The Art and Business of Champagne
When people raise their glasses in celebratory toasts, few are aware of all the work behind the fizz. Here is a book to open their eyes with an inside look-from the vineyard to the marketplace-at the world of champagne.Just like good wine, the book begins with the grapes: variety, growing season, harvesting and pressing method. While not attempting to be the definitive work on champagne making, this volume does enumerate all the steps and decisions that go into producing a quality champagne....
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When people raise their glasses in celebratory toasts, few are aware of all the work behind the fizz. Here is a book to open their eyes with an inside look-from the vineyard to the marketplace-at the world of champagne. Just like good wine, the book begins with the grapes: variety, growing season, harvesting and pressing method. While not attempting to be the definitive work on champagne making, this volume does enumerate all the steps and decisions that go into producing a quality champagne. Blending, bottling, aging, fermenting and storage are also discussed. With a view to practicality, the author-himself a champagne manufacturer-looks at the marketing and business concerns of champagne, including the necessity of balancing quality and timely production. Since, by definition, champagne comes only from Champagne, France, a brief history of and visitor's guide to this region is also included. The final chapters look at vintages from 1900 to 2003 as well as the various families who make it their business to produce some of the world's finest wines. Dan Ginsburg lives in Washington, D.C., but is a part-time resident of Ay, France. He is the president and majority owner of Champagne de Meric, the only American-owned winery in Champagne. He is also the author of The Fix Is In (2004).
Introduction : Champagne basics51Choose your teachers well132It's all in the grapes193Respect tradition384Patience is a virtue565The business of Champagne is business636The world won't beat a path to your door just because you make a better Champagne707Use the home field advantage768How to make a small fortune in the Champagne business869The history of Champagne9310Past harvests in Champagne10311Key village profiles12812If you run out of Champagne De Meric14813A visitor's guide to the Champagne region19014Life in Champagne19815The future205App. IChampagne surface planted by department by grape variety211App. IIEight ways to maximize your enjoyment of Champagne212App. IIISample letters to Champagne producers221App. IVContact information for hotels, restaurants, and tourist destinations223
