THE CHAMPAGNE CHICK

With the way the past year has been, we may as well start planning and shopping for Christmas now already. I’ve compiled a list of the most beautiful gifts and experiences that anyone obsessed with champagne would absolutely adore. Some are items I have and love, some are on my wish list, and then there are a few that I can only dream about.

FLUTES … especially beautiful ones will always have a place in my heart. I seldom use them nowadays, preferring my Riedel or Lehmann glasses, but I still can’t resist adding more and more flutes to my collection. They have not been entirely banished to the back of the cupboard, I use them when I have a lot of friends over, I let everyone choose their own and that way no one misplaces their drink as everyone has a different glass.

The ultimate flute collection has to undoubtedly be the Baccarat Bubble Box. It is one of each of their 6 most iconic flutes presented in Baccarat’s signature red box. This one is on the pricey side coming in at just under $1000 for the set. If you’re in the market for it, buy it here.

JEWELLERY … is often at the top of most people’s lists when it comes to Christmas shopping, and champagne-inspired jewellery is definitely going to tick all the boxes. There are so many styles and options available and there will be something for everyone and every budget. My personal favourites are pendants and rings.

This beautiful rose gold capsule pendant is available from Virginie Carpentier, and isn’t it sensational? It’s just under 1600 Euros and is available on their website here.

A ring that stole my heart the moment I first saw it, is this magnificent creation by Millennium Diamonds. A breathtaking 2.73cts GIA Certified diamond set in an 18K white gold champagne coupe glass setting with smaller diamonds around the outside inspired by rising champagne bubbles.

Another champagne-inspired beauty from Millennium Diamonds is this incredible 2.65cts GIA Certified Natural Fancy Brownish Yellow VS1 cushion cut diamond with 16 x 0.37cts round brilliant cut diamonds around the outside. What I love about this one is the champagne glass motif in the gold setting.

These are one-of-a-kind pieces, no one is going to own another. If you are blown away by these incredible rings, you can get in touch with Millennium Diamonds on sales@southafricandiamonds.co.za

Want to keep a special champagne memory alive, then a piece from Wearing Memories is just what you need. They are designed to be interchangeable so depending on your mood, outfit or maybe even a specific champagne event, you can change out the champagne capsule inside. I have both the pendant and the ring and wear them all the time. I also double up the pendant and often wear it as a bracelet.

These Wearing Memories pieces are super versatile and I just love them. Shop here.

Some more champagne cap jewellery are these eye-catching earrings from Maison Montier. Maison Montier have taken champagne cap jewellery to the next level with some added bling and accessories.

Keep an eye on their social media and website as designs and styles change regularly according to capsule availability. I’m pretty sure you can also request a custom pair from them. Send them an email if you have something specific in mind maisonmontier@gmail.com. For their in stock pieces, shop here.

RING FOR CHAMPAGNE … Omg I have had my eye on one of these Ring for Champagne buttons forever. They are made by House of Golightly and trust me any champagne lover would absolutely love one of these.

There is a ringing version as well as a silent version available on their website, although for the life of me I don’t know who wants a silent version 🙂 If it’s silent, how is Mr Champagne Chick going to know I need another glass of champagne?

For the ringing version, shop here. For the silent version, shop here. A word of warning, they are very popular and sell like hotcakes, so they might be out of stock at certain times, just keep checking back or send them a mail requesting to be added to a waiting list – lisa@houseofgolightly.com.

And as we’re heading into the Christmas season, they even have a mini Press for Champagne tree ornament. Shop here for it.

KEEP THE BUBBLY BUBBLY … If you regularly open multiple bottles of champagne for comparative tastings, or if you just feel like a glass or 2 but want to make sure your champagne stays optimally fresh, then you are definitely in the market for the latest release from Coravin; the Coravin Sparkling. It is the Rolls Royce of champagne preservers and will keep your champagne sparkling for up to 2 weeks.

It will be available from different distributors worldwide, so if you simply search in Google, your nearest supplier should pop up. In South Africa, you can get it directly from the importer, Great Domaines.

SABRE BABY … I absolutely love the theatrics of sabering a bottle of champagne. I have 3 sabres but my most prized one is my custom sabre from Eagle Blades and it’s manufactured right here in Cape Town.

