Champagne, Uncorked : The House of Krug and the Timeless Allure of the World's Most Celebrated Drink

Champagne is the epitome of effervescence, the centerpiece of celebration, and a symbol of good fortune. It has become an icon, a symbol of luxury, an emblem of the "good life," and few are not attracted to its sparkle. Champagne, Uncorked is a journey into the heart of this beloved wine, anchored by the year the author spent inside the very secretive, prestigious Krug winery in Reims, France. It tells the dramatic story of the creation of the Grande Cuvee, one of the most distinctive and high quality champagnes in the world, from the growing of the grapes to the challenges of harvest, through fermentation in old wood barrels, to the extended process of tasting and analyzing the wines which eventually result in the determination of the all-important final blend. During the course of the narrative, Alan Tardi jumps backwards and forwards in time, telling a larger story about the history and cultural impact of champagne. He reveals how we came to use champagne to celebrate (hint: we can all thank Napoleon) and introduces Eugene Mercier of Dom Perignon, who in 1889 built the "Cathedral of Champagne," one of the first modern examples of brand marketing: the largest wine cask in the world, holding about 200,000 bottles' worth of bubbly, it debuted at the Paris World's Fair that year as the second most popular exhibit (the first being the unveiling of the Eiffel Tower). He also regales us with the story of "Champagne Charlie," the first person to bring champagne to America, who was paid for his champagne in embargoed cotton during the Civil War and who was thanked for his effervescent contribution with the deed to a little town called Denver, Colorado. In Champagne, Uncorked, Tardi is our guide, taking us into the fields of France to learn how finicky grapes in an unstable climate can lead to a nail-biting season for the vintners, and deep into the caves at Krug, where the delicate and painstaking process of blending takes place, all of which culminates in the glass we raise to toast in celebration of life's finer moments. You'll never raise a glass of champagne the same way again.;What lies beneath -- Into the vineyards -- Growers, suppliers, and presses -- Vendanage -- Fermentation -- Tasting, tasting, tasting -- Assemblage -- Let there be bubbles -- Maturation and disgorgement -- Into the world. The epitome of effervescence and centerpiece of celebration, Champagne has become a universal emblem of good fortune, and few can resist its sparkle In Champagne, Uncorked , Alan Tardi journeys into the heartland of the world's most beloved wine. Anchored by the year he spent inside the prestigious and secretive Krug winery in Reims, the story follows the creation of the superlative Krug Grande Cuv'e. Tardi also investigates the evocative history, quirky origins, and cultural significance of Champagne. He reveals how it became the essential celebratory toast ( merci Napoleon Bonaparte!), and introduces a cast of colorful characters, including Eugà ̈ Mercier, who in 1889 transported his "Cathedral of Champagne," the largest wine cask in the world, to Paris by a team of white horses and oxen, and Joseph Krug, the reserved son of a German butcher who wound up in France, fell head over heels for Champagne, and risked everything to start up his own eponymous house. In the vineyards of Champagne, Tardi discovers how finicky grapes in an unstable climate can lead to a nerve-racking season for growers and winemakers alike. And he ventures deep into the caves , where the delicate and painstaking alchemy of blending takes place — all of which culminates in the glass we raise to toast life's finer moments. The epitome of effervescence and centerpiece of celebration, Champagne has become a universal emblem of good fortune, and few can resist its sparkle In Champagne, Uncorked , Alan Tardi journeys into the heartland of the world’s most beloved wine. Anchored by the year he spent inside the prestigious and secretive Krug winery in Reims, the story follows the creation of the superlative Krug Grande Cuvée. Tardi also investigates the evocative history, quirky origins, and cultural significance of Champagne. He reveals how it became the essential celebratory toast ( merci Napoleon Bonaparte!), and introduces a cast of colorful characters, including Eugène Mercier, who in 1889 transported his “Cathedral of Champagne,” the largest wine cask in the world, to Paris by a team of white horses and oxen, and Joseph Krug, the reserved son of a German butcher who wound up in France, fell head over heels for Champagne, and risked everything to start up his own eponymous house. In the vineyards of Champagne, Tardi discovers how finicky grapes in an unstable climate can lead to a nerve-racking season for growers and winemakers alike. And he ventures deep into the caves , where the delicate and painstaking alchemy of blending takes place—all of which culminates in the glass we raise to toast life’s finer moments. CONTENTS 10 PROLOGUE 12 RUE COQUEBERT 22 PART I 26 CHAPTER 1 28 CHAPTER 2 34 CHAPTER 3 44 CHAPTER 4 70 PART II 96 CHAPTER 5 98 CHAPTER 6 122 Photo Insert 162 CHAPTER 7 172 PART III 196 CHAPTER 8 198 CHAPTER 9 208 CHAPTER 10 226 EPILOGUE 246 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 260 APPENDIX I 262 APPENDIX II 264 APPENDIX III 266 NOTES 268 RESOURCES 292 A journalist's year inside the secretive and prestigious Krug winery, and a celebration of the grand history, quirky origins, and cultural significance of champagne.