On October 9th, SommelierS International inaugurated the Semaine du Goût event in the magnificent lounges of the town hall of Reims with its annual Champagne tasting. In this monument steeped in history, rebuilt in the middle of the 20s after its destruction during World War I, some 200 persons met with the unique goal to highlight French excellence.
SommelierS International got together for this beautiful event some prestigious guests, to start with Arnaud Robinet, Mayor of Reims, who, delighted to welcome in his walls this parade of golden and effervescent robes, remind us that “wine is our heritage, our history”.
In the tasting rooms, with golden columns and marbles, the audience is unanimous: this event offers the winegrowers, who are more often in their cellars to work the wine, the opportunity to meet professionals. Because, as reminds Paolo Basso, Best Sommelier of the World 2013, also present, the sommelier, besides expressing their opinion and advices, “are influencers, being [themselves] in direct contact with the final consumer”. As for the tasters, just like Gérard Basset and Philippe Faure-Brac, Best Sommelier of the World 2010 and 1992, are delighted by the different styles and characters offered by the Great Houses and Winegrowers. An opportunity to comprehend their proper philosophies and production methods.
The Champagnes producers, besides the bloggers, influencers and wine merchants, could count on the Associations de l'Union de la Sommellerie Française’s loyalty, with Eric Arnaud, President of the Champagne-Ardenne sommeliers association, Jean-Luc Ama, President of the Hauts de France sommeliers association, accompanied by their respective members, but also the sommeliers of the Bourgogne and Paris Île-de-France associations.
For all the guests, this day was rich in emotions and symbols, just like the pennant of honor of the Union de la Sommellerie Française offersed by Philippe Faure-Brac, as President, to Arnaud Robinet. A way to remind that Reims “is a city of Heritage and Champagne” as the Mayor declared.
Many thanks to the students of the vocational school of Bazeilles and their teacher Richard Demoulin.
Created in 1970, Lehmann SA sets its experience and its know-how in the service of the French houses and vineyards. With its glasses with timeless and elegant curves and the designs that influence the codes of tasting, the Lehmann Glass glasses are adapted to the requirements of a professional and daily use. Therefore Lehmann SA surrounded itself with the best: Philippe Jamesse, head sommelier of Domaine les Crayères, Arnaud Lallement, starred chef of L’Assiette Champenoise, or Gérard Basset, for the Oenomust collection. The opportunity for the Best Sommelier of the World to taste the wines of the lunch in this glass, “simply a real aroma enhancer”. For the Champagne tasting, the sommeliers could also appreciate the quality of the 28.5 premium glasses.
For this day, Diam Bouchage could highlight its various ranges of “guardian of aromas” corks. The opportunity especially to present Mytik Diam, the range for sparkling wines, that guarantees, thanks to the DIAMANT® process, an incomparable sensory neutrality. Choosing Diam Bouchage means offering the consumers the guarantee to taste the intact fruit of the winegrower’s work bottle after bottle, year after year, through corks which are different according to the style of wines. Still wines, sparkling or spirits, each has its options of permeability, dimensions or marking.
During the lunch, Olivier Bernard of Domaine de Chevalier presented Lune d'Argent, Clos des Lunes, white Bordeaux 2014, excellent on the gravadlax salmon and the lobster ravioli served as starters. For the red wine served on a piece of black pork with ceps, the participants had the choice between Domaine de la Solitude Pessac-Léognan 2014 or Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Léognan 2004. Over the 66% Caribbean chocolate tartlet dessert, Cognac Frapin selected Château Fontpinot XO, a perfect pairing.
