A picnic invitation from Veuve Clicquot. Nakajima, an editor at Premium Japan, participated in the "Veuve Clicquot Picnic." In the refreshing light and breeze of May, we headed to the foot of Mt. Fuji.
I wonder what kind of picnic it will be? I board the Shinkansen at Shinagawa Station with anticipation. Stylish chanson music plays inside the train, and the picnic has already begun. I have a glass of Veuve Clicquot in my hand. I toast to the view from the window.
Waiting for us at the nearest station was a bus decorated with the theme of "Veuve Clicquot Picnic". This made us even more excited.
The sun, the wind and Veuve Clicquot of May!
When we arrived, it was like a different world. Yellow flowers, bicycles, even yellow backgammon. Such a stylish picnic is beyond imagination.
Experience Veuve Clicquot's "Art de Vivre" in a relaxed atmosphere
At the foot of Mt. Fuji, a picnic lunch begins, feeling the nature and the sunshine. The tablecloths are decorated with vivid floral patterns by Soleyade, and the champagne is, of course, Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label. After a toast, the food by Chef Kobayashi Kanji of Wakayama's two-star Michelin restaurant Villa Aida is brought to the table.
Pair your chickpea soup with a Yellow Label Magnum.
Caskurout is a baguette topped with your favorite ingredients and seasonings. It goes well with La Grande Dame 2018.
Chef Kobayashi personally sliced the Roti Jambon for us, pairing it with a glass of La Grande Dame Rose 2015, the perfect choice to accompany the meat dish.
Mount Fuji appears between the clouds, and we are excited to enjoy lunch while admiring this magnificent view. As the Veuve Clicquot and the meal progress, the only sound we can hear from the table is laughter. This champagne can be enjoyed in an elegant and relaxed atmosphere, which is exactly what Veuve Clicquot Maison considers to be "art de vivre (aesthetics of living)".
This time, celebrities also attended, making the picnic even more festive.
Mari Natsuki
A picnic in an open space with Mt. Fuji in the background. It was a luxurious time where we could relax and forget about our daily lives. In particular, the slight sweetness of the refreshing La Grande Dame rosé went perfectly with Chef Kobayashi's cooking today. I usually start meals at home with champagne, so it's an essential. Veuve Clicquot has always been one of my favorite brands, and I always keep it in my wine cellar, and I strongly sympathize with Madame Clicquot's creative way of life and drive.
RIKACO
The weather improved so much that Mt. Fuji was clearly visible, and we were able to enjoy a picnic together in the open air, which gave us a sense of positive energy and energy. Chef Kobayashi's dishes were centered around vegetables, and he brought out the best flavors from the ingredients, and I was impressed by each and every detail. Personally, I thought that floating ice in Rich on Ice was the perfect way to drink it in the open air in the coming season. I'd like to try this out, especially since I often have home parties and BBQs at home.
神崎恵さん
These moments of being able to take a deep breath in the midst of nature were truly enriching, like putting a "punctuation mark" on the hectic days that pass by. The pairing of champagne with food, surrounded by beautiful scenery and air and a musical rhythm, was a sublime moment. I felt that the delicate yet powerful flavor embodied by Madame Clicquot was a champagne that truly symbolized the beauty of modern women. Champagne has the power to enrich time, so I would like to open it for myself as a daily treat to reward myself, not just for celebratory occasions.
Takuro Ohno
I tasted various champagnes from Veuve Clicquot and was impressed by the expression and atmosphere of each one. In particular, La Grande Dame 2018 was refreshing and dry, but smooth on the throat, and went well with any food, making it the perfect bottle for today's picnic. Enjoying champagne in a pleasant breeze in a great location was a luxurious experience, as if a French aristocrat was enjoying an elegant moment in nature. Also, as a Japanese person, I felt great pride that Chef Kobayashi, who runs a restaurant in Wakayama, has achieved such a wonderful collaboration with Veuve Clicquot, a French brand. I would like to enjoy champagne with close friends on special occasions when I want to connect with my loved ones, such as the birthday of a loved one or a meal with my family for the first time in a long time.
Kento Nagatsuka
All the champagnes were very tasty, but the rose was especially impressive. The sense of maturity, thickness, and subtle tannins spoke of Veuve Clicquot's excellent craftsmanship. I'm such a big fan of Kobayashi Kanji that I even bought his cookbook, and this time I was able to fully experience his charm. Kobayashi's unique, simple and careful cooking, which values the ingredients and uses plenty of vegetables, respects tradition while also giving it a new feel, and the pairing with Veuve Clicquot made the charm even more prominent. The style of Kobayashi doing the final finishing touches on the food himself also matched the theme of this event, "picnic," making it a special and enjoyable experience. I think Veuve Clicquot is a champagne with a deep heart that can be enjoyed not only as a gift for celebrations, but also as a pairing with home-cooked food to accompany small, special moments in everyday life.
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2018
The weather was great, perfect for a picnic. The view of Mt. Fuji, Chef Kobayashi's cooking, and Veuve Clicquot. With fond memories in our minds, we headed home.
On that day, I'd say about 90% of the water in my body had turned into Veuve Clicquot.
Chisa Nakajima
Daili, aka Editor N, is the editor-in-chief of Premium Japan. He loves watching Japanese movies from the 1950s and 60s and drinking wine. He's a bit of an otaku whose hobby is collecting postwar women's magazines.
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