Champagne holds its breath until the Saints de Glace (Ice Saints) are safely past (11, 12, 13 May), dreading a spring freeze that might destroy the future harvest’s fruitful buds.
Desuckering removes the non-fruitful buds (suckers or gourmands). Any unwanted growth is removed to optimise sugar concentration and encourage good sap flow.
The Champagne month by month
Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne was created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia. Fearing assassination, the Tsar ordered that the bottle be made of clear glass (so he could detect any poison or “foreign bodies” lurking within), with a flat bottom to expose any bombs hidden in the punt.
The history of Billecart-Salmon dates back to 1818 when its founders, Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon were married and took up residence in the business’s present location. Since then seven generations have striven to perpetuate a family tradition while upholding the House’s founding principle: “Privilégier la qualité, viser l’excellence“ (quality first, with our sights set on excellence).
The Champagne Houses
