Every Friday TheChampagneSommelier will ask 5 questions about 5 coeur de bouteilles to friends and Champagne lovers from near and far. This week we had a bubbly chat with chef, sommelier & champagne lover Erik Videgård ! Merci Erik!
BIO Erik Videgård
Erik Videgård is a gastronomic legend in Sweden. He started the Swedish Sommelier association – Sommelierföreningen in 1986 with a group of fellow sommelier. He was Björnstierne mentor in the beginning oof his sommelier career.
This year Erik celebrates 40 years in the restaurant industry, but before he became a star chef, Erik worked as a photographer, photo salesman, leisure leader, bus driver and sound engineer. He was also a successful tour leader for Reeperbahn, Boppers and Europe, among others. When Erik’s first daughter was born, he gave up touring life to be able to spend more time at home with the family. Then he switched to the restaurant industry.
‘I like the pulse of a restaurant. It’s full speed and therefore not really that different from touring life ‘, says Erik.
You can follow Erik on instagram.
Me & Erik Videgård built a Champagne-tower @ Gulddrakengalan’15 – 92 bottles of Champagne in 13 seconds! Well, it actually took 3 hours …
It may be a Swedish record you see in the picture. An eleven-storey champagne tower built with over 500 glasses. The champagne tower is actually an old effect seeker, just like the saber. For example, in the early 20th century, when champagne glasses, unlike today’s narrow flute glasses, were wide (shaped after Marie Antoinette’s breasts, if you can believe Björnstierne) and the lifestyle was decadent and extravagant (Russian caviar was imported in tons), it was not uncommon. Nowadays, they mostly seem to be found on cruise ships.
1 Tower | 2 sommeliers | 506 champagne coups | 92 bottles of champagne | 80 kilos | 1 gala evening
Which Champagne would You treat your parents or in-laws?
‘Probably something mature with a bit of sweetness in the finish, a well chilled Veuve Cliquot Goût Americane.‘
Which Champagne would You treat your lover?
‘Without doubt a 1976 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.‘
Which Champagne would You treat your boss?
‘Pol Roger Vintage Rosé 2008. This is my go-to Rosé champagne and I always stock them in my cellar. It is a versatile and gorgeous wine with vivid fruits and complex flavors. Throughout my career, I have worked for bosses of different backgrounds, cultures and nationalities at organizations in Japan, France and the U.S. Thinking of them, this champagne is generous enough to appeal to and treats each one of them nicely.’
Which Champagne would You treat yourself?
‘I would treat myself with my favorite grower champagnes: Chartogne-Taillet and J-M Sélèque. From Chartogne-Taillet, I would choose “Lés Barres”, a single-vineyard cuvée made from ungrafted old vines. I have been a fan of Alexandre’s champagne for a long time. Each of his wines is so expressive and distinctive. Lés Barres is something I would like to open after a long, hard week. From J-M Sélèque, I would open Rosé Solessence. This is perfect when I want to relax and enjoy myself on a weekend.’
Which Champagne would You treat a dream guest, and why?
‘’Jacques Selosse Substance (Disgorged 09/2009)’
Which Champagne would You treat a dream guest, and why, and who’s is Your dream guest?
‘Egly-Ouriet Blanc De Noirs Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru and I would treat this bottle to the New Zeeland prime minister Jacinda Ardern. A woman whom I’m interested in hearing her views of the world, preferably on site.’
What piece of music would you listen to drinking wine with Your dream guest?
‘During our tasting YoYo Ma would play Bach’s Six Solo Cello Suites otherwise we’d just put on AC/DCs Thunderstruck, on repeat.’
Read some more of our interviews with champagne lovers world wide;
