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Forbes
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Explore Champagne, France: Top Attractions, Vineyards And Travel Tips
Champagne region in France at sunrise. getty "I only drink Champagne on two occasions, when I am in love and when I am not." Coco Chanel If you haven't had the pleasure of visiting the Champagne region in north east France and its beautiful villages, vineyards and Champagne houses, this is the year to do so. July 4, 2025 marks the 10-year anniversary since Champagne hillsides, houses and cellars became a UNESCO World Heritage site. And there will be major festivities on the day including a big party in Champillon, in the heart of the historic hillsides, that will include a picnic, music, dance and birthday cake. Festivities will continue throughout the month to celebrate the world's most prestigious sparkling wine. On July 14, 2025 on the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay there'll be a picnic, toast and party with fireworks. July 19th will feature a picnic concert of the Flâneries Musicales at the Parc de Champagne, in Reims. Champagne vineyards Comite Champagne is unique to the Champagne region and is a protected appellation (AOC); recognised in more than 130 countries worldwide (although not, surprisingly in the United States). It is so highly prized that a special committee controls every aspect of the sparkling drink from how many grapes are grown in the region and when they'll be harvested, to the number of bottles that are to be sold each year. Since 1941, the CIVC (Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne) has promoted the common interests of Champagne houses and growers and ensured the wine has retained its prized status globally. The Comité records all transactions, track the movement, manage the reserve and protect the appellation against counterfeit products. Champagne grand cru sparkling wine production in bottles in rows in dark underground cellars, Reims, Champagne, France getty But Champagne is not just simply prized and enjoyed thanks to the efforts of the Comité but because of the unique qualities of the actual product itself, created every year by over 16,000 winegrowers from grapes harvested by hand by 120,000 pickers. The cool climate and unique terroir (chalk soil) where the three main grape varieties are grown (Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Meunier) contribute to the wine's unique flavors. Champagne has long been associated with special occasions, joyful moments, success and positivity. As Charles Dickens said: 'Champagne is one of the elegant extras in life.' View of the Avenue de Champagne, Épernay, France getty The wine of Kings and the King of wines The Champagne vineyards date back to Roman times when they were planted in the 5th century (or possibly even earlier). From 816 to 1825, France's royalty was crowned in Champagne's Reims Cathedral, where Champagne was the prized drink of coronation banquets and it was customary to gift these wines to any royalty visiting the region. This has included British royals since the 17th century when King Charles II first enjoyed the sparkling wine while Queen Victoria was the first British monarch to issue royal warrants to Champagne producers. So Champagne came to be known as the wine of coronations and referred to as "the wine of Kings and the King of wines.' Champagne's revered reputation was so firmly established by the twentieth century that even Winston Churchill famously said to motivate his troops, "Remember gentlemen, it's not just France we are fighting for, it's Champagne." Today, the UK is Champagne's second biggest export market (after the United States) in volume and in value. And although the wine became the drink of Royalty, in Champagne today, you'll find it in most households throughout the region. In fact, Champagne makers will tell you that in the region, Champagne is 'vin de pays' — nothing pretentious, easy drinking and not just for special occasions. Reims,France - Storage of bottles of champagne getty Champagne houses, Cooperatives and Growers to Visit There are 16,200 winegrowers in Champagne, 130 Cooperatives and 370 Champagne houses that produced 271.4 million bottles of Champagne in 2024. Many are open to visit. The Avenue de Champagne in Epernay is a great place to start. Many of the well known Champagne Houses including Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët and Pol Roger are located here and offer tastings and tours and of course, the option to buy bottles. Also, there's an excellent shop, Trésors de Champagne, that offers a wide selection of Champagnes, starting as low as 18 euros a bottle, some of which you can try by the glass. After experiencing Champagne Avenue, venture out to some of the houses and growers including these five that will give you a good range of Champagne styles from large and