Just returned from a summer holiday touring Champagne and eager to recreate the same luxurious apéro hour experiences at home? We’ve got you covered with Lehmann Glass—the preferred French glassware brand of Champagne’s most esteemed Maisons, luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants—so you can say Bonjour et Santé in fabulous Champenois style!
Domaine Les Crayères in Reims, Champagne
A legendary estate and full-service destination situated in the heart of Reims, Domaine Les Crayères is home to a five-star luxury hotel, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant (Le Parc), a brasserie (Le Jardin) and a bar (La Rotonde), all tucked away within the lush, verdant confines of a seven-hectare park. Perched at the top of the Saint-Nicaise Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage–listed site, the historic château was built in 1904 by Marquis Melchior de Polignac (grandson of Madame Pommery) and commands sweeping views of the Saint-Rémi Basilica dome on one side and the Reims Cathedral on the other. Elegantly renovated and modernised while remaining true to the Louis XIV style, the hotel offers 20 uniquely appointed rooms and suites that perfectly marry contemporary craftsmanship with the care and sophistication of French classicism, taking guests on an intimate journey through time while cultivating French art de vivre.
At the helm of Le Parc and Le Jardin is chef Philippe Mille, who earned the coveted title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman of France) in 2011 and his second Michelin star in 2012. Determined to share the regional identity and richness of the Champagne terroir through its local artisans and producers, Philippe aims to highlight the provenance of every creation that makes its way to the table. From his seasonal dishes—such as his razor clams, served in a wide-rimmed soup bowl the colour of limestone cliffs in reflection of the fragile fragments of marine life deposited millions of years ago and that now make up Champagne’s ubiquitous chalk—to the perfectly polished crystal glassware of local glassmaker Lehmann Glass, every detail is carefully considered and product scrupulously sourced in respect of Champenois savoir-faire and terroir.
The glassware featured proudly at the establishment is the Lehmann P. Jamesse Signature Collection, named in honour of its co-creator Philippe Jamesse, who served as the Head Sommelier at Domaine Les Crayères for almost two decades. Frustrated by the lack of champagne-appropriate glassware on the market, Philippe consulted Reims-based Lehmann Glass in the early 2000s, and, together, they collaborated to create an elongated and uniquely tulip-shaped glass—rounded in the middle and narrow towards the top—that was introduced to diners in 2008. With the help of Gérard Liger-Belair, a renowned physicist at the University of Reims who has worked extensively in the science of champagne, they soon discovered that the spherical shape of the Lehmann P. Jamesse glasses allowed champagne to develop its aromas and flavours most effectively while retaining effervescence. Their world-first achievement led to tulip glassware becoming the preferred vessel for tasting and serving champagne in the 21st century, replacing the flute and coupe of bygone eras.
At the iconic 40-seater Bar La Rotonde, the wine list features more than 600 champagne labels and more than 1000 wine labels for guests to enjoy either at the bar—reminiscent of an English gentlemen’s club with its rich mahogany and tartan décor—or on the terrace in front of the château, overlooking the resplendent gardens at sunset. A top-shelf selection of spirits is also on offer, including 250 aperitifs and digestifs, as well as a range of signature cocktails, all served from the Lehmann P. Jamesse Signature Collection.
For more information about the glassware in the Lehmann P. Jamesse Signature Collection, visit Le Shop or read our previous article, ‘To Flute or Not to Flute? That is the Question for a Glass of Champagne’ .
L’Assiette Champenoise in Tinqueux, Champagne
L’Assiette Champenoise is a three-Michelin-starred restaurant located in Tinqueux, just a stone’s throw away from downtown Reims. Set within a picturesque two-hectare park, the prestigious restaurant, which was first opened in 1975 by Jean-Pierre and Colette Lallement, is adjacent to a luxury five-star hotel of the same name, and both remain under family management. Since 1998, chef Arnaud Lallement (Jean-Pierre and Colette’s son) has presided over the kitchen, taking it to the pinnacle of culinary stardom when he earned his third Michelin star in 2014 and was named Chef of the Year by Gault & Millau shortly thereafter. Taking over from Colette, Arnaud’s wife, Magali, and his sister, Mélanie, manage the hotel and restaurant, continuing the family’s almost 50-year legacy and tradition of exceptional service and world-class hospitality.
