Billecart for the inside scoop on this particular cuvée.

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A tranquil moment with Didier Depond

In a rare tête-a-tête, The SOMM Journal joined Didier Depond, President of the Champagne houses Salon and Delamotte, for an[…]

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The pursuit of luxury

Considering the benefits of spending more on wine. Luxury wine brands rank among a handful of product categories that are[…]

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A Sparkling Continuity: Jordan Cuvée Champagne by AR Lenoble

In more ways than one, Champagne has begun infiltrating wineries in Sonoma and Napa counties. With several unprecedented examples that include Napa cult wine producer Sinegal launching its brand in conjunction with a prestige Champagne house, Sonoma’s Buena Vista Winery–branded Champagne and the unique partnership between Jordan Winery and the grower Champagne house of AR Lenoble, there’s a trend in the making.

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Non-Vintage Champagnes: Rosé And Riper Styles Are Trending

Both the French and the Brits are drinking less Champagne, but America’s obsession with bubbles is growing. Sales of Champagne in[…]

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Will Magnetized Yeast Revolutionize Riddling?

New technique promises to speed sparkling wine production. There’s no mistaking a gyro­palette at work, its top-heavy robotic arm twirling[…]

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