Champagne exhibition "49 million..." in Vilnius
"The second edition of the exhibition "49 million ..." has become the largest exhibition of champagne in Lithuania
The largest exhibition of champagne "49 million ..." in Lithuania took place in Vilnius from 6th until 8th of October. Champagne was presented by the 14 importers and visitors tasted more than 130 kinds of champagne from 40 champagne houses. This is much more than at exhibition last year. This year the exhibition was visited by around 350 people. Particular interest in this exhibition was showed by restaurant and bar owners and employees.
For the second time this exhibition was organized by the educational company “Vynas ir daugai” ("Wine & Friends") and glass company "Riedel”, representative of Lithuania Gourmet Pro.
Several champagne houses representatives have visited and worked in the exhibition. Honorable guest Clovis Taittinger was representing “Taittinger” champagne house. “Pommery” was represented by Julien Lonneux, sales project manager. Nicolas Rhine, grape grower and "“Henriet Bazin” champagne house owner participated already for the second time in the exhibition "49 million ...".
On October 6th the masterclass was held of 1996 year of the prestige cuvee champagne (Dom Perignon, Louis Roederer, Taittinger, Philipponnat, Pol Roger, Krug), which was organized by the London company operating „Clos&Cru”. The masterclass was conducted by Martynas Žemavičius. This masterclass was the most popular, so instead of the planned 20 places had to be increased up to 40.
On October 7th the dinner “What's the best friend of champagne?” at the culinary studio “Čiop čiop” was hosted. Four chefs were cooking four dishes and each dish was offered two different styles of champagne.
Within a couple of months it has been arranged following menu:
Welcome champagne
Guy Charlemagne Brut Nature (Magazin LT)
The dinner pairings:
1. Franck Bonville Extra Brut (Krabas & Co)Shrimp tempura, soy (restaurant „Rise“)
2. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label (Prike)Shrimp tempura, soy (restaurant „Rise“)
3. Pommery Brut Royal (magnum) (AMKA)
Mackerel with berries in boletus broth sauce, leaven bread sauce and herb and garlic cream (Gastronomic and Management Institute "Gasman", student Tadas Eidukevičius)
4. G.H. MUMM Le Rose (Pernod Ricard Lietuva)
Mackerel with berries in boletus broth sauce, leaven bread sauce and herb and garlic cream (Gastronomic and Management Institute "Gasman", student Tadas Eidukevičius)
5. Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut (Tridens)
Potatoes, eggs, duck fat, salmon roe, sabayon sauce (Chef Dalius Aleksiejevas culinary studio “Čiop Čiop”, “Trinity”)
6. Taittinger Les Folies de la Marquetterie Brut (Globus Distributors)
Potatoes, eggs, duck fat, salmon roe, sabayon sauce (Chef Dalius Aleksiejevas culinary studio “Čiop Čiop”, “Trinity”)
7. Laurent-Perrier Millesime Brut 2006 (Bennet Distributors)
Foie gras, dark chocolate, caramelized onions (Chef Ovidijus Orenta)
8. Vazart-Coquart Special Foie Gras Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Sec (Šampanė)
Foie gras, dark chocolate, caramelized onions (Chef Ovidijus Orenta)
Almost 60 dinner guests have selected TOP3 pairings:
1. Pommery Brut Royal (magnum) (AMKA)
Mackerel with berries in boletus broth sauce, leaven bread sauce and herb and garlic cream.
2. Taittinger Les Folies de la Marquetterie Brut (Globus Distributors)
Potatoes, eggs, duck fat, salmon roe, sabayon sauce.
3. Vazart-Coquart Special Foie Gras Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Sec (Šampanė)
Foie gras, dark chocolate, caramelized onions.
On October 8th in the morning the exhibition "49 million ..." took place at the Holiday Inn conference center, where visitors had the opportunity to get acquainted with the 14 champagne imported to Lithuania.
The importers have presented these champagne houses: AMKA (Pommery, Heidsieck & Co, Janisson Baradon); Bennet Distributors (Laurent-Perrier, Forget-Brimont, Armand de Brignac Brut Gold); Clos&Cru (Henriet Bazin); Globus Distributors (Taittinger, Louis de Sacy, Jeeper); Krabas & Co (Palmer&Co, Franc Bonville, Boizel); Liviko (Deutz); Mineraliniai vandenys (Moët&Chandon, Moutard); Pernod Ricard Lietuva (G.H.MUMM, Perrier Jouet); Prike (Ruinart, Veuve Clicquot, Krug); Vyno konjako parduotuvė (Henri Giraud, Alexandre Penet), Magazin Lt (Guy Charlemagne); Šampanė (Fleury, De Sousa, J. De Telmont, Trudon, Vazart Coquart, Laherte Freres), Wine&Smile (Vollereaux), Tridens (Piper-Heidsieck).
Visitors participated in elections for champagne Top 5. The winners were:
- Henriet Bazin 1er Cru Cuvée Marie-Amelie 2010 (260 votes, Šampanė)
- Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut 2004 (240votes, Prike)
- Henriet Bazin Grand Cru 2008 (220 votes, Šampanė)
- Piper-Heidsieck Vintage Brut 2008 (180 votes, Tridens)
- Ruinart Brut (160 votes, Prike)
- Guy Charlemagne Cuvée Mesnillesime Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2005 (156 votes, Magazin LT)
- Moutard Blanc de Blanc Brut 1996 (156 votes, Mineraliniai vandenys)
- Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut (142 votes, Tridens)
- Deutz Blanc de Blancs 2009 (136 votes, Liviko)
- Pommery Cuvée Louise 2002 (124 votes, AMKA)
The lecture "Biodynamic Champagne" was conducted by wine journalist and writer certified sommelier Caroline Henry, who wrote the book „Terroir Champagne: the Luxury of Sustainable, Organic and Biodynamic Cuvees“. She came to Vilnius, to the exhibition “49 mln...” upon the invitation by organizers.
Special thanks from visitors of lectures were given to Gintautas Jašinskas, wine expert, who conducted tasting of vintage champagne from “Moutard” champagne house. Listeners were not leaving after tasting. They stayed for the discussions about characteristics of 1971, 1975, 1993 and even more seven vintage champagnes.
25 years ago champagne “Moёt & Chandon” was officially imported to Lithuania. On this occasion, Champagne days organized tasting several vintages (1988, 1998, 2008 white and rose).
2017 champagne exhibition "49 million...” will take place on the 13-14th October dedicated to Champagne and Franciacorta.