The ‘Extremely Simple Complexity' of Champagne

No longer just the reserve of lavish fetes and special toasts, Champagne's role is evolving, proving its versatility as a companion to a wide range of occasions and dishes. The bubbles cleanse the palate between bites, allowing you to fully appreciate each flavour. Its acidity cuts through rich dishes and balances out sweetness, while the nuanced layers within a glass of Champagne—brought forth by different blends of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes—can both complement and contrast with various food profiles.

 

Comoclub chatted with Clovis Taittinger, Managing Director and fourth-generation family member of House Taittinger, about the many ways people enjoy their Champagne today. It’s our house Champagne across the COMO Group — the preferred choice in all our hotels, resorts and restaurants worldwide.

We love it for its consistent range and delicate, feminine style — one of the first grandes marques to use Chardonnay extensively, making wines lighter than before.

 

The jewel of the Taittinger lineup is the Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc, an iconic 100 per cent Chardonnay Champagne sourced from Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte des Blancs region—produced only in the best years, and aged for ten years in cellars, which imparts more complexity. ‘The "extremely simple complexity" re-energises you, giving you the feeling of purity, finesse, a bit of a very wild wine,’ says Clovis.

 

The focus is on maintaining a clear style across the range: light, pure, and Chardonnay-driven, making it an easy match for almost anything.

 

‘It's a no-brainer,’ he says about pairing food with Champagne. ‘Don't think too much. If you do, think with your heart and your belly as well. Go for whatever you want: burgers, pizza, caviar, it basically goes with everything.’

 

A sip of Champagne with a bite of fried chicken becomes a melody of textures, where the crunch and the bubbles play in harmonious accord. Paired with fish and chips, Champagne brings on a delicate burst of citrus flavour. A salty bag of crisps finds harmony in sweetness and tertiary notes. More than the fusion of flavours, these pairings are also about the stories and laughter shared over a bottle.

 

Occasions may vary — an anniversary glass with a Cédric Grolet pastry, a bottle to start off your COMO Weekend — but to Clovis, the only thing that should matter is the pleasure you find in the glass.

 

'I want to see the person I drink with to be even happier than I am,' he says, ‘and to not let it stay too long in the glass. The best proof of pleasure is when people are drinking. Not necessarily drinking fast, but drinking surely. And maybe taking a second glass.'

 

It’s the pure pleasure of that high-low confidence we find exciting. Champagne, with its sparkling elegance and refined bubbles, is not reserved solely for fine dining tables adorned with silver and crystal. It finds its place equally amongst the casual and the everyday. Its true essence lies not in its exclusivity but in its ability to bring joy, to elevate the mundane, and to bring a touch of celebration to all of life’s moments.

 

You'll find Taittinger at all COMO restaurants and hotels. And if you're a C6 Comoclubber, you get a glass of bubbly on the house whenever you dine in.

 

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