It’s a spectacular piece, completely hand formed and crafted by knife-maker extraordinaire Johan from Eagle Blades. The handle on mine is from American Oak from a wine barrel. Each blade is completely customizable, you can choose a specific wood for your handle, you can have your logo laser engraved (and can even specify whether on the presentation side or reverse, which is such a clever option for left-handed people), and you can also request the presentation case to be in a specific wood.

Because Eagle Blades sabres are entirely hand-made they take about 6 weeks to manufacture, so you would need to hurry if you want to place an order in the hopes of getting it in time for Christmas. Trust me this will be the last sabre you will ever buy. Eagle Blades ship worldwide to most countries, except Australia where Customs and Border control classify them as weapons and imports by individuals are not permitted. To enquire, send an email to maker@eagleblades.co.za

KEEP THE CORK, SAVE THE MEMORY … If you’re like me and can’t bear to part with any champagne corks, the Champagne Cork Keeper is just what you need.

This particular one is from Champagne Cork Keeper and it’s available in different paint finishes in either A1 or A2 size. If you have loads of corks, you may need more than one, I have quite a stash, but only the very special ones go into it. In South Africa you can order directly from their website, however because of its weight, for international orders you would need to first drop them a mail for a shipping quote – info@champagnecorkkeeper.co.za

HAVE A SEAT … what’s not to love about champagne cork furniture. I have a muselet cork-topped table and a giant champagne cork stool and they are always a hit and a talking point when I have friends over. Again there are many, many stockists worldwide, so simply Google for your country or region.

XL Cork have a huge selection and they ship worldwide. Tables, bar stools, cork stools, ice buckets, doorstops and loads more and most of their products come in a range of colours. All the pricing and details on their website.

In South Africa, you will find a range of muselet cork-topped tables, stools and bar stools at The Hideaway. They are based in Cape Town and is one of my favourite places for gift shopping. If you can’t pop into their amazing retail space, you can also shop online. They have other fabulous champagne decor items too.

And for something completely different, meet Corky. Manufactured by Tonik in the USA, Corky is a new take on the champagne cork stool. It’s lightweight, easy to clean and UV resistant. The universally recognizable shape of the champagne cork has been given a fresh update, in 15 vivid colors that allow you to match the product to any space that is looking for genuinely off-beat, funky furniture. Send them an email to enquire – sales@tonikworld.com.

KEEP THE CHAMPAGNE COOL …Nobody likes warm champagne and if you’re drinking by the pool, on the beach or at a picnic, you need a stylish cooler bag. And they don’t come more stylish than these Bevefresco Chiller Bags.

They’re available with black trim or white trim, and I have test driven my one by the pool. It works like a charm and it’s stylish to boot. They are $36 each and that is so affordable, you can buy one of each. They’re perfect as a stocking filler. Shop for them here.

CHAMPAGNE SLOGANS GALORE … I have said it before and I’m going to say it again, you are not going to find a more comprehensive selection of champagne slogan merch anywhere else than at Bubbles Make Me Happy.

When I say everything, I literally mean everything. I can’t possibly show you all they stock, but apart from the usual clothing like sweaters, tee’s, hoodies, etc. they also stock accessory pouches, backpacks, aprons, towels, tea towels, throw pillows, weekender bags, phone cases, and more and more and more … you get the idea.

You are going to be completely spoilt for choice and besides the huge selection, most of their items come in a number of different colours, making your decisions even harder. Shop here for all the champagne fabulousness.

THE ART OF GIVING ART … Art has to speak to you, and nothing speaks louder than these incredible large format champagne bottle paintings by Cape Town Artist Kurt Pio.

Kurt usually has some of these already painted and ready to go and you can have a look at his website, or send him an email if you have something specific you want for a custom commission – info@kurtpio.co.za.

In the U.S. Kurt is represented by Gallery Orange in New Orleans and you can check with them direct to see which of his pieces they have in stock – info@gallery-orange.com.

Irish artist Anna McKeown does a different take on large format champagne bottles and I absolutely love them. And her paintings are available as prints as well.

Have a look at her website or send her an email if you want to commission something specific – info@annamckeowncollection.com.

NEON … Something you might not usually consider as a gift for someone who loves champagne is a neon sign. However, it can be such a personal gift as you can choose their favourite champagne quote and have it made as a neon sign. It immediately adds such a fun element to any space and with a neon sign you don’t need anything else on your wall.

