It’s impossible to imagine the end of year celebrations without toasting with bubbles in your glass. For many French people, champagne remains a safe bet, but with inflation, more and more households are turning to sparkling wines.
Last delivery before the holidays in the Cave du Moulin Vieux, located in the heart of Paris. Julien, perched on his stepladder, handles the bottles with precision. “ We are stocking up, preparing the bottles, tidying up the displaysdescribes the wine merchant. Prosecco and crémants from Loire and Alsace are working very well at the moment. »
Here, for a good champagne, you need to spend on average around forty euros, but only 20 for a quality sparkling wine. Increasingly, Julien’s customers are favoring bubbles at a lower cost, without sacrificing quality.
“ It is better to drink something well made and which is not necessarily champagne, rather than systematically going for champagne, being disappointed, and even more so having a headache the next day because of certain products which are poorly processed, indicates the seller. Last year, it was really significant, we almost doubled the proportions of bubbles among our winegrowers and we greatly increased the range. On the consumer side, it’s exponential, but also on the winegrower side. They are having more and more fun blowing bubbles. Supply and demand meet. »
Stimulation of the three senses for even more pleasure
The pleasure is total according to Julien: “ First, there is the sound of the cork, then the slightly blue smoke that emerges from the neck, that’s already a party! There is also the noise that the bubbles make… You should know that when a bubble bursts, it releases aromatics. Visual, smell and taste… It’s an explosion ! “.
Marcelle Ratafia, food critic and wine journalist, is also a fan of sparkling wines. “ The bubble is a totally accessible pleasure, she explains. From the first sips, it’s sparkling, it’s fresh, it’s invigorating… And it doesn’t necessarily require any prior knowledge, which is no small thing, since the world of wine can be a little scary and can intimidate. I don’t think the bubble is really intimidating. We are not necessarily going to look for the nose, the tasting, etc. It’s simply the joy of the party. ! »
Bubbles to drink in moderation of course.
Read alsoSanta Claus seen by children