{"title":"Sparkling Wines","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/adventures#made-to-measure\"\u003eDesign your own adventure for 4 to 6 friends\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"dentelle","title":"Domaine de la Dentelle Bugey Cerdon nv","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eBetween Jura and Savoie, the tiny appellation of Bugey Cerdon — with fewer than 500 acres planted to vine — is the base of operations for Domaine de la Dentelle. Marcel Perinet began in the restaurant industry and rose to serve as director of 3–Michelin-starred Georges Blanc in Vonnas. After 41 years of working for Blanc, Perinet inherited just over a hectare of land in Cerdon du Bugey and decided it was time to change his focus.\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eNow expanded to six hectares, only one style of wine is produced: \u003cb\u003eMéthode Ancestrale Rosé Demi-Sec.\u003c\/b\u003e Perinet employed his deep experience, strong work ethic, and exacting standards to create a slightly different version of this classic sparkling rosé, one that highlights acidity and balance over sweetness. Most producers in Cerdon use predominately Gamay grapes and high sulfur, resulting in extreme sweetness. Since his first vintage in 2013, Perinet has worked organically. The blend, 80% of 100-year-old Poulsard and 20% of 40-year-old Gamay, is vinified and bottled without the addition of sulfur. Instead, Perinet has mastered controlling the temperature during fermentation and winemaking, allowing him to produce one of the purest examples of Cerdon du Bugey that we have ever tasted. Farming and vinification practices: Sustainable.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67494059180250,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/b8e4d3_45835f7ba40c43269cb2c9f9cbdf7fda_mv2.jpg?v=1793703080"},{"product_id":"geoffroy-375ml","title":"Geoffroy Rose de Saignee nv 375ml","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eFrom the 2019 vintage and disgorged in September 2024 with a dosage of four grams per liter, the latest rendition of Geoffroy’s NV Rosé de Saignée Cumières Premier Cru—as always—derives exclusively from Cumières. The only stage at which this cuvée encounters oak is during its 70 to 80 hours of maceration in open vats. Thereafter, it matures in enameled vats with very little in the way of solids, and this provides a point of distinction from many other saignée-style rosés in Champagne. It leaps from the glass with an expressive bouquet of grapefruit zest, blood orange and redcurrant mingling with nuances of red flowers and clove. On the palate, it is full-bodied, rich and broad-shouldered—intense and textural—with ripe yet vibrant acidity, culminating in a long, perfumed finish, where subtly bitter phenolics assert themselves. This is not a wine suited for casual aperitifs; rather, it is best savored alongside hearty fare such as red meats or tuna tartare, where its depth can be fully appreciated.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e     \u003c\/span\u003eGeoffroy, formerly known as René Geoffroy before relocating in 2008 to Aÿ, where it now occupies the grand buildings of the village's former cooperative at the heart of the village, is led by Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, who began his winemaking journey alongside his father, René, during the 1987 harvest. In 2024, after gaining experience in Burgundy and other wine regions abroad, Jean-Baptiste’s daughter, Sacha Geoffroy, returned to the family estate. She joined her father with a well-placed emphasis—quite rightly—on viticulture.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e     \u003c\/span\u003eThe estate’s holdings span 14.5 hectares, with the majority (90%) located in Cumières, where steep, south-facing slopes—typically rich in clay—lend the wines an inherently ripe but chalky style. The remainder of the vines lies in nearby Damery and Hautvillers.\u003cbr\u003eFor over three decades, Geoffroy has managed its vineyards without herbicides, favoring mechanical cultivation and producing its own compost. Since 2018, a biodynamic approach has been adopted across approximately five hectares. During harvest, local pickers—paid by the hour—place an emphasis on sorting in the vineyards.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e     \u003c\/span\u003eJean-Baptiste employs two traditional Coquard presses, ensuring fruit is pressed within an hour of picking. The estate produces around 100,000 bottles annually, relying exclusively on estate-grown fruit, with no purchased grapes or must. Fermentation is carried out with native yeasts, and vinification takes place in both enameled vats (ranging from 30 to 50 hectoliters) and wooden vessels—primarily 600-liter demi-muids, newly sourced from Tonnellerie Radoux and Tonnellerie de Champagne and reused over extended periods. Secondhand 228- and 350-liter barrels from Burgundy, along with Stockinger casks, enter into the equation too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e     \u003c\/span\u003eÉlevage typically lasts for 11 months on the lees, although duration varies by cuvée, as illustrated in the tasting notes. A perpetual reserve, initiated in 1970, is employed for the non-vintage Expression cuvée. While malolactic fermentation is generally not encouraged, it occasionally occurs either partially or entirely, as seen in certain 2018 and 2020 wines. Sulfite usage is minimal, with small additions post-pressing and after fermentation—amounting to approximately 10 milligrams per liter of free sulfites. The wines undergo substantial aging sur lattes. These are typically broad-shouldered, vinous wines, with rich flavor profiles underpinned by incisive acidity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67494059311322,"sku":null,"price":48.