Arnaud’s food is a real tribute to the region of Champagne, distinguished for its timeless innovation in offering the perfect balance between acidity and sweetness and always in respect of the seasonal produce. His passion to create ‘a very clean, pure, ascetic style of cooking’ led him to partner with Lehmann Glass to craft a beautiful glassware collection to match these very same values.
Reflecting Arnaud’s culinary precision and natural flair, the Lehmann A. Lallement Signature Collection is designed with enduring elegance, refinement and functionality in mind—and, when it comes to discovering the best drops, there is no better way to peruse L’Assiette Champenoise’s extensive wine list of 1000 champagne labels and 1200 wine labels than through the immaculate lens of Arnaud’s crystal glassware collection. Here, champagne enthusiasts can unwind with an aperitif either in the restaurant’s 65-seat dining room, cozied up at the bar or on the terrace in the charming surrounds of the house gardens.
A must-visit destination, L’Assiette Champenoise promises an unparalleled level of sensory immersion for bon vivants seeking truly extraordinary experiences that satisfy every desire.
For more information about the glassware in the Lehmann A. Lallement Signature Collection, visit Le Shop or read our previous article, ‘All About Arnaud’ .
The Champagne Houses of Louis Roederer and Ruinart in Reims, Champagne
The names ‘Ruinart’ and ‘Louis Roederer’ need little introduction.
Both Grandes Marques (‘Big Brands’) based in Reims, Champagne Ruinart was founded in 1729 and has the distinction of being the region’s oldest Champagne House, while Champagne Louis Roederer is arguably the appellation’s most respected and admired powerhouse for its grower-producer spirit, innovative drive and unflagging commitment towards sustainability.
Another thread of commonality between the two Grandes Marques?
Champagne Frerejean Freres in Avize, Champagne
Founded in 2005 by brothers Guillaume, Richard and Rodolphe Frerejean-Taittinger, Champagne Frerejean Frères is an independent craft house born of Champagne family heritage. Cousins to the famous Taittinger family, they’re also the latest generation in a line of cannon-makers who supplied the French army defending the region against the Prussians during the Napoleonic Wars.
The House is based in Avize, where the brothers and chef de cave (cellar master), Didier Pierson, produce champagnes using only Chardonnay and Pinot noir grown in the prestigious villages of the Côte des Blancs. They take a small-scale approach to production in respect of the land, managing just 5ha of vineyards and buying grapes from trusted growers. Each terroir is governed by traditional methods, with minimal chemical and pesticide usage on the vines. Sitting perfectly between grower-producer and Grande Marque, the House ages its wines for a minimum of 5 years, creating elegant and gastronomy-driven champagnes. It takes between 6 and 8 years to make a single bottle of Frerejean Frères’s flagship Brut Premier Cru champagne and at least 8 years to make their vintage cuvées.
Named as the Champagne partner of the Michelin Guide for the last 4 years, Frerejean Frères has achieved great eminence in the world of art, fashion, fine dining and luxury hotels, and a complete list of their partners and collaborations can be found on their website. For an authentic, sensory experience of Frerejean Frères’ cuvées, we recommend hosting your next dinner party with the Lehmann P. Jamesse Signature Collection and Lehmann A. Lallement Signature Collection the preferred tasting glasses of the award-winning Maison.
Cheers to channelling a touch of Champagne with Lehmann Glass for the upcoming holiday season, no matter where you are in the world! At Sally Hillman, we’ll have you sipping champagne like the locals do in no time at all. Santé!
***
Sally Hillman is proud to offer Australia’s most extensive online range of Lehmann Glass, including the revolutionary Ultralight range and Signature Collections, elegant champagne and Bar & Lounge pieces, as well as everyday glassware and universal glass sets for home entertaining and hospitality usages.
Complimentary with every Lehmann Glass order on a set of 6 glasses is Sally Hillman’s signature microfibre polishing cloth, designed to boost brilliance for that final touch of stemware perfection.
We are always delighted to ship Lehmann glassware to anywhere in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the USA.
Discover the art of the table with Champagne’s premier glassware brand here.
Feature image: @louisroederer_
Other selected images: @domainelescrayeres, @assiettechampenoise, @ruinart, @champagnefrerejeanfreres, @lehmannreimsfrance