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 monthChampagne, site of the first great, record-breaking experiences in flight, now enjoys an international reputation as the cradle of aviation. Much of the credit is owed to the Champagne Houses whose support for aviation dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century. As the sponsors of numerous awards and prizes, not to mention spectacular airshows, the Champagne Houses played a pivotal role in encouraging the exploits of early aviators.
Champagne House Besserat de Bellefon was established in 1843 and sailed through the 20th century gracing the best tables in France, from swinging Parisian cabarets to the frenzied nightclubs of ’sixties St Tropez. The House’s slogan says it all: “Choisir l’élégance de la vie dans la simplicité de sa beauté, c’est être libre selon BB” (to choose the elegance and beauty of simple living means to be free BB style).
The Champagne Houses