Champagne and Stilettos
Champagne continues to make the news. The International Wine & Spirits Records (IWSR) for November 2009 mentions that Rémy Cointreau's Champagne brand Piper Heidseick (soon available legally in India) in conjunction with luxury shoe-maker Christian Louboutin plans to launch an intriguing Champagne concept, writes Harshal Shah of Sommelier India
It is called Le Rituel par Christian Louboutin de Piper-Heidsieck. The launch evokes a late-19th century ritual, in which French aristocrats drank Champagne from the shoe of a courtesan; the ritual, in fact, began a century earlier in England when aristocrats drank Champagne from ballerinas' slippers.
Le Rituel is a gift box, which includes a bottle of Champagne Piper-Heidsieck Brut, a red shoe bag and also a crystal shoe designed by Louboutin - the opaque black crystal shoe has a clear 14-inch stiletto heel and Louboutin's signature red sole. The idea is to pour the Champagne into the bottom of the shoe, from which it can then be drunk.
Le Rituel par Christian Louboutin de Piper-Heidsieck will shortly be available (in time for Christmas, no doubt) in European, American and Asian stores and airport duty free outlets for about €350.
