Four Festive Champagne Experiences That Need To Be On Your Radar

Photo Credit: Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

‘Tis the season for celebration, and what better way to celebrate than with the ultimate celebratory libation, champagne? These four hotels are offering incredible champagne experiences to kick off the new year. Here’s where you should be popping the fizz in style!

Champagne Bollinger + Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

Champagne Bollinger is partnering with the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel and its famed restaurant, THEBlvd, on several festive dining experiences for a memorable holiday season. Guests will have the opportunity to toast with their loved ones while indulging in an array of delicious, shareable bites – ranging from seafood towers to crème brûlée flights and more. For the remainder of December, the hotel will feature a Bollinger Brûlée Bar, weekend Bolly Brunch, California Cult Classic Champagne Menu, and a special James Bond-themed New Year’s Eve extravaganza. Our recommendation: try the rhubarb & raspberry brûlée with the Bollinger Rosé NV — it’s a perfect pairing. Brunchwise, you can’t go wrong with oysters and Osetra caviar. But our favorite is the James Bond New Year’s Eve Extravaganza. This includes a four-course set menu, amuse bouche, Bollinger toast + Casino Royale theme party experience with live music, and a blackjack table — all in the name of 007.

Champagne sabering lessons at Auberge du Soleil

Photo Credit: Rachel Weil

For the most memorable celebratory experience to ring in the New Year, guests at Auberge du Soleil can ‘saber the moment’ and book a private champagne sabering lesson to learn how to properly saber a bottle of champagne, using the blade of a knife to neatly slice off the top. As a memento from the experience, guests at this upscale Napa Valley retreat will also receive their own personalized olive wood champagne saber, engraved with the date of their choosing.

Veuve Clicquot’s La Grande Dame comes to Montage Big Sky

Photo Credit: Jordan Siemens

This winter, Montage Big Sky, the luxury alpine resort set amidst the snowy peaks of Montana, and the revered Champagne maison, Veuve Clicquot, have collaborated in celebration of the launch of La Grande Dame 2015 and in honor of Veuve Clicquot’s 250th anniversary. La Grande Après at Backcast serves up the ultimate après experience, pairing winter and mountain culinary favorites such as traditional caviar service, pumpkin fondue and Montana bison chili, with the beautiful bubbles of La Grande Dame, including the signature ‘Paradise: 1979’ – featuring Hennessy Paradis Cognac and 2008 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin ‘La Grande Dame’ Champagne, also served table-side with a personalized tasting of the 130-year old cognac. Guests will also be able to enjoy a one-of-a-kind Veuve Clicquot wine flight featuring Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, Veuve Clicquot Rosé, 2012 La Grande Dame, and 2015 La Grande Dame. In addition to the indoor après experience, La Grande Après at Backcast will extend outdoors and invite guests and locals into one of the cozy huts overlooking the resort’s ice skating rink, where they’ll will be able to enjoy the La Grande Après experience while taking in the views of the Spanish Peaks Mountain range.

Belmond debuts Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, in Champagne with Ruinart

Photo Credit: Belmond

In May 2023, Belmond will debut the three-cabin Coquelicot, A Belmond Boat, Champagne – the newest luxury river barge in the brand’s Les Bateaux collection. Coquelicot will take guests on a cinematic journey of Champagne in partnership with Maison Ruinart to offer exclusive access to the first established House of Champagne. Activities will include with a private tasting lunch by Chef In Residence Valérie Radou onboard the river – the first time Maison Ruinart’s Chef will be cooking a private ‘four hands’ lunch outside of Maison Ruinart – and guided tours of the historic Taissy vineyard to discover the brand’s latest sustainability initiatives.