On November 19th, the 12th annual Champagne Festival "Noël à la Mode" kicked off at the event hall on the 6th floor of the main building of Isetan Shinjuku. It runs until the 24th.
The three keywords for this year's festival are "grapes," "vinification," and "aging." The "grapes" theme focuses on the fact that every high-quality champagne is made from a single grape, and also appeals to those who want to enjoy the flavors of each of the three varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. The "vinification" theme was chosen because we want visitors to enjoy the different grape harvest years, base wines used, and blend ratios that vary by producer. Finally, the "aging" theme is intended to showcase the Maison's treasured vintages, which are slowly crafted over time in underground cellars that take advantage of the chalky soil unique to the Champagne region, where all the necessary conditions of temperature, humidity, and darkness are met. During the event, the venue will be decorated with beautiful flowers by Nakamura Shungetsu, a master of the Soami school of flower arrangement and owner of Atelier SYUNKA, and music selected by Kikuchi Naruyoshi. This initiative was born from the desire to allow visitors enjoying tastings and shopping at the venue to enjoy the "pairing of flowers and music." Kikuchi, known as an avid champagne fan, regularly proposes pairings of music and alcohol at his own live performances. Music carefully selected with his unique aesthetic sensibility will be displayed on a board in the corner of the venue, so be sure to check it out when you visit. Furthermore, with 30 local producers attending, interpreters will be on hand at the venue, allowing everyone to enjoy conversations with the producers. There will also be a photo spot where you can take photos through glass designed to resemble champagne bubbles. At the photo spots, footage shot locally by Isetan's buyer in charge of the project is shown, allowing visitors to take a break and gain insight into each maison.
Among the wide selection of champagnes, some are from maisons making their Japan debut. One of them is "Cuvée Nacré" (7,200 yen) from Pascal Devillers, a husband-and-wife champagne maker. It is an elegant bottle made primarily from grapes harvested in 2009 from Grand Cru vineyards. Only 36 bottles will be available.
The first to be released in Japan is "Brut Premier Cru" (18,000 yen) by Michel Leyvy. This rare bottle was created specifically for "Full Course and Marriage," and only 60 will be available. Perrier-Jouët will also be releasing rare champagnes, such as the limited edition bottle "Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé 2005 Limited Edition" (gift boxed/53,000 yen), featuring a hummingbird design by Vik Muniz, an artist active in New York and Rio de Janeiro.
If you want to find your favorite bottle or enjoy a leisurely conversation with the producer, it might be worth visiting the store frequently.
