Food & Eateries: Bin 26’s New Year’s Eve champagne choices

Chris Reckord

Out with the old and in with the new! 2010 is going to be a wrap and it’ll soon be time to ring in the New Year. And what better way to do it in style than with a premium bottle of champagne?

Known as the wine of celebration, it's been used for decades as a New Year’s Eve tradition. So, if you’re playing host during the celebrations this year, you’ll want to have your guests sipping on the absolute best. And who else to introduce you to the absolute best other than renowned wine expert, Chris Reckord.

Reckord, who's also one of the owners of plush wine bar Bin 26, tells Kingstonian Lifestyle readers exclusively which champagnes are the ones to pop as the clock counts down. And he promises that these exquisite white wine choices will have everyone at your soiree thinking you’re a wine connoisseur as they party the night away.

Reckord's champagne choices are:

Drappier Carte Blanche Brut
Moët and Chandon Impérial

Ruinart

(See more of Chris Reckord's recommendations for New Year's Eve champagnes and his sparkling wine alternatives by clicking Read More)

To start off the choices, Reckord chose Drappier Carte Blanche Brut, a fine champagne with the inviting aroma of fresh apples. Its price falls in the $9,000 - $10,000 region.

The Carte Blanche cuve's blend comes exclusively from the first pressing, which gives it its elegance and lightness. This one is also good if you're a collector, as it has the capacity to mature well.

Second, Reckord chose everyone's favourite - Moët and Chandon Impérial. It's the most popular champagne in the world, and we’re all familiar with that famous Sean Paul dancehall hit where he deejays “bust another ‘bokkle’ of Mo’”.

Moët and Chandon produces the most champagnes in the world as it is the biggest champagne house in the exclusive French, champagne-making region. And, due to their fantastic marketing, they have global reach and enjoy popularity amongst various social scenes. A bottle will retail in the $9,000 - $10,000 range.

Though the previous two choices are sure to be winners at your party, the most exclusive is yet to come. Reckord says if budget is no object, you can look at a bottle of Ruinart, which also happens to be his favourite. It’s in the $11,000 - $12,000 region.

Reckord's also selected three sparkling wines to ring the new year in with if you're on a budget. He assures that it's just as good as champagne and unless your guests are wine experts, they probably won't even know the difference.


"You’ll see the [manufacturers] put ‘méthode champenoise’ on the bottle, which means that this product was made in the exact way that they make it in Champagne, France."

The term literally translates as ‘method traditional', which means that it's exactly the same formula as champagne, except that it cannot officially be called 'champagne' because, technically, it’s illegal due to European laws. They dictate that the formula can only be produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France, the location from which the carbonated beverage takes its name.


Reckord explains, "They are alternative choices. So, on a budget, you can go with them. They taste just as good and you’ll have just as much fun."

Reckord's sparkling wine choices:

Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut
Bele Casel Prosecco

Schramberg Blanc de Blancs

Reckord recommends the host to consider a Cava, which is a sparkling wine from Spain. The one he's selected is Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut.They might also consider a Prosecco, which is a sparkling wine from Italy. He's selected one from Bele Casel. "These are usually, believe it or not, only 20 to 30 per cent of the price of a champagne, which will generally run you anywhere from $7,000 up," he said.

The third choice is Schramsberg, one of the most popular sparkling wines made in the United States. Made from the first winery established in Napa Valley, the Californian wine carries a distinct taste of citrus, ripe Anjou pear and dried pineapple.
Reckord explained, "It’s not champagne, and so sometimes you’ll actually see ‘American champagne’ or ‘California champagne’ written on the bottle." But he's keen on pointing out that though it's not officially champagne, it's considered one of the best sparkling wines out there that can give champagne a run for its money. 











Contact info for Bin 26 Wine Bar:

Devon House
26 Hope Road
Kingston 10
(876) 908-1322
facebook.com/Bin26WineBar