Latest news with #Taittinger
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Countryfile star reveals UK's best hidden gems from stunning vineyards that beat France to the pretty secret beaches
MATT Baker has unearthed undiscovered gems on his journey around the British Isles. For his new TV series, Matt Baker's British Isles, the Countryfile star finds beautiful beaches on the Northern Irish coastline and reveals he's found tasty sparkling wine at a Champagne-worthy vineyard in Kent. 6 6 On his journey across the UK to see what makes the country tick, Matt heads to the Domaine Evremond vineyard. The Taittinger family, who own the vineyard, have teamed up with one of the world's most prestigious champagne houses to realise a dream of making the first true Anglo-French sparkling wine - and it worked. When Sun Travel asked Matt whether it tasted similar to Champagne he responded: "It's the same. The only reason you can't call it Champagne is because it's not grown in the Champagne region. "It's so good, I'd go as far as saying it was the most beautiful sparkling wine that I've ever tasted. "It has its roots, literally, in Britain, but it's got that taste that is so familiar with high-end sparkling wine, and it's grown right here in Kent." The reason Kent is renowned for its English vineyards is the climate and soil, which are well-suited for growing grapes that produce high-quality wine. Matt explained that Domaine Evremond has all the same qualities as vineyards in the Champagne region The vineyard produces a sparkling wine called Classic Cuvée, which is made in a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier grapes. You can go to the vineyard yourself and book a tasting and follow in Matt's footsteps by taking a tour from just £25. During the four-episode series, Matt heads over to Wales, up to Scotland, but one of his most memorable stops was in Northern Ireland. Countryfile star bags brand new role worlds away from hit BBC farming series 6 Matt goes up to Northern Ireland's most northerly tip to meet the McKinley family, where for generations, they've run Sheans Horse Farm. It's based in the hills of North Antrim which has incredible views across the coastline. Matt told us: "Oh my gosh, the Antrim coast is just breathtaking. "The landscape is used for Game of Thrones now, that's filmed over there because the landscape is so jaw-dropping. "We went horse riding across the cliff tops. When you look down, you see all these beautiful little coves that you wouldn't even know were there." He added: "It's such a beautiful way to travel, on horseback, especially if you want to do a bit of nature spotting because all the wildlife comes out to see what's going on." 6 6 Stand-out beaches on the Antrim coast are the sandy shores of Benone Strand and Portrush's East and West Strands. There's also others, like White Park Bay and Ballycastle Beach. Another area of the Northern Irish coastline that Matt explores is Kilkeel Harbour where he met the country's only female harbourmaster - and enjoyed the landscape too. Matt said: "It's a big, beautiful, wonderful, welcoming community, and when I went it was a beautiful day. "We sat there sitting having fish and chips there and just being chatting with the locals - it was great." For anyone wanting to see parts of the British Isles they wouldn't usually get a look at, Matt has everyone covered. Wales, Northern Ireland, England. "We visit all of those nations throughout the episodes - we've amalgamated it all into the ultimate celebration of the British Isles." And the British Isle that gets summer weather before the mainland. Watch Matt Baker's British Isles on Tuesdays at 9pm on More4. 6
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
CEO Vitalie Taittinger Leads Taittinger Champagne With Grace, Vision And Balance
Vitalie Taittinger, President and CEO of Taittinger Champagne Vitalie Taittinger is a powerful leader in Champagne. As President and CEO of the 3rd oldest Champagne House, established in 1734, Vitalie oversees 200+ employees and the production of around 6 million bottles of Taittinger Champagne annually, exported to over 130 countries. She is also the mother of four children and an avid supporter of the arts and local charities. But she oversees the Taittinger empire with grace, vision and a strong sense of work/life balance. So how does she accomplish this? 'We are not just a family business – it is much more than that. Champagne is in our hearts, linked to nature, people, culture and art. It is part of the joy we have every day,' she told me recently during a Zoom interview. As a family business, Vitalie explained that her brother, Clovis Taittinger, is the General Manager and leads the sales division, and her father, Pierre Emmanuel Taittinger is the Honorary Chairman. The family business is woven into their lives and could be overwhelming for some people, but Vitalie has managed to integrate everything with calm and grace. 'We have a strong sense of balance between family and work,' she explained. 