Today is World Champagne Day on, a special day when champagne lovers around the world raise a toast to the beloved gift that the region of Champagne in France has given to the world.
So, celebrate in style! Pop open a bottle of Bollinger, the epitome of sophisticated style and distinguished elegance. After all champagne aficionados worldwide including the British Royal Court, the delightful Absolutely Fabulous duo Patsy and Edna, and of course James Bond, a man of impeccable taste, all adore Bollinger so why shouldn’t you?
I drink my Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad.
Sometimes I drink it when I am alone.
When I have company, I consider it obligatory.
I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am.
Otherwise, I never touch it–unless I am thirsty”
– Madame Lily Bollinger –
WHAT A GREAT MAXIM BY WHICH TO LIVE LIFE!
These are the famous words of Madame Lily Bollinger, one of the great ladies of Champagne, who was head of the famous Champagne Bollinger House from 1941 until her death in 1977.
Today, Bollinger is a major global brand name and one of the prestigious champagne brands sought the world over. Long acknowledged as one of the world’s finest champagnes, Bollinger epitomises elegance, excellence and integrity. Its reputation is the fruit of meticulous attention to detail and commitment to producing nothing less than perfection. And its trademark style – recognised by champagne aficionados and connoisseurs worldwide – has been maintained by six generations of the Bollinger family since 1829. It’s no wonder that it has become the benchmark for champagnes and the choice of heads of states, celebrities and royalty, including the British Royal Court, the delightful Absolutely Fabulous duo Patsy and Edna, and of course James Bond, a man of impeccable taste.
Champagne Bollinger has long been a British royal favourite. It was the first champagne to receive a Royal Warrant back in 1884, subsequently becoming official supplier to the British Court, a distinction held for 136 consecutive years, and proudly displayed on each bottle. Since Ascot Racecourse was founded in 1711, Champagne Bollinger has been the only ‘official’ Champagne poured at the most prestigious racecourse in the world. For five days every June, the eyes of the world turn to Royal Ascot, the world’s most famous race meeting. Attended each day by Her Majesty the Queen, members of the Royal Family, socialites, celebrities and public figures, Royal Ascot is awash with style, pageantry and, of course, Champagne. Queen Elizabeth reportedly loves a glass of champagne in the evening, and considering the British establishment’s penchant for Bollinger, it’s extremely likely that she chooses to sip on Bollinger.
“Bolly, sweetie…?” Who can forget this celebrated line, forever embedded in the hearts of their fans, by Bolly-swigging fashion favourites Patsy and Edina (Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders) from Absolutely Fabulous, who turned Bollinger into a household name?
Bollinger’s long association with James Bond further underscores its sophisticated style and distinguished elegance. First mentioned in Ian Fleming’s 1956 spy novel Diamonds Are Forever, Bollinger has been featured in 14 Bond movies to date. Champagne Bollinger has remained a Bond favourite even as the torch has been passed from Roger Moore to Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and now Daniel Craig. Bollinger will no doubt be seen once again in the 25th Bond film as well. In the trailer for No Time To Die, which is set to premiere in April 2021, Daniel Craig whips a dust sheet off his Aston Martin V8 Vantage Series II parked in his garage, revealing a stack of lovingly-stored Bollinger boxes.
CHAMPAGNE BOLLINGER SPECIAL CUVÉE
The Signature Bottling of the House of Bollinger
There really is a lot that’s special about Bollinger’s Brut Special Cuvée, an icon among non-vintage Champagnes. That’s why it has become the signature bottling of the Bollinger estate, one of the world’s most revered Champagne Houses. It is a blend of the three Champagne varieties, 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier, from mainly Grand or Premier Cru vineyards, symbolic of exceptional quality. It also includes ‘reserve’ wines from previous vintages to add flavour and weight to the sophisticated blend.
The Bollinger Special Cuvee displays an intense golden colour, very fine bubbles and a beautiful aromatic complexity: roasted apples and ripe peaches with gentle citrus nuances. Full and expansive on the palate, this is an intense, very elegant and refined creamy cuvée with pear and brioche flavours and notes of fresh walnuts with a long refreshing finish.
This really is an absolutely fabulous Champagne that can be served for any special occasion as well as for afternoon tea, at a picnic, as a pre-dinner drink or as an ideal accompaniment to sushi, prawns and crayfish, good cured ham or sliced, seared beef fillet.
?Bollinger Special Cuvée, packaged in an elegant gift box, is available nationally for approximately R960.
For additional information please contact Ginette de Fleuriot at Vinimark on ginette@vinimark.co.za.
