In honor of our French roots, 39 Rue de Jean hosted an entire week of Bastille Day celebrations. To continue this celebratory week, we spent a thirsty Thursday evening indulging in bubbly with a representative from one of the best-selling champagne brands in the world, Veuve Clicquot!

This sold-out event featured a four-part champagne tasting, paired appetizers and hors d’oeuvres, and a Veuve Clicquot representative to help us appreciate what we were tasting.

Here’s the breakdown of the Veuve Clicquot champagnes we got to sample:

Veuve Clicquot Demi-Sec NV: One of our personal favorites, the Demi-Sec is a blend of more than 50 wines. Chardonnay comprises 20-25% of the champagne, Meunier another 30-35%, and Pinot Noir the final 40-45%. As it ages, this champagne develops hints of praline, which fits perfectly with an extensive assortment of Charleston’s praline- and caramel-based desserts.

Veuve Clicquot Blanc 2008: Blancs are made entirely of one type of grape – white or black. Blanc de blancs are 100% chardonnay, while blanc de noirs can be a blend of pinot noir and pinot meunier. Veuve’s Vintage Blanc was made from pinot noir grapes in the Reims subregion of Champagne, France, where the grapes are known for their robust flavor.

Veuve Clicquot Rosé 2008: The 2008 growing season produced a harvest of prime quality, which means that the gourmet wines will become even more delicious with age. This rosé has notes of citrus and spiced cinnamon.

Veuve Clicquot Rosé NV: While not one of Veuve’s vintage champagnes, their standard rosé does not disappoint. It has hints of berry and a dash of biscuit, which pairs well with tuna, duck, and red fruits.

Each of the featured champagnes was paired with hors d’oeuvres that brought out the unique aromas and flavors of the champagne. One of our favorite appetizers was the prosciutto-wrapped peaches, the perfect combination of a Southern favorite and traditional Italian fare. The jam and brie on a baguette was a very close second.

Overall the Veuve Clicquot tasting was a huge success, as indicated by the sold out tickets. Guests had the opportunity to mingle with friends, socialites, local business owners, and even our Veuve Clicquot representatives over delectable champagne and appetizers. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday evening in downtown Charleston!

To stay in the loop for upcoming events, follow 39 Rue de Jean’s Facebook and Instagram pages. If you’re ready for delicious French food and excellent wine, make a reservation at 39 Rue de Jean, today!