THE PERSISTENT, spumy patter at a recent Champagne event in London, hosted by Perrier-Jouët and G.H. Mumm, was all about the economics of the luxury lifestyle market. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and terroir were scarcely mentioned; in fact, you could’ve spent the day junketing with executives from Reims without uttering the ‘W’ word. Pricy, ostentatious Champagne doesn’t play anything like the part other wines do in peoples’ lives. Yet almost every French wine region produces rivals to Champagne. Jancis Robinson says it’s hard to find a worse-value wine than cheap Champagne, so for the same money, buy a quality rival.
Full article first published in The Connexion (June, 2011)
Photograph of Daniel Elena celebrating victory at the 2005 Cyprus Rally by Leonid Mamchenko.
