Vive La Difference

Message From Karl Curran

After just landing in Paris, I take a train to Dijon, with the goal of tasting wine in Volnay, which is one of the great Pinot Noir producing towns in Burgundy.  For me this equates to visiting Disneyland for the first time.  Meeting these traditional producers is quite the experience.  The knowledge gained is priceless. There is so much to learn and I believe it is only by passing time with the Vigneron (grower) can one make an expert analysis of the wines and choose properly for import.  I like to focus on Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, and the Rhone.  I also import from Chianti, Barolo & Barbaresco, which are perhaps the most famous vineyards in Italy.

In these vineyards, no two years are the same, therein lies the real passion for both novice & expert: discerning what the current vintage will bring?  Thus empowering the drinker the wherewithal to compare and contrast against previous years, which is very exciting.

Continuing in this rich vein, over the last 2 years at Charlemagne, we developed an excellent idea, which was to create our own gift box in collaboration with Yvan Valentin of LA bearing in mind a premium on packaging & presentation.  Hand selecting excellent wines of character, pairing them with Yvan’s decadent chocolate truffles that are neatly displayed in an elegant Charlemagne gift box, the reviews have been excellent.  Please feel free to reach out to me and I will be delighted to help you.