'I have a great team supporting me, and it is important to remember that if we want to be sustainable as a business, we need balance for all of the team.' She mentions that when she comes home from work in the evenings, she disconnects from the day's stresses. 'I spend time with my children, listen to music, play my guitar, or share an aperitif with my husband. It is a time of the day that is totally necessary… to go back to my roots,' she states. Vitalie, Pierre Emmanuel, and Clovis Taittinger of the House of Taittinger Champagne Indeed the style of Taittinger is rooted in the concepts of lightness and naturalness. Vitalie's great-grandfather, Pierre Taittinger, purchased the historic Château de la Marquetterie (built 1734) and its vineyards outside of Epernay in 1915. Recognizing the changing tastes in cuisine and beverages after WWI, he saw an opportunity to replant the vineyards and craft a new style of Champagne. At that time most Champagne was sweeter and more full-bodied to match the rich French cuisine covered in heavy sauces. But tastes were changing, and consumers wanted lighter and more natural food and wine. 'He wanted to make champagne that is light and delicate,' reported Vitalie. 'So chardonnay is the most precise grape for this, so we planted more chardonnay and less pinot noir than other estates.' Today the Taittingers own 288 hectares of vineyards, of which 40% of the grapes are selected for their champagnes while the remaining harvest is sold. They are also implementing sustainable farming practices and reducing the amount of additives in the vineyards – something that is challenging in a region that is often beset by extreme weather events, such as frost, too much rain, powdery mildew and hail storms. 'Father rebought the company in 2006 and stopped the pesticides in the vineyards,' explained Vitalie. (The estate was briefly sold to Starwood Capital in 2005, but repurchased by the family the following year). 'Sustainability is a journey, and everyone is trying to be sustainable in Champagne now. Some are at the end and others at the beginning,' she added. The family produces five lines of champagne: Vitalie, who is a trained artist, having studied illustration and graphic art at the Emile Cohl School of Design in Lyon, compares the craft of blending champagne as similar to art. 'We play with a palate, like an artist, of different crus, grapes, and colors to create the blend. It is a service of emotion, and each champagne is a different emotion,' she said. I was able to taste both of the non-vintage wines and the Comtes, all of which can be found in fine wine shops, restaurants, and online. The Taittinger Brut Reserve ($65) is a classic and approachable wine with ripe green apple, pear, and a twist of lemon and biscuit notes. Taittinger Brut Prestige Rose ($75) is quite different, with an explosive fruity palate of ripe cherries, strawberries and a hint of tart rhubarb on the finish. Both wines are medium-bodied with soft silky bubbles and a refreshing finish. 'We describe the style of our non-vintage wines as fresh, dynamic and generous,' explained Vitalie. 'You feel the body of the wine. It is an emotion of happiness to share with family and friends. Like a kiss of pleasure.' The Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs ($250) is a completely different creature. I sampled the 2012 vintage and found it to be filled with lightness, elegance and great complexity. The nose enchants with toasted almonds, lemon, and a hint of ginger, which carries through on the palate with delicate bubbles, chalk, lemon pith, and croissant. It has a very long, refreshing, and concentrated finish, and seems to grow in complexity with each taste. Vitalie describes it as ' an emotion of time, where with each sip you discover the dimension of the wine. Your palate is enchanted, and you have the impression you are flying.' So what's ahead for Champagne Taittinger? Vitalie admits that she spends her work days engrossed in strategic issues, development projects, and meetings with customers, distributors, importers and journalists. 'I try to remain strategic in my thinking and not get buried in the details while focusing on how to improve management to help our employees be happier and give them career growth,' she reports. She is also involved in the blending process for the champagnes, working with the cellar team to taste the different reserve and new wines. But being faithful to existing customers is one of her most important obligations. 'After COVID we had many opportunities to make deals with big companies, but we gave priority to our existing customers. We always want to respect the people we are working with' she says. When asked about the future, she identified five main tenants the company is focusing on: Though not part of this interview, Clovis Taittinger has a favorite quote that is worth sharing and a fitting conclusion to the article: 'Champagne is the best way of saying 'I love you' in any language,' Clovis Taittinger.