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/rose-de-saignee-1er-cru-brut-champagne-geoffroy-3.png?v=1793703081"},{"product_id":"jacky-blot-domaine-de-la-taille-loups","title":"Jacky Blot Domaine de la Taille Loups Montslouis Triple Zero nv","description":"\u003cp\u003eMontslouis Triple Zero nv\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67494059507930,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/triple-zero-domaine-de-la-taille-aux-loups-jacky-blot-7.png?v=1793703082"},{"product_id":"marie-demets","title":"Marie Demets nv","description":"","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67494059999450,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/Singularite-500x1778.png?v=1793703086"},{"product_id":"vilmart","title":"Vilmart Grand Cellier D'Or Oenotheque 2014","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"line-height: normal;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eLate release from Vilmart. Best vintage of the decade. Special here.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67494063407322,"sku":null,"price":115.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/grand-cellier-1er-cru-brut-champagne-vilmart-cie.jpg?v=1793703090"},{"product_id":"billecart-salmon-le-reserve-nv","title":"Billecart-Salmon Le Reserve nv","description":"\u003cp\u003eBillecart-Salmon Le Reserve nv\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67498233266394,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/le-reserve-17288974501158653472.png?v=1793703084"},{"product_id":"billecart-salmon-red-le-reserve-nv","title":"Billecart-Salmon RED Le Reserve nv","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eThis is the second-ever release of BILLECART-SALMON RED \"Le Réserve,\" created to celebrate RED's 20th anniversary in the fight against AIDS in Africa. Le Réserve has become my favorite perpetual cellar blend utilizing a whopping 70% of reserve wines.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eFounded by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2006, RED has partnered with iconic brands such as Nike, Apple, Beats by Dre, Armani, and Gap to raise more than $800 million for the Global Fund in the fight against AIDS. Billecart-Salmon first joined the movement in 2016 with a special bottling to mark ten years of impact, and Bono personally reached out again to ask the House to help celebrate twenty years. Billecart-Salmon was honored to oblige.\u003cb\u003e For every bottle sold, $5.00 goes directly to the fund.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eCrafted from Billecart-Salmon's signature Le Réserve cuvée, this release is built on a 2021 base and blends sixteen different vintages dating back to 2006: 28% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and 37% Pinot Meunier. Grapes are sourced from over 40 crus across 300 hectares within roughly 20 kilometers of Épernay, drawing on Montagne de Reims for Pinot Noir, Vallée de la Marne for Meunier, and Côte des Blancs, Vitryat, and Sézannais for Chardonnay. Vinification is 95% stainless steel and 5% oak, including 400 casks averaging over fifteen years old and twenty-six large oak barrels, all fermented at the low temperatures that have long defined the House's style. Chief winemaker Florent Nys and the tasting committee guide the blend toward the finesse, elegance, and balance Billecart-Salmon is known for.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67498237493466,"sku":null,"price":79.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/BLT150b.jpg?v=1793703087"},{"product_id":"billecart-salmon-le-sous-bois-nv","title":"Billecart-Salmon Le Sous Bois nv","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLe Sous Bois\u003c\/b\u003e is 100% barrel fermented. Each release is composed of specific plots and large amounts of reserve wines. Perfect with cheese. Powerful but preserves the intricacies and precision of the Billecart style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67498237984986,"sku":null,"price":85.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/le-sous-bois-17288986881766446261.jpg?v=1793703089"},{"product_id":"billecart-salmon-250th-anniversary-vintage-2018","title":"Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Vintage 2018","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e2018 Anniversary Cuvée Only Released in US To Commemorate America’s 250\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Anniversary \u0026amp; Billecart-Salmon’s 200th Harvest 100% Grand Cru.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eA profound wine of discovery. A unicorn in the making. Ties between France and America run deep. At age 19, Marquis de Lafayette traveled to the American colonies to offer his services to General George Washington. He became an important military commander and confident to Washington. Of course, the Statue of Liberty marks the high point of Franco-American camaraderie, an enduring reminder of the permanence of our democratic traditions. A wine to hand down to the next generation. 2018 is a stellar vintage and this extremely limited cuvée vibrates with precise lemon curd an yuzu notes strung along a gentle acid spine. Perfectly balanced.