Appearances, appearances....
Come to Champagne with me. Or, come and taste Champagne with me.
Some Meunier grapes left hanging in the village of Festigny last week. Leaving grapes unpicked is technically illegal in Champagne….unless they are left unpicked to make a quality-based vineyard selection. Which there certainly was in 2023!
I use this newsletter primarily to write geeky bubblehead content (I’ve just spoken to the fascinating Hannah May Charnock about more research into the Maillard reaction - here’s part one from 2022:)
Getting toasty with the Maillard reaction
Welcome, bubbleheads. A deep dive into flavour science this week. If you’re anything like me, some of this may feel like the blind leading the blind (although your esteemed author does hold a hazy A-level in Chemistry). I never cease to find this stuff fascinating though, so I hope you enjoy the trip.
….but I have to remind myself that it is also here to let everyone know what I’m up to from time to time. Plus, in the spirit of housekeeping, a little reminder that there’s a tasty discount on this month…
Decanter Wine Experiences in Champagne
Decanter readers will have two opportunities to join me in Champagne this year: the weeks of the 10th-15th June and the 7th-12th October. We’ve put together some experiences that are a long way from anything you could expect on a normal visit to Champagne…..there are top hotels, top restaurants and some of the most insightful producers small and large, all lined up ready to welcome us. Both are beautiful times to visit, too.
Heading to Warsaw for a Champagne Festival
Polish readers (and I know there are a few) might be interested in what looks like a brilliant one day Champagne festival organised by Alan Bednarski and House of Champagne on the 29th February. More details soon, but I’ll be presenting a masterclass there with some terrific wines….
How About A Bubblehead Meetup?
Since there are now many hundreds of UK bubblehead-subscribers (although most of my audience here is abroad), I thought it might be fun to organise some ACTUAL IN-PERSON Six Atmospheres events. I’d like to know what readers would be interested in - tutored tastings? Bring-your-own nights? Trade-only workshops or workshops focused on wine exams? Shoot!
January Bubblehead Bonus
A reminder, too, that there is 30% off annual subscriptions during January. Paid Subscribers get access to the whole archive at Six Atmospheres, half of the new pieces written (including next week’s piece on the Maillard reaction), access to the Directories (my opinions on over 350 Champagne and English Sparkling Wine producers) plus a direct line to me, if you need it for those crucial decisions…
Cin cin,
Tom
I would love to partake to a tutored tasting with you. I would find very interesting also a bring-your-own event, incredible opportunity to share some bottles with you and your community. Anyway, excellent idea!!
I’m in London for a couple months. I would be very interested in a bring your own night or even a tutored tasting event!