medium houses to small, independent growers. Champagne Pommery was founded in Reims in 1836 by Monsieurs Alexandre Louis Pommery and Narcisse Greno. Initially, the company focused on wool production before moving into Champagne. But it was the genius of Madame Louise Pommery who not only created the first vintage "brut" Champagne in 1874 but greatly expanded the business with production increasing from 300,000 bottles to 3 million. Today, the house sells around six million bottles annually and stores 25 million in reserve in its cellars. It has an impressive visitor offering with extensive tours in 18 kilometers of Roman cellars, various tasting packages and a lovely Art Nouveau villa to visit. And since 2003, Pommery has had ambitious annual art exhibitions in the cellars. Champagne Besseraat de Bellefon, founded in 1843 in Epernay, is a medium size house, producing 700,000 bottles a year. They use the Meunier grape, the only indigenous grape to Champagne and using a unique process and less sugar results in a unique taste and bubbles that are 30 percent finer than other Champagnes. The house has a shop and you can stay on site in one of three lovely suites. Champagne Vincent d'Astrée, launched in 1956 in Pierry, is a cooperative of five families buying from 170 growers. It has a lovely tasting room and offers a cellar tour where you can see the world's largest Champagne flute (160 bottles are required to fill it). It's a boutique operation headed by a female winemaker and produces 50,000 bottles a year consisting of 4 vintage and 4 non-vintage. Champagne Jacquart in Reims opened in 1964 and today has a stellar signature collection (all aged at least 3 years) ranging in price from 38 to 130 euros. You can buy these from their shop and try the wines by the glass on their charming terrace, including the priciest Alpha 2014, just released this summer. Christian Muller is a small grower in Mailly Champagne that produces 20 -25,000 bottles a year of 4 different Champagnes, all excellent. Their stunning new terrace above their shop overlooks their own vineyards and is an idyllic spot for a tasting. Where to Stay and Eat in Champagne Notre-Dame de Reims, Listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO getty A good base for a visit to the region is Hotel Margaux, a new 4-star property in Epernay with 27 elegant rooms and suites. Unsurprisingly, visitors are spoiled for choice of excellent restaurants. Table Kobus in Epernay is a fantastic bistro with four prix fixe options with French classics like Foie Gras and duck magret. For an upscale dining experience, La Brasserie Le Jardin is in the beautiful grounds of Le Domaine les Crayeres in Reims. Chef Christophe Moret offers a seasonal, local menu a la carte or prix fixe. And while in Reims, be sure to visit the magnificent Cathédrale de Reims. Rotisserie Henri IV in Ay offers a casual outdoor dining experience with daily specials like roast chicken and various salads. Top tips for the perfect Champagne serve Tasting of brut and demi-sec white champagne sparkling wine from special flute glasses getty The recommended serving temperature is between 8 and 10°C. To chill a bottle of Champagne, place in an ice bucket filled half with water and half with ice, 30 minutes before serving. Or chill at the bottom of the fridge a few hours before opening. When opening a bottle of Champagne, start by removing the wire cage and its foil cap. Keep a firm grip on the cork and be sure not to point the bottle at anyone. Next, still keeping a firm hold on the cork, hold the bottle by the body and rotate it gently, removing the cork from the neck without letting it escape. When serving, do not hold the person's glass when pouring. As glamorous as it looks, the coupe is not the best glass for Champagne. Choose a fairly tall and tulip-shaped – bulbous at the bottom glass to give the bubbles enough room to develop but which tapers at the top to fully concentrate the aromas.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Anna Wintour: ‘queen of fashion' steps away from American Vogue editor-in-chief role
The departure of Anna Wintour as editor-in-chief of American Vogue leaves a bigger absence in the fashion world than would be left by the departure of any designer or supermodel. For more than three decades, Wintour has held the official title of editor-in-chief of American Vogue – and an unofficial, but widely acknowledged, title of queen of fashion. At any catwalk show, the best seat in the house is automatically hers. Like Beyoncé and Madonna, she has no need of a last name; everyone refers to her simply as 'Anna', although few are bold enough to address her directly. She has been a constant, regal presence, crowned by the signature glossy bob and ever-present sunglasses. Wintour's status has been built not just on ego, but on how much she has done for fashion. She has amplified the place of fashion in culture