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67498239852762,"sku":null,"price":125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/BLT210b.jpg?v=1793703092"},{"product_id":"dehours-grand-reserve-nv","title":"Dehours Grand Reserve nv","description":"\u003cp\u003eDehours Grand Reserve nv\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67503585263834,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/5b5d7b_72fd96ff76174277a0d16075e1164d60_mv2.png?v=1793703093"},{"product_id":"dehours-maisoncelle-nv","title":"Dehours Maisoncelle nv","description":"\u003cp\u003eDehours Maisoncelle nv\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67503585722586,"sku":null,"price":108.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/maisoncelle-champagne-dehours-563x1024.webp?v=1793703094"},{"product_id":"geoffroy-rose-de-saignee-nv","title":"Geoffroy Rose de Saignee nv","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003eFrom the 2019 vintage and disgorged in September 2024 with a dosage of four grams per liter, the latest rendition of Geoffroy’s NV Rosé de Saignée Cumières Premier Cru—as always—derives exclusively from Cumières. The only stage at which this cuvée encounters oak is during its 70 to 80 hours of maceration in open vats. Thereafter, it matures in enameled vats with very little in the way of solids, and this provides a point of distinction from many other saignée-style rosés in Champagne. It leaps from the glass with an expressive bouquet of grapefruit zest, blood orange and redcurrant mingling with nuances of red flowers and clove. On the palate, it is full-bodied, rich and broad-shouldered—intense and textural—with ripe yet vibrant acidity, culminating in a long, perfumed finish, where subtly bitter phenolics assert themselves. This is not a wine suited for casual aperitifs; rather, it is best savored alongside hearty fare such as red meats or tuna tartare, where its depth can be fully appreciated.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e     \u003c\/span\u003eGeoffroy, formerly known as René Geoffroy before relocating in 2008 to Aÿ, where it now occupies the grand buildings of the village's former cooperative at the heart of the village, is led by Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, who began his winemaking journey alongside his father, René, during the 1987 harvest. In 2024, after gaining experience in Burgundy and other wine regions abroad, Jean-Baptiste’s daughter, Sacha Geoffroy, returned to the family estate. She joined her father with a well-placed emphasis—quite rightly—on viticulture.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e     \u003c\/span\u003eThe estate’s holdings span 14.5 hectares, with the majority (90%) located in Cumières, where steep, south-facing slopes—typically rich in clay—lend the wines an inherently ripe but chalky style. The remainder of the vines lies in nearby Damery and Hautvillers.\u003cbr\u003eFor over three decades, Geoffroy has managed its vineyards without herbicides, favoring mechanical cultivation and producing its own compost. Since 2018, a biodynamic approach has been adopted across approximately five hectares. During harvest, local pickers—paid by the hour—place an emphasis on sorting in the vineyards.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e     \u003c\/span\u003eJean-Baptiste employs two traditional Coquard presses, ensuring fruit is pressed within an hour of picking. The estate produces around 100,000 bottles annually, relying exclusively on estate-grown fruit, with no purchased grapes or must. Fermentation is carried out with native yeasts, and vinification takes place in both enameled vats (ranging from 30 to 50 hectoliters) and wooden vessels—primarily 600-liter demi-muids, newly sourced from Tonnellerie Radoux and Tonnellerie de Champagne and reused over extended periods. Secondhand 228- and 350-liter barrels from Burgundy, along with Stockinger casks, enter into the equation too.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e     \u003c\/span\u003eÉlevage typically lasts for 11 months on the lees, although duration varies by cuvée, as illustrated in the tasting notes. A perpetual reserve, initiated in 1970, is employed for the non-vintage Expression cuvée. While malolactic fermentation is generally not encouraged, it occasionally occurs either partially or entirely, as seen in certain 2018 and 2020 wines. Sulfite usage is minimal, with small additions post-pressing and after fermentation—amounting to approximately 10 milligrams per liter of free sulfites. The wines undergo substantial aging sur lattes. These are typically broad-shouldered, vinous wines, with rich flavor profiles underpinned by incisive acidity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67503592767706,"sku":null,"price":65.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/rose-de-saignee-1er-cru-brut-champagne-geoffroy-3_7cb94355-2abe-4f29-99b2-836c383c3bc5.png?v=1793703096"},{"product_id":"la-grande-dame-back-vintage-late-release-1990-jeroboam-3-0l","title":"La Grande Dame Back Vintage Late Release 1990 Jeroboam 3.0L","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom a group of 50 jeroboams released worldwide from a 2021 disgorgement. Direct from LVMH Private Client. OWC.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First The Wine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67503731015898,"sku":null,"price":3200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0721\/1365\/1930\/files\/champagne_veuve_clicquot_la_grande_dame_1990_magnum_bottle.png?v=1793703092"}],"url":"https:\/\/firstthewine.com\/collections\/sparkling-wines.oembed","provider":"First The Wine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}