The widespread reopening of society creates a great opportunity once again to celebrate Bastille Day on July 14th. Rejoice in style by enjoying tempting French sparkling wines. The frothy bubbles and crisp, delicious flavors really capture both Bastille Day’s effusive, joyous spirit and the optimism of the reopening.
BASTILLE DAY CELEBRATIONS
Bastille Day—known in France as the national holiday Fête Nationale—commemorates the taking of the Bastille prison by the people of Paris on July 14, 1789. This marked the beginning of the French Revolution and eventual abolition of the monarchy. Today it also celebrates France’s national unity under a representative Republican government.
The occasion includes a large military parade in Paris and joyous, often raucous celebrations throughout the country. France’s famous Tricolore flag of blue, white and red festoons public and private locations, and sparkling wines (and other beverages) flow freely.
While traveling to France this year for Bastille Day is impractical, here in America, French restaurants often offer special Bastille Day meals and celebrations customarily including live music. Paris 66 Bistro in Pittsburgh will offer “all you can eat” steamed mussels and french fries from 3 PM to 9 PM. Other favorites such La Piquette in Washington, D.C. and Bistrot La Minette in Philadelphia also typically offer special Bastille Day menus.
SPARKLING BASTILLE DAY PICNICS
As an alternative to your favorite French restaurant, try enjoying sparkling wines with a casual Bastille Day picnic. Start with a classic French baguette sandwich such as a Jambon beurre et Fromage (i.e., buttered baguette with ham and cheese).
Add delicious French cheeses such as a creamy Tomme, a savory aged Comté and La Bonde d’Antan, a tangy aged goat’s cheese pictured below from Chantal’s Cheese Shop in Pittsburgh.
Complete the fun with tasty French desserts such as colorful macarons from Jean-Marc Chatellier’s French Bakery in Pittsburgh and delicious French pastries such Tarte aux Fruits (i.e., Fruit Tart) and Tarte Citron (i.e., Lemon Tart) from La Gourmandine.
A SPARKLING WINE FOR EVERY TASTE AND BUDGET
The tastiest French sparkling wines come from the process called as either méthode champenoise or méthode traditionnelle. This means the wine’s sparkling bubbles arose from a secondary fermentation that took place in the bottle itself. Persistent frothiness and generally richer flavors and creamy texture result.
When opening a sparkling wine, always point the bottle away from your guests and yourself. Cover the top with a towel, and then gently ease the cork out with a little pop. You’ll save wine and avoid putting out eyes with a flying cork! Pop the cork of any of the following wines to celebrate Bastille Day and the reopening:
The N.V. Varichon & Clerc, Privilège Rosé Dry, Méthode Traditionnelle, France (wine-searcher.com average national price: $12.00) has its origins in France’s mountainous Savoie region just to the east of Bourgogne. In 1996, the Boisset family of Bourgogne purchased Varichon & Clerc, and today the sparkling tradition continues.
This delightful wines comes from a blend of various red-skinned grapes (including Gamay) with secondary fermentation occurring directly in the bottle over a nine month period. The wine is finished “dry,” that is, without significant residual sweetness. Its lovely deep salmon color offers red fruits and citrus balanced with pleasing freshness. The frothy texture has medium concentration. All in all, an easy drinking, well-priced wine that’s fun to share. Highly Recommended.
The N.V. Bailly Lapierre, Crément de Bourgogne, Réserve Brut, France (wine-seracher.com average national price: $19.00) comes from a cooperative of 430 quality focused winegrowers working in four villages in the l’Yonne region in northern Burgundy. The production and aging facility resides in extensive underground limestone caves dug during the Middle Ages and Renaissance as quarries. These bedrock caves create perfect humidity and temperature to age the wines during secondary fermentation in the bottles.
This wine comes from a blend of the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay, and Aligoté. The wine’s light golden color offers fine sparkling bubbles with aromas of green apples, citrus and a touch of smokiness. On the palate, fresh, frothy, fruity flavors unfold with round texture and a touch of creaminess. Recommended.
The N.V. Domaine Désiré Petit, Crément du Jura, Brut, France (wine-seracher.com average national price: $26.00) comes from a long standing family domaine in the Jura, a mountainous region to the east of Bourgogne near the Swiss border. The land enjoys fame as the home of delicious Comté cheese, but increasingly the region’s winegrowers have also earned kudos for tasty organically produced wines.
This wine comes from Chardonnay grapes and delivers a light straw color with shimmering, fine bubbles. The nose offers aromas of yeasty brioche bread, citrus and smokiness. The palate unfolds ripe citrus and apple flavors with light, frothy texture and excellent freshness. A touch of creaminess balances the fruity, but dry finish. Recommended.
The 2017 Dominique Gruhier, Crément de Bourgogne, Extra Brut, France (average national price: $28.00) comes from talented vigneron Dominique Gruhier who works in Épineuil, a commune near Tonnerre in northern Burgundy. Like the soils in nearby Chablis, Kimmeridgien clay and limestone predominate in Gruhier’s vineyards which he farms organically. This gives the fruit a distinct freshness perfect for making fine sparkling wines.
This wine blends Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%). Secondary fermentation occurs overs a 24 month period in the bottle to create extra fine, frothy bubbles. The nose offers complex notes of white peaches, honeysuckle and red currants and just a hint of fresh brioche. On the palate, ripe peach, apricot and citrus flavors of medium concentration layer with marvelous freshness. The fruity finish lingers deliciously with fine balance. Outstanding sparkling wine for the price! Highly Recommended.
N.V. Bollinger Rosé Champagne, France (wine-searcher.com average national price: $98) comes from one of Champagne’s leading houses founded in 1829. In 1941 at age 42, Elisabeth Lauriston Bollinger, a Scotswoman who married into the family, guided the firm through the Nazi occupation and then greatly expanded Bollinger’s brand after the War. Known affectionately as Madame Lilly, she once famously said,
“I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m 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’m thirsty.”
Her insistence on producing top quality Champagnes continues as reflected in this delicious wines. It comes primarily from Pinot Noir (62%) with lesser proportions of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Over 85% of the fruit comes from Champagne’s top Grand Cru and Premiers Crus vineyards.
The wine’s lovely deep salmon color has very fines sparkling bubbles offering aromas of strawberries, black cherries and currants with a touch of spiciness. On the palate, the wine has ample richness with ripe red fruits and a touch of subtle oak. The texture balances tremendous freshness with creaminess and understated oak notes through the soft, dry finish. A well made, delicious sparkler. Highly Recommended.