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Champagne : Heart, Body and Soul
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1. Heart : Getting to know Champagne’s artists in order to understand their art.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Observation and experience leads to logic : Over the span of ten years I’ve met a lot of wonderful artists and produced cultural socially-conscious events, art and photography exhibitions, worked with contemporary art auction houses independently and as part of an art committee, worked a small gig at a small gallery on the left bank, went to international art fairs and even worked PR in Cannes during the film festival…So yeah, I know an artist when I meet one
Artists are passionate people who have an overhwhelming need to express themselves and share their vision with others.
Champagne production, like art, requires raw material, vision, talent, technique, risk-taking, blending and creativity.
Artists are some the most passionate people I have ever met and they love to share their passion.
Champagne is the expression of it’s producer’s vision and intention. Champagne is, by its very nature, made to be shared.
Therefore… Champagne producers are artists
The Champagne region is beautiful. Architecture spanning from Gallo-Roman to Gothic to Art-Deco to Haussmannian and beyond… Castles, Champagne Houses, historical monuments. Rivers, canals, flower-adorned bridges, quaint villages… Fields and forests. Gastronomy : restaurants, brasseries, bakeries…
“ARTisanal” and “Locally-Sourced” have been respected and a way of life here long before these concepts hit the U.S. markets.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
2. Body : Learning about the Champagne region and what makes it sparkle: Its people.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]There are many big “houses” in Champagne. Referred to as “Les Grandes Marques” many are run by large companies. Although the big champagne houses are given the credit for making champagne “world renown” for the most part the region is made up of small family-run vineyards.
Third generation, fifth generation, twelfth generation…The families that make champagne dedicate their lives to their heritage and their legacy.
Coming from a place like L.A. where something that lasts 50 years is already a big deal, this is an incredible concept to grasp.
Gallo-Roman ruins, The Franks and Joan of Arc, American alliances dating back to the American revolution, scars from two world wars, champagne cellars used as hospitals, Reconstruction .. Tales of village valuables hidden under the champagne press, The Underground and The French revolution…
Nothing is forgotten here, part of underlying fabric that binds the champagne community together. The rich history that creates what one might refer to as …Effervescence
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3. Soul : Appreciating the underlying spirituality that comes with making Nature your business partner.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It has been said that Mother Nature is the great equalizer. The challenges of viticulture and viniculture can be daunting. So much is at risk, only so much can be controlled, and the game is constantly changing.
The big houses have the luxury of being able to hedge their bets, but talk about grower-producer champagne and the game is taken to another level. Start to talk about organic and biodynamic champagne practices and the stakes are even higher.
Anyone who takes on an intense challenge can’t help but be transformed by it on a spiritual level. Spend enough time getting your ass kicked by Mother Nature and you learn a few things about yourself.
Make it your life’s work and it becomes a religion.
I once had the great fortune to spend time with some Tibetain monks and I will never forget the look in their eyes : Gratitude, humility, wisdom, appreciation…
I have seen evidence of this in the eyes of the people who work closely with Champagne’s Nature.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]