by Orca International Sales and Events Manager, Jan Nelson
Bubbles…Champagne, Cava, Spumante, Sekt; whatever you want to call it, sparkling wine is at home at any celebration. Whether you are looking to celebrate out on the town or in your own home, bubbles are never too far away.
Any bubble addict can tell you that champagne and spectacular views go hand in hand, and Tokyo has no shortage of those. For the value hunter, it’s easy to get your yen’s worth at the Dom Pérignon Sunday Brunch at Forty Five in the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo. ¥12,500 gets you a four-course brunch and a bottomless glass of Dom…great for the three-day weekend, but tough if Monday finds you in the office. Hill Top Casita in Azabu Juban can help even the novice celebrant spice up their evening; from a custom labeled Champagne or the spectacular view from the tenth floor rooftop lounge should do the trick!
ANA InterContinental Tokyo’s Champagne Bar has an expansive selection of bubbles and their champagne party plans make planning a breeze. Boasting “the best night view in Tokyo”, 36th floor Maru Biru resident, Breeze of Tokyo, is a chic place to celebrate and Disneyland’s nightly fireworks should start off the party right, even from a distance.
Tokyo’s well-stocked wine shops are the place to start when arranging a home celebration. Dean and Deluca offers a wide selection of Champagne and New World sparklers to fit any budget. With one of the largest wine shops in Tokyo, Nissin World Delicatessen features a host of international sparklers, and if you’re in a hurry they keep the Cristal chilled for a last-minute pickup.
Shops are great for a bottle or two, but what if you are hosting a big party? Just turn on your PC and have your bubbles delivered. Find Washington’s Domaine Ste. Michelle’s sparklers at Pacific Northwest wine specialist Orca International to pop at your party, open a New Mexico’s Gruet sparkling wine from Hotei Wines to share with your friends, or take the plunge ‘down under’ for some of Village Cellars Aussie or Kiwi bubbly. If your budget knows no bounds, skip the classic Moet or Veuve and try the Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill 1996; the price is not for the faint of heart, but the memory will last forever. After all, some things you only get to celebrate once.
