The SOMM Journal

April / May 2017

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32 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } APRIL/MAY 2017 { champagne } A VISIT TO HÉRITAGE FINE WINES in Beverly Hills will make you feel as if you've suddenly been transported to a retail shop in Paris. On a typical day, you'd be received by charming French owner Jordane Andrieu and then led graciously to what you're looking for on the curved, honey-colored wooden walls filled with fine French wines. But this was no typical day. In fact, it was just two days before the 23rd Screen Actors Guild Awards, and because of SAG's part - nership with Champagne Taittinger, Vitalie Taittinger was in La La Land, as she is every year for the red carpet opening. So rather than a greeting by M. Andrieu, we were treated to a very different wel- come. While bubbles inched their way up the freshly poured flutes on the table and French music played softly in the background, waiting patiently in the lounge area centered in the shop was the radiant Champagne heiress, Vitalie Taittinger. And just like that, the Parisian shop became a French château in Reims. To label her simply a Champagne heiress would be an injustice, however. Her titles as Global Spokesperson, Artistic Director and Marketing Director for Champagne Taittinger are well-earned. "Once my father [Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger] had reclaimed our family's company, I wanted to con - tribute. With my artistic background, I felt I could really help with marketing, but my father would only hire me as a consultant for two years until finally he said, 'Yes, I will keep you with us!' But for me, it's a great pleasure and even more than an honor to work with him because he's really fantastic. He has this huge energy. He's fair. He's a good leader. Truly a great man." Champagne Taittinger—one of the few Champagne houses founded in the 18th century, one of just 24 houses to be a Grand Marque (i.e., a member of the Union des Maisons de Champagne, an organization of houses that adhere to a certain higher level of quality and have international fame), the second largest estate owner in Champagne (288 hectares) and a top five Champagne brand in the world—is known for its ele - gant, delicate style of Champagne, as they traditionally employ a higher proportion of Chardonnay. This style was apparent in all the three of the wines poured at Héritage: Taittinger Brut La Française, Taittinger Prélude Grand Cru Champagne and their tête-de-cuvée, Comtes de Champagne 2006 Brut Blanc de Blanc. The 2006 Comtes de Champagne showed beautifully, but new to my palate and most intriguing, especially because of a sug - gested retail price of $94.99, was the Prélude. The blend of half Chardonnay and half Pinot Noir from Champagne's Grand Cru vine- yards somehow simultaneously delivered an invigorating freshness and rounded richness, both on a strong undercurrent of minerality. To say this wine offers incredible value would be a gross understatement. In taking a moment with the Prélude, I commented that she must be very busy in preparation for the SAG Awards, particularly this year as they are also partnering in rais - ing additional funds for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Emergency Assistance program. "It's an exercise I do every year with great pleasure, but it's always sort of strange for me backstage with all the celebrities. I'm not the same level as an actress, but I'm a competitor." Taittinger might be right in assuming she's not on the same level as an actress, but maybe in a different way than she means—she's the sort of woman an actress ends up portraying. A SURREAL MEETING WITH VITALIE TAITTINGER Before the Red Carpet Unfurls story and photos by Jessie Birschbach Vitalie Taittinger, Marketing Director, Champagne Taittinger, at Heritage Fine Wines, Beverly Hills. Owner Jordane Andrieu of Héritage Fine Wine, Beverly Hills, requests Vitalie Taittinger approve her Comtes de Champagne 2006 Brut Blanc de Blanc.

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