beyond all recognition. The ambition and bravado of fashion today – from Louis Vuitton hiring the Grammy-winning musician Pharrell Williams as creative director and taking over an entire district of central Paris for his debut show, to blockbuster fashion exhibitions such as the V&A's Coco Chanel retrospective becoming fixtures on the art world calendar – owes a vast debt to the vision of Wintour. An early instigator of putting actors, pop stars and politicians on the cover of her magazine, she understood instinctively that a Vogue cover bequeathed an intangible but potent 'soft power' that celebrities craved, and that Vogue's role as gatekeeper to that power could be leveraged in Washington and in Hollywood, as well as at the fashion weeks of New York, London, Paris and Milan. The cartoonish perception of a woman who is powerful simply because she lords over a world of ditsy underlings who are petrified by her is very far from the truth. Wintour grew the fashion world into an empire, making fashion itself bigger and more powerful, and rode high by keeping hold of the reins. She is unusual in being both a glamorous A-list celebrity who wields personal star power, and a gifted behind-the-scenes operator, always on manoeuvres behind those dark glasses. In the court of Vogue, she has been both King Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell, commanding ceremonial power while also pulling the strings behind the scenes. It is, however, entirely true that most of those around her are intimidated by her. Her operational mode resembles that of a military commander: decisions are made swiftly, and she does not suffer fools gladly. In public, her emotional tone hovers around a cool courtesy, dipping to frosty lows if displeased by unpunctuality or incompetence. This is a persona that Wintour – who in private is devoted to her family, is a tennis superfan, a passionate supporter of the arts and a witty and phenomenally well-read conversationalist – has crafted carefully. Her image was enshrined in 2006 by the cinema release of The Devil Wears Prada, in which Meryl Streep played Miranda Priestly, a New York fashion editor. It was based on a book by a former assistant of Wintour's, and the starring role was widely assumed to be modelled on her. The imperious 'Nuclear Wintour' persona has served her well. In 2012, it was widely rumoured that Wintour, a heavyweight fundraiser for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, was in the running to be appointed the US ambassador in London. The rumour turned out to be unfounded, but the degree of gossip mill traction for the idea of a magazine journalist being appointed to a high-powered position in international diplomacy is testament to the gravitas and prestige of Wintour's reputation. Wintour was born into journalism. Her father, Charles Wintour, was editor of the London Evening Standard for much of her childhood. She began her career in her birth city before moving to New York in her 20s, recrossing the Atlantic to become editor of British Vogue in 1985. That job was only a staging post for the highly ambitious Wintour, who achieved her goal of editing American Vogue three years later. Her keenly developed instinct for which way the wind was blowing was evident from the start: when the printers received the image for her first cover, they called the Vogue office concerned that there had been a mistake. The photo featured the model Michaela Bercu in faded blue denim – the first time jeans had appeared on the cover of Vogue. The post-dress-code informality that was to transform the fashion industry in the last decades of the 20th century was already being hinted at. Sign up to Fashion Statement Style, with substance: what's really trending this week, a roundup of the best fashion journalism and your wardrobe dilemmas solved after newsletter promotion It is a stretch to imagine Wintour, whose daily regime as editor began with rising at 4.30am to play an hour's tennis before a 6am blowdry, fading into gentle retirement. Her daughter, Bee, who works in the theatre world, once said that the lesson her mother was most keen to instil in her children was a work ethic. Bee recalled how, as a high school student attending a Vogue gala, she asked the guest sitting next to her to test her on Latin American history, as she had a test at school the next morning. But there is more to Wintour than the ice queen image. Her devotion to tennis is such that she would even play hooky from New York fashion week when shows clashed with the US Open tournament, taking a seat courtside instead. The timing – halfway through the menswear fashion shows – left fashion puzzled, but make more sense from a tennis fan's perspective. With Jack Draper poised to fill the gap in British tennis left by Andy Murray, and a simmering rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, her departure is Vogue's loss but SW19's gain.
