Champagne Gift Box

Our friednds over at Majestic Wine are offering a range of champagne gift boxes and champagne gifts.

Check out the Lanson Black Label Gift Box at just £30 or the Dom Perignon gift box at £120 if you prefer a very dry champagne.

About Majestic Wine Gift Solutions:

Gift Solutions packs are only available online and are delivered by courier, rather than Majestic stores. You can specify a date for delivery, with next working day delivery usually available before 10am. A packaging and delivery charge is included in the price.

Gift Solutions packs are sold independently of our 12 bottle minimum order.

What Temperature Should I Serve Champagne?

This week on ‘ask the toff’ Barry from Bristol emailed us with a very astute question;

‘At what temperature should I pour Champagne?’

Well Barry this depends on what kind of champagne you are drinking.  If its a young non vintage (NV) then its generally reccommended that you pour at a temperature of around 7-8 degrees, wheras mature champagnes or vintages should be served cool but not too cold, thus around 11 - 13 degrees.

Naturally you should place unused champagne in an ice bucket when at the table.

If you have a question for the toff email us using our contact form

M&S Champagne

With some experienced buyers in the M&S wine department, there are some great champagnes at M&S.

Here are a few of their best sellers that are on the toff’s list for tasting.

Champagne Oudinot Vintage 2002 - Case of 6 @ £129

This Champagne is a rich full flavoured vintage Champagne with a biscuity, buttery aroma, and long and fresh fruity finish. A fine mousse and good acidity add finesse and crispness.

Occasion? - This beautiful champagne would make a great aperitif for a special occasion, or pair it with canapés or delicate starters at a dinner party, especially those made with fish or chicken. As usual you should serve lightly chilled, in tall champagne flutes, not the flat variety that has been all the rage in some A list bars.

Oudinot Cuvée Rosé Brut NV, Champagne AC - Case of 6 @ £124

This Rose Champagne  has been created by Marks & Spencer has created this wonderful champagne by working closely with Philippe Launois of the House of Oudinot.

A blend of the red grapes Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier has been used, and the delicate peachy-pink colour has been achieved by allowing the juice to mingle for a few hours with the crushed grape skin.

Occasion? It would make a delightful aperitif or a romantic celebration wine, or pair it with fine starters and snacks such as fresh prawns, lobster or parma ham. As with most champagnes the ideal serving temperature 7°C.

M&S Champagne offer in total around 30 varieties of champagne suitable for all budgets and occcasions.

Champagne For Your Wedding - Tips

Choosing a champagne for your wedding is often an overlooked element of the planning with many couples opting for the house champagne. Depending if thats the local country pub or a manor house that could be two very different tipples.

Each case though you’ll end up spending a considerable amount on champagne for your wedding, if you opt for the standard 2 glasses per guest.

Our tip is to order in smaller champagne flutes! and remember quite a number of non educated folk do not care for champagne so you can offer an alternative, say pimms and this will help your budget whilst keeping the toffs content!

Mumm Champagne and their Lightweight Bottle

So ladies and gents, its appears that the bods at Pernod Ricard feel it necesary to alter the weight of the chapagne bottle.  Their new bottle which has undergone a trial weighs 835g rather than the traditional 900g.

The benefit per truck is reported to be 4000 extra bottles, not bad considering the crazy fuel costs and duties… however my friends will this affect the prestige of the wine with a ‘cheaper’ ‘lighter’ bottle? or will consumers give a monkeys?

M&S Champagne Deals

Our friends at M&S Champagne have informed us of a very special offer on their Bluff Hill Sparking Rose.  With a case of 6 bottles at around £54.  It’s been recently commended by the Telegraph.

“often rosé … delivers the most flavour and value for money. This is a wonderful example” Recommended by Giles Kime, The Sunday Telegraph, June 2008

Take a look over at M&S Champagne for more details.