2022.01.26
Why is champagne a romantic drink, Richard Juhlin?
Champagne expert Richard Juhlin has a photographic memory for scents and is world-renowned for his accuracy in blind tastings. He has written nine books on the subject and holds the world record for the number of champagnes he has tasted, over 13,500. Who better to answer why champagne is so romantic and what temperature you should set your wine cooler to to enjoy a glass of champagne at the right temperature?
No drink is as romantic as a glass of champagne. For those who have a wine cooler, there are every opportunity to serve the drink at the perfect temperature whenever an opportunity arises, and if you ask Richard Juhlin, these occasions are many, at home or in a restaurant, but just as much on a beach trip as on a mountaintop. And the perfect temperature is the same regardless.
What temperature do you think the wine cooler should be set to in order to serve a perfectly tempered glass of champagne?
”"At what temperature a champagne is enjoyed is of course partly a personal question where there must be a balance between freshness, freshness and richness of flavour that comes with rising temperature. Personally, I always want the champagne to be 9 degrees when it reaches my mouth. This of course means that you have it much cooler on the beach than if you drink champagne between runs in the Alps. Since most people in Sweden drink their champagne indoors in an environment of 20-22 degrees, the champagne warms up relatively quickly if it is left out without an ice bucket. My recommendation for the wine cooler is 6-7 degrees so that the champagne reaches 9 degrees five minutes after pouring the first glass and then top up with small splashes and have the champagne in an ice bucket."”
In your opinion, is champagne a romantic drink and if so, why?
”"Champagne is of course the most romantic drink of all. Because even though I often try professionally, devoutly and analytically, I of course like to affirm the romantic inherent power that is in a champagne. The luxurious feeling of taking out a beautiful champagne bottle often invites the whole context with everything from the place, company and decorations on the table, etc. to a romantic situation. Add to that the orgasm-like symbolism when opening the champagne, the sound, the liveliness through the beautiful, rising bubbles and the golden color in beautiful glasses and you have romance embodied. Then comes the most important thing of all, the nature of the drink itself with the sensual euphoric scent and the edgy, excited taste of style, class and elegance in floating lightness like a love throb. Finally, the romance is of course reinforced by the light and beautiful unique intoxication that champagne provides through a series of both psychological and physiological factors. When you then have a moment of heightened consciousness and a feeling of euphoria It's hard not to become nostalgically dreamy and romantic in the shared meeting around a glass of magical champagne.”
What do you prefer to eat with, if anything?
”Champagne is lovely on its own in the right company and especially during a Champagne Hiking, when you sit down in a beautiful place in nature and absorb all the reinforcing impressions of both the place and the champagne in total harmony. Champagne as a gastronomic partner is perhaps a little less talked about. I would never drink my champagne with pasta or steak or even with dessert like many French people do, but beyond that with almost any other food. Champagne is the chameleon of the wine world and adapts wonderfully to almost all the advanced food in today's star restaurants. Mild, elegant flavors with everything from the sea, almost all vegetables, poultry, mild cheeses, mushrooms and creamy dairy products are like they were made for champagne. The more sophisticated the dish, the higher the demands on the quality of the champagne.”
If I want to learn more about champagne, where should I start?
”"Read my new book Champagne Magnum Opus or take part in my Champagne Mater Class through my Champagneclub.com, "If we've missed something significant there, I'm surprised to say the least."”
Janike Eleby