The National
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Chanel celebrates 25th anniversary of J12 watch with new marvel carved from lab-grown sapphire
'I dreamt of giving a colour to black, of illuminating it with blue,' says Arnaud Chastaingt, director of the Chanel Watch Creation Studio. 'I wanted a blue that possesses a rigorous elegance – a blue that is nearly black, or a black that is almost blue.' To celebrate the 25th anniversary of its bestselling ceramic watch, Chanel unveiled a striking new piece that delivers on Chastaingt's dream: the J12 Bleu. In a matte shade of midnight, the Bleu is the result of five years of meticulous development – a process that reflects not only Chanel's obsession with colour, but also its quiet mastery of modern horology. Blue, of course, is fundamental to Chanel's visual language – a nod to Gabrielle Chanel 's love of maritime style. Yet, developing a tone that satisfied the house's exacting standards was no small feat, with Chastaingt describing its discovery as 'an epiphany'. More than half a century after her death, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel remains fashion's consummate rule-breaker, having established codes that still feel fresh today. From the little black dress to the tweed suit, she placed comfort alongside elegance. Her two-tone shoes, quilted handbags and ropes of pearls remain cornerstones of style. Even Chanel No 5 – launched in 1921 – still dominates global fragrance sales, a testament to its revolutionary formula. Chanel's styles were later distilled and reinterpreted by Karl Lagerfeld, who gave them new life across decades of creative direction. Alongside him, Jacques Helleu – artistic director for Chanel's jewellery, watches, beauty and fragrance – pushed these same codes into a new realm: timekeeping. In 1987, he unveiled Chanel's first watch, the Premiere, with a case shaped like the No 5 stopper and a bracelet threaded with leather like the brand's iconic bags. A decade later, Helleu began sketching a unisex sports watch – a daring move for a house so focused on women. The result was the J12. Crafted from high-tech ceramic, it was lightweight, scratch-resistant and quietly radical. Launched in 1999 in a sleek black finish, the J12 felt like a new language for Chanel – clean, powerful and androgynous. Its name came from the J-class racing yachts of the America's Cup, while its 38 millimetre profile and bold silhouette signalled a shift towards genderless, fashion-forward watchmaking. In 2002, a 41mm chronograph was added, followed by an all-white quartz version in 2003, expanding the range while maintaining its sleek identity. Then came the innovation. In 2005, Chanel introduced the 41mm Superleggera Chronograph, blending black ceramic and anodised aluminium for a watch that was 20 per cent lighter. In 2008, Chanel collaborated with Audemars Piguet on the H2918, a 42mm model in black ceramic with yellow gold accents. That same year, Chanel released the J12 Noir Intense, set with 724 baguette-cut black ceramic stones in white gold, a feat that took more than 200 hours to complete and was limited to only five pieces. In 2010, the brand turned to respected independent watchmakers Renaud et Papi for the Retrograde Mysterieuse. At 47mm and made of white gold and ceramic, it included a retrograde display, tourbillon and retractable crown. The following year, Chanel unveiled the Chromatic in titanium ceramic, while 2013 brought the Moonphase model, with its aventurine moon disc and poetic complication. By 2014, Chanel pushed further into haute horlogerie with the Comeete Flying Tourbillon and the J12 G10, the latter nodding to military watch straps but rendered in titanium and alligator leather. The 20th anniversary in 2020 was marked by the diamond-set J12 X-Ray, which was cut almost entirely from transparent sapphire crystal – even the bracelet was hewn, link by link, from raw sapphire. The 2023 J12 Eclipse box set added a new layer of conceptual brilliance. Comprising seven watches arranged to mirror the phases of a solar eclipse, the collection played with black and white ceramic in configurations that felt as much like sculpture as watchmaking. Only one set was made – and was quickly snapped up by a private collector. Now, in 2025, the J12 marks its silver jubilee with the J12 Bleu X-Ray. A study in transparency and light, the watch is hewn from a single block of lab-grown sapphire – a process that takes more than 1,600 hours. It features 196 baguette-cut blue sapphires encircling the bezel and bracelet, with an additional 12 as hour markers. Inside, a floating movement is suspended on clear sapphire bridges, adding a near-mystical quality to its precision engineering. Of course, none of this would be possible without the technical infrastructure behind the design. In 1993, Chanel acquired G&F Chatelain, a watchmaking facility located in La Chaux-de-Fonds, placing artisanal expertise at the heart of the operation. Strategic investments in brands such as Bell & Ross, Romain Gauthier, F P Journe and MB&F have only deepened that horological credibility. As Chastaingt puts it, ceramic – once viewed as niche – has become precious. 'In the course of 25 years, Chanel has elevated ceramic to the level of a precious material,' he says. 'It is an inspiring material that offers a vast creative playing field.' The new J12 Bleu is both tribute and evolution – a continuation of a legacy and a testament to Chanel's instinct for defying convention. It's not only a watch. It's Chanel's past, present and future, rendered in sapphire blue.
Times
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Inside Coco Chanel's Riviera holiday hideaway
T he year is 1938 and Salvador Dalí is in full artistic flow, painting on the balcony of the west wing of Coco Chanel's villa La Pausa, where the shadow-eliminating north light is best. In the evening he would roll back the salon rugs and beckon guests to dance while the renowned pianist Misia Sert played, before retiring to the guesthouse with his wife, Gala. In total he completed 11 paintings at La Pausa, one time staying there for four months. 'The vibe was chilled, guests could do as they pleased,' says Yana Peel, Chanel's president of arts, culture and heritage. For the likes of Dalí, Jean Cocteau and Igor Stravinsky there were no schedules; Chanel herself rarely emerged until 1pm, and there was no dress code — the designer found comfort in stripy tops, wool trousers and cork-soled espadrilles. Meals were served buffet style (platters of pasta, French potatoes and roast beef), and staff appeared frequently to replenish champagne and pour fine wine. There were Easter parties, masked balls and tennis tournaments, views of a glittering Mediterranean sea under an enormous sky.
