LJC Partners with France's 1st Champagne!
25.Jun.2007
More than a century before champagne, the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire in the Southern foothills of Limoux had created France's Very First Sparkling Wine. Today, over four and a half centuries later, SAINT-HILAIRE Blanquette de Limoux is made in the very same foothills of Southern France. One uncorking and you'll discover why the French compare SAINT-HILAIRE with their finest Champagne. And at a fraction of the cost, you'll never pay Champagne prices again.
By 1794 Blanquette de Limoux was well known and appreciated throughout France. At about that time it was discovered by a famous American, Thomas Jefferson. The Third American President was an expert on French wines and Blanquette de Limoux was an integral part of his wine cellar. Few people realize that Jefferson was an avid collector of recipes and wine. With his knowledge of Europe's finest vineyards, Jefferson was the wine advisor to several presidents and, at George Washington's request, selected the first wines to be stocked in the White House. Though he didn't actually cook, he passed recipes along to friends and gathered them for his own chefs. In Jefferson's writings, researchers have found grocery lists, wine inventories and recipes. They discovered receipts for hundreds and hundreds of bottles of wine. As president he spent about 10 percent of his salary on wine; Jefferson estimated that he needed about one bottle of wine for every 3.5 people served. Blanquette de Limoux was a favorite of Jefferson's and when he died in 1826 his last known cellar inventory dated February 1, 1826 listed 49 bottles.
Today Blanquette de Limoux has won the acclaim of knowledgeable wine enthusiasts throughout the world. It is sold in the United States under the brand name SAINT-HILAIRE in honor of the Monks who first created the wine nearly 450 years ago. One taste of SAINT-HILAIRE quickly reveals why France's Oldest Sparking Wine is also its best.
..."It remains one of the world's finest sparkling wines, and it constitutes the highest quality value ratio of any sparkling wine in the world." International Wine of the Month Club"
..."It is probably the least-known well-made sparkling wine of France...Made primarily from the Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Mauzac grapes, the wines are qualitatively close to a high quality non-vintage Champagne at one-third the price." Robert Parker
..."I've tried more than 20 wines and the great discovery was the Saint-Hilaire Blanquette de Limoux Brut." The Grapevine - New York Post