There are many, many neon sign makers, so you simply need to Google to find one in your region and country. I have a small champagne room with a rustic brick wall and didn’t want to cover the wall with a lot of items, so had a But First Champagne neon sign made. I had it manufactured by Happinest Neon in Cape Town and I can highly recommend them.

They have a really great website where you can custom build your sign before placing an order. You enter your wording, select a font, select a size and voila, up comes your quote. I added the optional extra of including a remote control to switch my sign on and off and also included a dimmer. And I also opted for installation by them. Neon signs are fragile and you can easily drop it or make a mistake with installation. It is definitely a worthwhile extra. If you need more info, pop them a mail – info@happinest.co.za.

GIFT AN EXPERIENCE IN CHAMPAGNE … if you’re more for gifting an experience, it really doesn’t get much better than an experience in Champagne itself. I’ve got 3 experiences that will be the cherry on top of any trip to Champagne.

My Vintage Tour Company offer tours around the region in one of 2 Renault Estafette’s from the 1980’s. They have a number of tour options and itineraries and are also quite flexible and will accommodate you however they can. I did the Sunset Champagne Tour on my last trip to Champagne, and the highlight was sabering a bottle in the middle of the vineyards overlooking the village of Sacy.

Hot Air Balloon over Champagne … this is not something I have done yet, but it’s definitely going on my wish list. AERFUN balloons offer Champagne Hot Air Balloon flights over Reims/Epernay. You will meet at Reims-Prunay Airport for transfer to the take-off site followed by a pre-flight briefing and then a 1-hour flight over the vineyards. The cost is around 240 Euro per person and includes a glass of champagne (I’m pretty sure one can pay more and request a bottle, as 1 glass is not going to be nearly enough). You’ll receive a flight certificate and return transfer and the rate includes all insurances and taxes as well as cancellation insurance. Book here.

Barge Around Champagne … A trip to Champagne is in itself an incredible experience, but if you want to spoil the champagne lover in your life, cruising the rivers and canals of the region is just the way to go.

Serenity Barge is one option to consider. What I find most appealing is the flexibility of the different cruise options they offer. Even if you’re not a boating person, there will be an option that will entice you.

Serenity Barge can accommodate up to 6 guests in 3 double cabins. You can book the entire barge, or just a cabin if you’re a couple or traveling solo.

Cruises can be anything from 5/6 nights or bespoke if you’re booking the entire barge. You can also book a Mini Cruise of 1-2 nights to add on to an existing trip to Champagne, or if you’re really strapped for time, a Day Cruise.

If you can’t find an itinerary that suits you, send them an email – serenitybarge@gmail.com – they are super flexible and will accommodate you if they can.

The best part about cruising with Serenity Barge is that for the duration of your cruise, absolutely everything is taken care of by them. There is literally nothing you have to worry about. Simply sit back, relax, sip champagne (in the hot tub if you like) and admire the scenery.

If you’re in a large group of more than 6, they will even organize a second barge for you to cruise in tandem. All their itineraries include visits to Champagne House, Growers, beautiful Chateau’s as well as historical sites.

For the different cruise options and offers available, as well as online bookings, have a look at their website.

PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA … when all else fails, there’s always Paris, and you just simply can’t go wrong with a trip to Paris. But don’t just stay anywhere, stay in an entirely champagne-themed hotel. And that’s what you will find at Hotel Les Bulles de Paris in the Latin Quarter in the 5th.

All the rooms are decorated around a specific Champagne House or champagne theme. I gifted myself a stay at Les Bulles de Paris on my last trip to Champagne and Paris and stayed in the Laurent-Perrier room. There are so many champagne details in their rooms, silver muselet side tables, champagne embroidered scatters on the beds, champagne cork pedestals as bathroom basins and a mini bar filled with Piccolo’s of champagne, mine with Laurent-Perrier.

They have a gorgeous champagne bar, very dramatic in shades of black and gold, beautifully decorated and furnished. The perfect spot to end a day of sight-seeing for a few glasses of champagne before dinner.

They are very popular and fill up fast, so plan well in advance if this is where you want to stay when in Paris. Book directly through their website.

AND THAT’S IT … I’m pretty sure there is going to be something on this list that will make any champagne lover very happy. I know I would be over the moon with any of these. However, if you’re still unsure, just buy them a few bottles of their favourite champagne, it will always do the trick. Happy shopping!

Pop, Fizz, Clink
The Champagne Chick
xo