Globe and Mail
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
France made smoking sexy. Now it's banning the habit in public spaces
The country that made smoking look glamorous, sexy and cool is now going further than most in trying to stamp out the habit. As of July 1, France will ban smoking in nearly all public spaces, including parks, beaches, public gardens and bus stops. Violations carry a fine of as much as €135, or $212, and just about the only exceptions are France's iconic café terraces and electronic cigarettes. It's all part of a move by the country's Health Ministry to address second-hand smoke anywhere near children. 'Tobacco is poison: it kills, it costs money, it pollutes. And above all, it targets our young people,' Health Minister Catherine Vautrin said in a statement last month as she announced the new restrictions. She added: 'Our goal is clear: a generation without tobacco. And we have the means to achieve it.' Polls show the ban has widespread support, and the number of people who smoke in France has fallen to historic lows – less than 25 per cent of adults light up. Blowing smoke: Big Tobacco is getting a whole new generation hooked on nicotine But for some it's still hard to imagine France going smokeless after decades of romanticizing cigarettes in film, fashion and culture. The image of smokey Parisian cafés filled with stylish people chatting over cigarettes has been ingrained in our consciousness. And who can forget Brigitte Bardot or Catherine Deneuve lounging seductively in countless films, a cigarette dangling from their lips? Or fashion icon Coco Chanel, who reportedly smoked 50 cigarettes a day? 'The ban won't work,' said Giovanni Vannomi as he took a drag on a cigarette last week during a break from his job as a tour guide at the Louvre. 'If they try to enforce it, they are going to start another revolution here.' Over in the Tuileries Garden, Laila Alem sat on a patch of grass with three friends, each of them enjoying the warm spring evening and a newly lit cigarette. She too was dead set against the restriction. 'I understand if it's for the children and near schools. But here, there is a big space. I don't understand why the ban is everywhere, like all the parks and not only near the children's area,' Ms. Alem said, thrusting her cigarette forward to make a point. Sitting across from her, James Balde waved off her concerns and said the ban made sense and might even force him to stop smoking. 'It's a good idea,' he said. 'On July 1, I will quit smoking.' But he was not convinced that many French smokers will comply. 'If you come back on July 2 or July 10, or even next year, people will be smoking here. If you don't have a policeman or security, they won't stop.' Next to him, Catherine Guyot had a more cynical assessment of the motivation behind the ban. 'The government just needs money, that's why,' she said, referring to the fines. She also doubted that any of them would stop smoking. 'We all smoke a lot,' she said. Across from the garden, Anthony Fontaine was far more upbeat about the measure. 'I don't think it's a bad idea,' he said as he enjoyed a cigarette while sitting on a bench outside the Louvre. 'It's going to be complicated to make it effective, especially for the French. But other than that, it's pretty positive, just to keep parks clean from those who don't really dispose of their cigarettes where they should.' France isn't the only European country taking a tougher line on smoking. Spain is close to adopting regulations to ban both smoking and vaping from school playgrounds, university campuses, bus shelters, outdoor entertainment venues and terraces. The Italian city of Milan has extended its already strict outdoor ban to include streets and crowded public areas. And the British Parliament is expected to approve legislation soon that the government says will create the first smoke-free generation by making it illegal for anyone 15 or younger to ever buy cigarettes. Not surprisingly, the tobacco industry has pushed back. Cigarette makers argue sweeping prohibitions are ineffective and say it's not clear that smoking in parks or on beaches poses a major health risk to non-smokers. Smokers visiting France this summer won't be immune from the ban or the fine, and many may find the restrictions something of a shock. Margarita Pidrasa, who was visiting Paris from Santiago, last week, was incredulous when told that she and her husband, Alberto Labbe, would soon be unable to smoke in the square outside the Louvre. 'Where are the signs that say this?' she asked as she looked around the giant space. They both agreed with the government's desire to protect children, but felt tourists should be better informed about the penalty. Even if there were a 'No Smoking' sign around, Mr. Labbe said, he probably would still fire up an illicit smoke in the park or on the beach. 'No, I will keep smoking,' he said with a smile as he finished off a cigarette while standing under a shady tree. Then he dropped the butt in the dirt, ground it with his foot and headed off with his wife to rejoin their tour group.
