I’m with you on champagne — it’s my “desert island” wine too. (How will we keep it chilled, tho?) Thanks for the episode; I’m looking forward to your “values” tasting as well.

Many congrats on the Time Mag article. Awesome!

Actually KVine, prestige cuvee champagne should always be drunk out of a tulip shaped white wine glass, like a Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc glass. The smaller champagne flutes do not allow for the better aromatics to be released from the wine and regular Champagne flutes are designed to focus the wine on a different part of your palate when you sip it. I learned this while tasting with Dom Perignon Chef de Cave Richard Geoffrey and Didier Depond of Champagne Salon. They insisted that no true champagne connoisseur would ever serve his high end bubbly in a so-called champagne flute, or, even more atrocious, a champagne coup (champagne saucer ).

Ara, I’m sorry to correct you, but you are not killing the bubbles by swirling the champagne. While some CO2 may be released from solution by swirling, it is very little and has no detrimental effect on the taste or effervescence of the wine. Just as in any other wine, swirling helps to coat the inside of the glass with a thin layer of the wine, which in turn evaporates, and helps to release the aromas. Don’t let anyone tell you not to swirl your champagne. Some champagne drinkers do, some don’t. Just the same, some sommeliers will insist that you do not ever smell champagne as you would with any other wine. I personally think that is rubbish and myself and all of my sommelier associates always swirl and sniff all of our champagnes. The aroma and bouquet of a fine prestige cuvee is half of the enjoyment.

congrats. thanks for trying the heisieck (almost bought it prior to watching this episode)

Congratulations Erik and Amy! Having and raising a child is the greatest experience in life!

Congrats on the new little one! I have always found champagnes and sweet wines the most difficult ones for me to analyze…nice job on these…have to try the Femme soon. Again, congrats Gary on the Times article…I already heard people talking about it in non-wine circles…you are reaching new heights of fame and influence!

Congratulations to Eric and Amy!!! I agree about champagnes/sparkling wines. always try to get my friends to drink them with lobster (especially baked stuffed or grilled). couple of friends i’ve turned onto the site have e-mailed or called to tell me about the article. gotta love it.

wow – I came to the site because of the Time article and am thrilled to have found you! You rock!! I am a HUGE champagne fan and it too would be my desert island take-along. (though I do still love a good sancerre…) What a great intro to the Vayniac world – I’m converted. I agree with the Time writer- my husband and I want to hang out with you too…

Gary- Been out all week so I am catching up on all the episodes. CONRATULATIONS on the Time Mag score. I was sitting on a plane reading it and I about jumped out of my seat… like yeah, yeah this guy rocks! Great job!

Champagne is a favorite of mine too. Actually we were just discussing what we should serve for our Grand Opening party – any suggestions that will bring the thunder without breaking the bank?

Oh, and Gary – thanks again for helping us change the wine world!

Ps- Welcome new Vayniacs!!!

oooophs! QOTD: My little sister – who I have been telling about your show for months now!

oooophs! QOTD: My little sister – who I have been telling about your show for months now! She could have learned so much already! 🙂

Congratulations Eric and Amy!!! My wife is due at the end of Nov. and we’re both insanely excited 😀

GV, Another great episode and yes, we’re all to conditioned to think of the bubbly ONLY for certain things SHAME on us!

QOTD: My wife lol! She’ll now watch them with me, albeit not every day but she does 🙂

Hey Gary, congrats on the Time article! That’s totally cool! I’m playing open mic at my friends wine bar on Mon, and I’ll get a pic of me wearing the wristband as I rock out on my vintage classical axe. Keep up the great work. We ARE changing the wine world!

Hey Gary! I learned about your website today though the article in Time magazine! Well.. congratulations.
I am not much of a wine person as, some how wine hits me harder than any ‘hard liquor’. Nonetheless, I do appreciate a good glass of wine. Many a times I am surprised how good a $6 Rioja or Riesling, can be!
I do enjoy your style and it can get people hooked to wine!
Cheers… Salut…

Great episode! It is so good to hear of the new article and most especially, the new baby. GV – Inner wiffle ball bat…you have reached a new high my friend. QOTD: There are many people I’ll be shooting this out too. Very nice!!!

I remember that recent episode with the camera flashes. You had some “special guests” indeed. Great press. Excellent time for some bubb bubb indeed. =)

Tasting request:
Just re-watched episode 201 for the Avaton tasting. How about trying the Parparoussis Nemea Reserve 2003? Can’t find anything out abut this one except good producer in a good year. 44 bucks makes it a hard one to consider without some input.
http://winelibrary.com/reviewwine.asp?item=28082

Hi Gary, I heard about your show a few weeks ago on grape radio and I have been listening to a lot of old episodes. Love the show, talking about wine without being stuffy makes me happy. I hope everything goes well for Amy and Eric and congratulations on the Time magazine story!

Congrats on the Time article! Loved this episode, as I love champagne and sparkling wine. I have tried most of the other Duval Leroy stuff, but never the Femme; I’ll have to check it out. I had a fabulous ’96 Billecart Salmon after my son came home from the hospital. Try that sometime, or better yet, taste it on another celebratory episode.

QOTD: Fast forward — can’t wait to share some wine and champagne with my son when he turns 21 or so. He’s 1 now, so I have a while…

I blacked out again.. What was the question of the day?
How did I get here? What the fluck happened to my pants?

Great show, Congrats. on the Time.I was paying attention to the bubbles today and noticed that the Heidsieck lost its bubbles much faster than the other two and thought that it was interesting that you said that its flavor also disappeared like a ghost. Good luck man. People discovered you and Time noticed that.Be well.

Congrats to you Amy and Eric! I have two kids of my own and love them very much. You are in for a wild and wonderful ride. Congrats to you Gary on the Time article. Champagne is indeed in order!

QOTD: I am not a rub-it-in-your-face kind of guy, but I have been spreading the good word about Wine Library and the show. I genuinely dig what you are up to, that is, shattering the mystique that wine appreciation is reserved for a privileged class. Kudos.

Congrats again Gary! I like how the boy from Belarus had a little cry with his folks over the article. I’m sure I’d do the same if I ever had a page devoted to me in Time, and now I’d know to crack open a bottle of Femme! Hope to hear from you soon.

wowie: you speak to me darlin’. in the avalanche of wines and for me, a person who loves champagne any day of the week, because, let’s face it, any day that you survive in this crazy world is cause for celebration; i applaud your show! i am sending your link it to my chardonnay loving ex-husband and my red wine aficianado son. i would also like to link you to my web site. keep up the good work. i am so happy to hear about you…finally!! i guess more sports knowlege wouldn’t hurt. hello from Palm Springs CA

Haven’t read the article yet but I’m sure it’s positive.
Good luck with the Babe Eric. Still waiting for my first grandkid.
Champagne is always stocked here and thanks for the hads up on the Feme

Awesome blog. Just saw your article in Time – oddly enough the only one I read. Isn’t Femme pronounced “Fem”…not “Femaaay.” Been a while since I spoke French, but that one was easy enough to remember.