Taking wine into France?!?!?

[schrodingers_cat]

Ok, I have a lead on the bestest sparkling wine ever produced, and want to show the folks over there what's bubblin' in California when I go to Europe next week.....has anybody ever brought wine/champagne INTO France? I also want to bring a bottle to my friend in Berlin on the next leg of the trip, so 2 bottles total.
Sharing wine from your point of origin is a tradition at the place we will be staying at - this is not, I repeat, not an attempt to be the ugly american - I promise.
And no, of course not in my carry-on.
Anyone with friends in the French consulate, or prior travel experience?

[Shakespeare]

1. I don't have the answer to your question, BUT....

I gotta know which sparkler it is you prefer!

[schrodingers_cat]

2. Well, I have a friend who has a friend, who works at a winery,

who gets a great deal by the case. Otherwise it's way out of my range...but Domaine Carneros Le Reve (sp-1?)is out of this world. We had a party at our place, and they snuck a bottle of it into our fridge when the party was over. Some weeks later, we found it in there, thought it was some left over party hooch, and decided to pop the cork. It blew me away - it was better than Dom Perignon! I was woefully ignorant of the price. I just knew it was the best sparkling wine I'd ever had. here's the corker, though....$65.00 retail:(

[Shakespeare]

4. Sounds YUMMY.

California produces some outstanding sparklers--let us know if you're able to get it into France, and--more important--what your friends over there think of it!

[schrodingers_cat]

6. My old favorite sparkler, Shakespeare, used to be Scharffenberger,

but then he had to go sell his winery and start in on chocolate! That winery is now called Pacific Echo (lame name), so who knows, may be worth a try as an affordable alternative. And almost-bottom-shelf Domaine St Michelle, available at supermarkets, keeps excelling at blind taste tests against more expensive competitors. But I know next to nothing other than what tastes good.

[Shakespeare]

8. I believe Scharffenberger is back in the wine business now.

He sold the chocolate company to Hershey last year, and the last news I hear is that he was getting back into the wine business. A good thing, I think!

My favorites are Gloria Ferrer's Blanc du Noir, Iron Horse's Wedding Cuvee (if you haven't tried that, it's fantastic), all of Piper Sonoma's sparklers, and Roederer Estate's brut. More of the north coast/Mendocino County wineries are starting to dabble in sparkling wines, so I think selection will continue to expand. Oh, J's vintage brut is outstanding as well--and I highly recommend their seated tasting/food pairing (they also pair tastings at the counter, but the Bubble Room seated tasting is out of this world).

[schrodingers_cat]

9. Shakespeare, what excellent news! I'm glad he's back to wine

I got to meet him - he was pouring one day when we were traveling through. He mentioned that he was going to try the world of chocolate - so when it hit the shelves, I had to chuckle. My hubb makes the most out-of-this-world homemade Sharffenberger rockie road ice cream. Did you know that Hershey bought Joseph Schmidt chocolates at the same time? It was like getting punched in the belly twice, to have them buy my favorite two chocolatiers.
I hope you get a chance to try the Le Reve someday - I, in the meantime, am going to print your list and do some tasting! Sparkling wine is the only wine that doesn't give me a headache. What a pity that I will be in wine country in France, and have to pass on the second glass of almost everything. It's not the right region for sparklers, apparently (this is my first trip to France).
Another great standby that I like is Veuve Cliquot, on the right occasions.
Thanks for the recommendations, you are apparently a local. I will try to sample whatever I can at the source. Did you see that bit on the news, by the way, where camera crews followed folks on the Napa highway who had been to one too many tasting rooms? That was a good cautionary tale........

[Haole Girl]

3. Not a good idea on the Sparkling Wine

If is has any kind of gas it could explode in cargo, since cargo is not pressurized. And, TSA will no longer allow it in your carry-on. I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news. :-(

[schrodingers_cat]

5. of course....

I've been at high altitudes before, but just on mountains, and I know what it does to the oxygen in your blood, so of course this would apply to the pretty vapors that make Bubbly bubble. I'm pitching a fit right now, having to leave it behind, but it will be short lived, cause I'm going to travel!!!!! And that makes me happy!

Thanks for lending your thoughts, KC2 - much appreciated!

[Haole Girl]

7. You're welcome...and enjoy your trip! n/t

[xchrom]

10. i took wine to italy to give to the folk i stayed with.

i live in cali -- and i took some GREAT reds -- two bottles -- and i can't tell you how much they loved it.

it was a wonderful turn on my part -- and did a lot for cali's rep -- all be it in a small family situation.

[Ellen Forradalom]

11. Carrying coals to Newcastle?!?!?

sorry couldn't resist