Times
09-05-2025
- Times
Crossbasket Castle review: where the 17th century meets the Roaring Twenties
'Well, I wasn't expecting that,' I say to my friend as we retire to bed, ears ringing. Behind its crenellated classic appearance, Crossbasket Castle, which reopened in March after a £20 million facelift, hides a big surprise. Midway between Hamilton and East Kilbride, the building began life as a 15th-century tower, expanding to full baronial-style castle status in the 17th century. A litany of wealthy 18th and 19th-century owners includes Charles Macintosh of raincoat fame. On first inspection, it's exactly as you'd expect a £195-a-night castle hotel to be: think afternoon tea with three types of Taittinger champagne, polished off on floral fireside sofas in grand drawing rooms. Dramatic oil paintings hang above mighty fireplaces; bedrooms in the main house are styled with claw-footed bath
Metro
05-05-2025
- Metro
Deep in the Cotswolds, I found the hotel of every history lover's dreams
Metro checks in to Ellenborough Park, a history lover's dream hotel with an elegant spa in the Cotswolds. Dusk light pours through the stained glass windows into the lavish wood-panelled room, as a sommelier tops up my champagne flute. I take a bite of my smoked salmon blini with Oscietra caviar, all while a crackling fireplace roars nearby. I'm at a Taittinger tasting in the Great Hall of Ellenborough Park in the Cotswolds, a 15th-century manor house turned five-star hotel at the foot of Cleeve Hill with history in every corner. It's a stone's throw away from Cheltenham Racecourse; you can see the tips of the iconic white tents through the window. I'm suited and booted under high ceilings and chandeliers, as portraits of Catherine Parr – the sixth, and last, wife of King Henry VIII – and Richard Sackville stare me down. I have never felt so bougie. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Getting to Ellenborough Park from London is a breeze – a two-hour train from Paddington to Cheltenham Spa, then about 20 minutes in a taxi. Alternatively, it's a two-and-a-half hour drive from London. Originally constructed in 1485 as a humble home to local farmer Thomas Goodman, the manor went on to host King George III and later became a girls' boarding school, before transforming into a hotel in 1973. After closing for a major renovation in 2008, it was restored to its original glory and expanded to 90 acres. Today, there are 61 rooms and suites on offer (including converted stables) all complete with modern amenities and ensuite bathrooms with roll-top baths. During my tour of the grounds, I'm told it's a popular wedding destination – I can see why. The Old Chapel can hold up to 120 guests and there are versatile events spaces, including bright, leafy areas under the Decar Pavilions. Throughout my stay, friendly and attentive staff are happy to guide me through the snaking hallways that I get lost in on more than one occasion. There's even more history on Ellenborough Park's doorstep, too. A short 10-minute taxi takes me to Sudeley castle. Owned and maintained by Lady Ashcombe, it's most famous for being the lost burial site of Catherine Parr (sensing a common thread here?). After the monarch's death, she married Thomas Seymour (the brother of Jane Seymour – Henry's third wife) and moved to Sudeley Castle, where she had her first child, Mary. Sadly, she died after complications from childbirth and was buried in the private church on the castle grounds. Walking through the castle and elaborate gardens (with a collection of Six The Musical songs playing on a loop in my head), I marvel at the history before me. After my private tour (£40, I'm lucky enough to have tea and scones with Lady Ashcombe herself and her two curious dogs. The crown and jewel of Ellenborough Park is its new Scandinavian-designed Spa Garden Retreat (from £35 per person for 60 minutes). Tucked away in a secluded, cobbled area of the 90-acre grounds, it's the perfect place to sweat it out in the sauna, plunge into the ice bath, and relax in the hot tub under the glass pergola. I can't refuse a glass of champagne while another form of bubbles from the jacuzzi jets swirl around me. In one of the spa's six treatment rooms, I opt for a 50-minute traditional Swedish massage and spend every second of it melting into the table, as a piano version of Sting's Fields of Gold plays softly in the background. Afterwards, I take a dip in the outdoor heated pool (which averages between 28 and 30 degrees) and recline on a lounger in the sun. There is even a dog spa, which I don't personally try but have heard it gets a real round of a paws. Sorry. If there's such a thing as too much relaxation, you can get your sweat on at the gym. Or rent a pair of Dubarry boots to go for a hike around the countryside. The hotel also offers unique experiences, including chocolate-making workshops with Cheltenham Chocolates (starting from £70) or the aforementioned Taittinger tastings (£55) with an in-house sommelier. If I had more time, I'd spend all day in the spa – the perfect little staycation. Ellenborough Park has two restaurant options, including the Horse Box Brasserie (open from 12:30pm to 9pm daily) and the main restaurant in the lavishly-decorated dining room. The latter showcases the original features of the former stately home, with stained-glass windows, wood panelling and a carved fireplace. At the Horse Box Brasserie, I try a decadent charcuterie board (£35 per head) and a delightfully refreshing aperol spritz. But the real show-stopper is in the main restaurant's dinner menu – specifically the king prawns with chorizo starter and the roasted Creedy Carver duck breast and confit leg (£34) as a main. All with free-flowing bubbles too. For dessert, the fluffy passionfruit souffle with mango iced parfait is deliciously light, while the first crack of the cinnamon creme brulee triumphantly echoes around the room. I swear I can still hear it the next morning during the buffet breakfast in the same spot. During spring and summer, I'm told alfresco dining is available in the quirky carriages on the hotel's front lawn. Walking through a tour of the grounds and some of the suites, it's clear