MADAME POMMERY, Creator of Brut Champagne
"A tour-de-force of historical fiction, Madame Pommery is a deeply fascinating work that blends true-to-life details with artfully crafted elements."
~ Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize
Madame Pommery is a story of a woman's indomitable spirit in the face of insurmountable odds. Set in Champagne, France in 1860, Madame Pommery is a forty-year-old widow and etiquette teacher whose husband has passed away. Now she must find a way to support her family. With no experience, she decides to make champagne, but no champagne makers will teach her their craft. Undeterred, Madame Pommery begins to secretly excavate champagne caves under the Reims city dump and faces numerous obstacles to achieve her dream. From the Franco-Prussian war that conscripts her son and crew to the Prussian General Frederick Franz occupying her home, Madame Pommery perseveres. She even must choose between her champagne dreams and a marriage proposal from her former lover, a Scottish Baron. Inspired by a true story, Madame Pommery is a heroic tale of a woman's strength and determination to create a champagne legacy. If you enjoyed the novel Sarah's Key, you will enjoy Madame Pommery.
CHAMPAGNE WIDOWS, the First Woman of Champagne
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EDITORS CHOICE,
HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY
This engrossing historical novel by Rebecca Rosenberg follows Veuve Clicquot, a strong-minded woman determined to defy the Napoleon Code and become a master champagne maker. In 1800 France, twenty-year-old Barbe-Nicole inherits her great-grandfather's uncanny sense of smell and uses it to make great champagne, despite the Code prohibiting women from owning a business. When tragedy strikes and she becomes a Veuve (widow), she must grapple with a domineering partner, the complexities of making champagne, and the aftermath of six Napoleon wars. When she falls in love with her sales manager, Louis Bohne, she must choose between losing her winery to her husband to obey the Napoleon Code, or losing Louis. In the ultimate showdown, Veuve Clicquot defies Napoleon himself, risking prison and even death. If you enjoyed books like 'The Widow of the South' by Robert Hicks or 'The Paris Seamstress' by Natasha Lester, you'll love 'Veuve Clicquot'.
What Makes an Excellent Champagne?
By Rebecca Rosenberg, Author of Champagne Widows novels
Champagne is a sparkling wine that is produced in the Champagne region of France. It is made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes. Champagne is known for its elegant bubbles and its complex flavors.
Two early pioneers of Champagne making were Barbe-Nicole Clicquot (Veuve Clicquot) in the early 1800’s and Alexandrine Louise Pommery (Madame Pommery) in the mid-to late 1800’s. These groundbreaking women changed the champagne we drink forever while dealing with Napoleon’s wars, mental illness, pandemics, motherhood, laws against women owning businesses, and the early difficulties of making champagne!
Veuve Clicquot was known for her uncanny sense of Le Nez, the Nose, which allowed her to smell different varietals of grapes, grown in different areas, and blend them for a delicious champagne. She also transformed the murky, yeasty champagnes of that time into the clear, sparkling champagne we have today, by inventing the riddling rack which stored fermenting champagne bottles at an up-side-down angle so the dead yeast would fall to the neck of the bottle and could be removed.
Sixty years later, Madame Pommery revolutionized the cloying, sweet dessert champagne that was popular in the early 1800’s to a dry, crisp, Brut champagne, that could be enjoyed anytime. Brut champagne is primarily what we all drink today, thanks to the bold invention by Madame Pommery!
There are many factors that contribute to the quality of champagne, including the grapes used, the winemaking process, and the aging process.
Grapes
The grapes used to make champagne are very important to the quality of the wine. The Chardonnay grape gives champagne its acidity and finesse. The Pinot Noir grape gives champagne its structure and fruitiness. The Pinot Meunier grape gives champagne its roundness and body.
Winemaking process
The winemaking process for champagne is very complex and requires a lot of skill and experience. The grapes are first harvested and then pressed to extract the juice. The juice is then fermented in stainless steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine is blended and then bottled.
Aging process
The aging process for champagne is also very important to the quality of the wine. Champagne is aged for at least 15 months before it is released. During the aging process, the wine develops its complex flavors and aromas.
Other factors
In addition to the grapes, winemaking process, and aging process, there are other factors that can contribute to the quality of champagne, such as the terroir (the soil and climate of the vineyard) and the skill of the winemaker.
What makes an excellent champagne?
An excellent champagne will have a balance of acidity, fruitiness, and structure. It will also have complex flavors and aromas. The bubbles in an excellent champagne will be fine and persistent.
Here are some specific qualities that an excellent champagne should have:
• Acidity: Champagne should have enough acidity to be refreshing and balanced. The acidity should also help to preserve the wine for many years.
• Fruitiness: Champagne should have a good balance of fruitiness and acidity. The fruitiness should be subtle and elegant.
• Structure: Champagne should have enough structure to be full-bodied and complex. The structure should also help to support the acidity and fruitiness of the wine.
• Complexity: Excellent champagne should have complex flavors and aromas. These flavors and aromas can include citrus fruits, white flowers, toast, and nuts.
• Fine and persistent bubbles: The bubbles in excellent champagne should be fine and persistent. This means that the bubbles should be small and should last for a long time.
How to choose an excellent champagne
When choosing an excellent champagne, there are a few things to keep in mind:
• Look for champagne that is made from 100% Grand Cru or Premier Cru grapes. These grapes are grown in the best vineyards in Champagne and produce the highest quality wines.
• Choose champagne that has been aged for at least 15 months. This time is needed for the wine to develop its complex flavors and aromas.
• Look for champagne that has a good reputation. There are many excellent champagne producers, but some of the most well-known include Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, and Krug.
• Consider the price. Excellent champagne can be expensive, but there are also many good value champagnes available.
How to serve champagne
Champagne should be served chilled, but not too cold. The ideal serving temperature for champagne is between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Champagne can be served in flutes, tulips, or coupes, according to your preference. These glasses allow the bubbles in the champagne to rise and appreciate.
Champagne can be served as an aperitif, with dessert, or on its own. It is also a popular choice for celebrations.
Conclusion
Excellent champagne is a complex and delicious wine. It is made from the best grapes and is aged for at least 15 months. Excellent champagne has a balance of acidity, fruitiness, and structure. It also has complex flavors and aromas. When choosing an excellent champagne, look for champagne that is made from 100% Grand Cru or Premier Cru grapes, that has been aged for at least 15 months, and that has a good reputation. Champagne should be served chilled, but not too cold, and in flute glasses. Champagne can be served as an aperitif, with dessert, or on its own.
This series is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.
Champagne Widows: The first woman of Champagne, Veuve Cliquot
Madame Pommery, Creator of Brut Champagne
Series Links:
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon AU • Amazon CA
Rebecca Rosenberg
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