Food & Wine — Champagne

  Continued from Part I Jeanne Krug: Mme Krug married into the 3rd generation of House Krug. She distinguished herself not as a widow, but as a formidable leader and an heroic individual during her husband’s imprisonment in Germany between 1915 and 1917. A young woman and mother of a toddler, she guided the winery through the First World War. During the thousand-day bombardment of Reims that destroyed 80% of the village, Mme Krug opened up the House Krug cellars to shelter Reims citizens and troops during the bombardment, providing a school, chapel and infirmary in the cellars. She also led...

Historically, men have dominated the field of winemaking. When it comes to champagne, it is surprising that women have been pivotal in transforming the beverage from an overly sweet, cloudy carbonated dessert wine to the glamorous, sparklingly-clear champagne celebrated today. Some aspects of champagne’s Methode Traditionnelle can be traced directly to the Grandes Dames de Champagne—the women who seized the reigns of champagne houses through inheritance and bravado.  Les Grandes Dames In 19th-century France, women could not own a business without the permission of their husband or father unless they were widowed. The widows who controlled champagne houses in that...

  Our Culinary Specialist Nanette Berning-Pate strikes again with a touch of Spring and a classic brunch dish. Nothing can beat freshly made crepes, let alone healthy ones made with buckwheat. A savory dish combining cheese and asparagus calls for a medium bodied white wine such as Chardonnay. We suggest  La Colline Aux Fossiles or Truchard Estate Chardonnay.Serves 4IngredientsFor the crepe batter: 3/4 cup buckwheat flour 2 large eggs 1 cup whole milk 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt Unsalted butter for the pan For the cheese and asparagus filling: 1 cup full fat ricotta cheese 8 ounces...

Following family tradition, PR Bottle Shop's founder Christina Coulourides has been involved in the wine industry for over 40 years. She shares her expertise below and her approach to wine as an essential part of life. Q & A with Christina Coulourides What is your favorite wine quote and why? “Wine is one of the agreeable and essential ingredients of life.” Julia Child. Julia Child continues to be an inspiration, teaching Americans how to enjoy food and wine thereby enhancing lifestyle. Often her message is delivered humbly, seasoned with humor. What sparked your interest in wine? In the 1980s when the California...

  Monica Yu is our Wine Buyer and has been a part of Plume Ridge Bottle Shop since inception. She is responsible for sourcing wines from all regions and follows our philosophy of wine as a lifestyle and wine, like food, must be fastidiously chosen. Monica has traveled throughout France and Spain studying local wine and cuisine. She also has a WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wine, an expert-level qualification covering all aspects of wine. Her favorite wine quotes are: "Life is too short to drink bad wine" and "There is never a bad time to drink Champagne".  Q & A with...