that every room is unique. The overall vibe is affluent country chic: floral wallpaper, rustic wood beams, ottoman boxes at the end of four-poster beds. My room is at the top of a spiral staircase in a flagpole tower. As soon as I enter, I clock the bathtub in the corner of the living room, right next to the bed and TV. I can see everything from the window – the heated pool, gym, garden, and Cheltenham Racecourse in the distance. More Trending I can also make out the Lodge, which is a self-contained one-bedroom bolthole with a cosy sitting room, wood burner, fully-equipped kitchen, private garden, dining area, and an outdoor swing. For a prime Cotswolds location dripping in history, Ellenborough Park room rates start from £269 per night for a double room on a B&B basis. Train tickets from London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa start at £70.90 for a super off-peak return journey. James Besanvalle was a guest of Ellenborough Park Hotel. MORE: The lesser-known Greek 'floating village' with return flights for just £100 MORE: I thought bird-watching was for pensioners until I flew 8,000 miles from home MORE: 9 reasons a Galapagos cruise should be on every travel bucket list
Epoch Times
22-04-2025
- Epoch Times
Rick Steves' Europe: A Healthy Dose of History and Champagne in Reims
France's bustling, modern Reims greets travelers with cellar doors wide open. As the capital of the Champagne region, it features a lively center, a historic cathedral, and, of course, Champagne tasting. And thanks to France's slick high-speed rail, it's just 45 minutes from Paris—making it an easy day trip. Reims (pronounced like 'rance') has a turbulent history: This is where French kings were crowned, where Champagne first bubbled, where WWI devastation met miraculous reconstruction, and where the Germans officially surrendered in 1945, bringing World War II to a close in Europe. The town's sights give you an informative, entertaining peek at the entire story. Start at Reims Cathedral—a glorious example of Gothic architecture and one of Europe's greatest churches. Built under the direction of four different architects, the church was started about 1211 and mostly finished just 60 years later. Thanks to this quick turnaround, it's remarkable for its unity and harmony. As a royal coronation site, it is to France what Westminster Abbey is to England. For a memorable experience, join the crowd in front of the cathedral for a free, 25-minute sound-and-light show on weekend summer evenings. I've struggled with the idea that some of Europe's wonderful Gothic church facades were boldly painted in the 13th and 14th centuries. In Reims, the sound-and-light show did a good job of helping me envision how they might have looked to a medieval peasant. Sit directly in front of the cathedral or settle more comfortably into a seat at a café with a clear view through the trees. When wonderstruck by Gothic cathedrals, I often contemplate the lives of the people who built these huge buildings back in the 13th century. Construction on a scale like this required a community effort: It was all hands on deck. Most townsfolk who participated donated their money or their labor knowing that they would likely never see it completed—such was their pride, faith, and dedication. Master masons supervised, while the average Jean-Claude did much of the sweaty work. Labor was something that even the poorest medieval peasant could donate generously. In addition to spiritual nourishment, Reims offers a more earthly delight—Champagne. Though many wine-growing regions in France produce sparkling wines, only grapes from this region can be called Champagne. While the ancient Romans planted the first grapes here, Champagne was not 'invented' until the late 17th century, and then it was by virtue of necessity—the local climate and chalky soil did not produce competitive still wines. Today it is commonly regarded as the finest sparkling wine in the world. Related Stories 6/13/2023 1/20/2025 Reims offers many opportunities to visit its world-famous Champagne cellars. All charge entry fees, most have several daily English tours, and most require a reservation. Which should you visit? Martel offers the most personal and best-value tour. Taittinger and Mumm have the most impressive cellars. Veuve Clicquot is popular with Americans and fills up weeks in advance. All told, Mumm is closest to the city center and train station, and offers one of the best tours in Reims ( As you stroll across town to a Champagne cellar, keep an eye open for Biscuits roses de Reims—light, rose-colored egg-and-sugar cookies that have been made here since 1756. They're the locals' favorite munchie to accompany a glass of Champagne—you're supposed to dunk them, but I like them dry (many places that sell these treats offer free samples). I can imagine the Allies celebrating with Champagne on May 7, 1945, after Germans signed the document of surrender for all German forces. WWII buffs enjoy visiting the Museum of the Surrender (Musée de la Reddition), the place where it happened. The news was announced the next day, turning May 8 into Victory in Europe (V-E) Day. The museum's extensive collection of artifacts is fascinating, and it's thrilling to see the war room where Eisenhower managed Allied operations—and where the European part of the war ultimately ended. While World War II left the city unscathed, World War I devastated Reims. It was the biggest city on France's Western Front, and it was hammered—around 65 percent of Reims was destroyed by shelling. Parts of the city center were entirely rebuilt in the 1920s. You'll see the stylized features—geometric reliefs, motifs in ironwork, rounded corners, and simple concrete elegance—of Art Deco. If it looks eclectic, that's because the mayor at the time said to rebuild any way you like—just build. With its breathtaking Gothic cathedral, historic cityscape, and beloved Champagne cellars, Reims is intoxicating. My time here reminded me of how much fun it is to enjoy modern French culture in a sizeable city that isn't Paris. Dear Readers: We would love to hear from you. What topics would you like to read about? Please send your feedback and tips to
