The name's Bond, James Bond

Back on the road to Epernay, where we saw a bear 🐻 lying just outside the forest (but that's another story)

This was a spectacular day! Probably the BEST Champagne House tasting and tour, well worth the mucho 💰!!
2 hours at Champagne Bollinger blew me away. This tour also takes you outside to a vineyard where one of 2 small plots still exist in the whole of France where the original vines are still in place (and were not affected by the phylloxera disease that destroyed all the french vineyards in the early 20th century) and where the original way of growing Grapes with thick wooden stakes are used for a very special vintage Champagne .... only making 2000 bottles a year, IF the harvest is good. Can you say ka-ching? 💸

This is the only house in the whole of France that still uses a Cooper to repair their 30 year old French oak barrels! Watched him work and learnt he studied 2 years for this! It's the original family estate and still family owned and run.

But wait, there's more...

Did you know that 40 years ago, a gentleman's agreement 🤝 was made between the Bollinger family and a film producer which is honored to this day still. EVERY single 007 movie will ALWAYS only use Bollinger champagne. There are at least 25 James Bond movies, so I spent my last euros on a special 25 commemoration bottle 😊 I mean, if I can't get Daniel Craig, this will have to do 😉 besides, who needs shoes anyway?

And the day just got better.....I booked a Sabrage experience for both Karl and I. Nina, who was actually South African and doing her Masters in France, taught us. Karl, being the overachiever and just frigging brilliant at everything he does, got it right the first time. 🗡. Let's just say, I'm posting the edited version of the LONG video of me eventually getting it right and a glass splinter in my hand
as a reward!

Now to find a Sabre which he insists on buying and trying to get through customs! 🤦‍♀️Read more