Champagne

[Lesley C]

New Year' s is fast approaching and I've planned a bit of a gourmet soiree with friends. Problem, they are Champagne drinkers and I am not -- it makes me sick, as in major hangover, headache, sickness, the whole nine yards.

Now I've noticed that Dom Perignon does not make me sick, but I'm not sure I want to drop $200+ on a bottle (2006 was a year worth celebrating, but jeez, $200???).

So I need advice. Is there a Champagne at a lower price point (not too low though) that would give me the lovely Champagne experience without making me ill? Are Champagnes full of sulphur? Which I'm thinking might be the additive that's making me sick. Also, I would prefer one that doesn't have that yeasty flavour I don't really enjoy.

I mean, for the money it costs for a top notch Champagne, I'm thinking a fantastic white Burgundy would be a better choice -- and cost me about $120 less. I could also find a bio-dynamic one that wouldn't cause the day-after queeziness. Come to think of it, are any Champagne makers working in bio-dynamic methods?

Any advice?

[BigboyDan]

Actually, the better quality the wine, the fewer inpurities, the fewer the hangovers. Personal taste is hard to satisfy though. Your best bet is to call your local quality wine shop and talk to the wine director and ask for a recommendation of a label THAT HE HAS IN STOCK (be sure to give him your restrictions), no point offering you a choice that you can't get. You CAN get a good chanpage for $80-100.

[Brad Ballinger]

Well, sulfites are added as a preservative to many wines. For organic and biodynamic producer that don't add sufites, you should still be aware that sulfites occur naturally as part of the fermentation process.

Probably the best biodynamic producer of Champagne is Jacques Selosse. He had a falling out with the U.S. market, however, and his wines are no longer imported into the U.S. I note you are from Montreal. Maybe his wines are yet available in Canada. If so, that is easily the producer to look for.

Others I would suggest are Fleury, Larmandier-Bernier, Tarlant, and Leclerc Briant. I've listed them in the order of (what I'm guessing) will be easiest to find to hardest to find.

[Eden]

I don't have issues with the headaches, but also dislike the yeastyness. For me, once you hit the $40+ (US) mark you start to get champagnes worth drinking, though I'm happy to have someone buy me a more expensive one . Try a nice small producer like Godme and see if you like it/it treats you well.

I know it's no fun to experiment on yourself when the risk is iintense pain, but since you've already established that there are some champagnes that are OK for you, it's safe to assume there are others and they can't ALL cost $200+ a bottle....

[budrichard]

My wife suffers from the same problem as you do. She now only has a little taste whether it is Champagne or any other sparkling wine. I'm afraid thier is not anything that one can do.-Dick

[Lesley C]

Interesting, and thanks for all your answers. I'll keep an eye out for the producers you mentioned. I guess it's "Bonjour Mr. Selosse."

Meanwhile, I'm thinking I might just get Champagne for the friends and drink something else.

I'm going to try to get to the bottom of this Champagne-makes-me-sick thing one day. And I'm happy to hear I'm not alone. I once drank a glass of that Mum's Napa sparkling wine and the next day I was so sick I considered jumping out the window. I can only wonder what additive in that wine could cause that kind of distress to the metabolism.

Edited December 24, 2006 by Lesley C (log)

[bobferdon]

"Now I've noticed that Dom Perignon does not make me sick,"

Perhaps the price keeps you sipping and with the cheaper ones you are more confortable gulping and therfore consuming a bit more?

Just a thought...

[Lesley C]

Interesting follow up to this.

I ended up buying a Bruno Paillard rose and was ready to pass on the bubbly, when I heard from my sister in Paris that she was at an antique shop in the Village Suisse the other day eyeing some vintage Champagne flutes. She told the store owner that she wanted to buy them but that, like me, Champagne made her sick. So the man told her his wife had the same problem and now takes an allergy pill whenever Champagne is on the menu.

I tried this, not with an allergy pill, but a spoonful of kiddie allergy medicine, and it worked! No sickness from the Champagne, and none of the usual coughing from the red wine.

Hooray! I'm going to consult my doctor over this, but it's looking like the Champagne dilemna may be solved.