Sunday Sips: Champagne Collet
Out east, winter has reminded us who’s in charge. Snow is piling up in soft, relentless layers, ice is glazing the roads, and the wind coming off the water feels sharper than usual—briny, cold, unmistakably Atlantic. It’s the kind of storm that cancels plans and invites ritual instead: extra blankets, candles lit before dusk, a pot simmering on the stove, and a bottle of Champagne chilling in the snowbank just outside the door.
This is not a day for rushing. This is a day for Sunday Sips.
Today’s pour is Champagne Collet, a house that feels especially right for moments like this—when time slows, conversation deepens, and the line between indulgence and nourishment blurs. There’s something deeply comforting about Champagne in winter. Contrary to its reputation as a warm-weather or celebratory drink, Champagne thrives in the cold months. Its acidity cuts through richness, its bubbles lift heavier dishes, and its elegance brings light to darker days.
As the storm presses in and the world narrows to the quiet indoors, Champagne Collet becomes both companion and contrast: bright against the gray, structured yet generous, celebratory without being showy.
A Champagne with History and Soul
Champagne Collet was founded in 1921, in the historic Grand Cru village of Aÿ, a place synonymous with Pinot Noir of depth and distinction. Unlike many large Champagne houses built on branding first and vineyards second, Collet was born from growers—people whose hands were already in the soil, whose lives followed the rhythms of the vine.
That origin story matters. You can taste it.
Collet operates as a cooperative, but not in the anonymous, industrial sense that word sometimes implies. Instead, it is a collective of growers committed to expressing terroir with precision and restraint. Grapes are sourced primarily from Premier and Grand Cru villages, and the house style leans toward balance: freshness without austerity, richness without excess.
There’s also an aesthetic thread that runs through Collet’s identity. The flagship Art Déco Brut nods to the design movement that rose alongside the house itself—clean lines, thoughtful detail, quiet glamour. It feels intentional rather than nostalgic, which mirrors the wine inside the bottle.
Champagne Collet doesn’t shout. It speaks clearly.
Why Champagne Works in Winter
There’s a misconception that Champagne belongs to summer terraces and New Year’s Eve countdowns. But winter, especially deep winter, is where Champagne truly shines.
Cold weather invites richer food—roasted vegetables, creamy sauces, slow-cooked dishes, toasted nuts, and crusty bread. Champagne’s acidity slices through these flavors, refreshing the palate while enhancing complexity. The bubbles add lift, making even the heartiest vegan dishes feel lighter and more complete.
During a snow and ice storm, when you’re holing up and leaning into comfort, Champagne becomes less about celebration and more about care. It’s a reminder that pleasure doesn’t have to wait for perfect conditions. Sometimes it’s best enjoyed precisely because the weather is imperfect.
Tasting Champagne Collet: A Winter Lens
While Collet produces several cuvées, the Art Déco Brut is a natural centerpiece for a Sunday like this.
In the glass, it’s pale gold with a fine, persistent mousse. On the nose, you’ll find lemon zest, green apple, white peach, and subtle brioche—fresh but not lean. There’s a hint of almond and chalk underneath, grounding the brightness.
On the palate, the wine is beautifully balanced. The acidity is lively but integrated, the fruit precise, the finish clean and gently savory. It’s a Champagne that invites food, which makes it especially compelling for plant-based cooking.
This is not a Champagne that dominates the table. It participates.
Vegan Pairings for a Snow-In Sunday
When the storm outside makes venturing out unthinkable, the kitchen becomes the heart of the day. Vegan food, with its focus on vegetables, grains, legumes, and fats, pairs exceptionally well with Champagne—often better than traditional meat-based dishes.
Here are some winter-perfect vegan pairings that sing with Champagne Collet:
1. Roasted Root Vegetables with Olive Oil & Thyme
Think carrots, parsnips, delicata squash, and fennel, roasted until caramelized. The natural sweetness of the vegetables mirrors the fruit notes in the Champagne, while the acidity cuts through the olive oil richness. Add flaky salt just before serving for contrast.
2. Creamy White Bean & Garlic Soup
A velvety soup made from cannellini beans, slow-cooked garlic, vegetable stock, and a splash of olive oil is pure winter comfort. Champagne’s brightness lifts the creaminess, preventing the dish from feeling heavy. A drizzle of chili oil or cracked pepper adds a gentle edge that the bubbles happily soften.
3. Mushroom-Forward Dishes
Mushrooms and Champagne are a natural match. Try:
Miso-glazed roasted mushrooms
Mushroom and leek risotto made with vegan butter
Crispy mushroom crostini with cashew cream
The umami depth of mushrooms brings out the savory side of Champagne Collet, especially its subtle brioche and almond notes.
4. Vegan Cheese Boards (Yes, Really)
Cashew-based cheeses—particularly those cultured or aged—pair beautifully with Champagne. Add Marcona almonds, olives, dried apricots, and crusty bread. The salt and fat create a perfect backdrop for the wine’s acidity and effervescence.
5. Chickpea or Lentil Dishes with Citrus
A warm chickpea stew with lemon, garlic, and herbs, or lentils dressed with mustard and shallot vinaigrette, echo Champagne’s citrus profile while grounding it with earthiness. These are simple dishes that feel elevated with a good bottle on the table.
6. Crispy Potatoes with Aioli
Few things feel more indulgent during a snowstorm than crispy potatoes—whether roasted or pan-fried—served with a vegan garlic aioli. Champagne loves fried food, and Collet’s structure keeps the pairing elegant rather than indulgent to excess.
Setting the Scene: Storm Outside, Warmth Within
There’s something almost cinematic about sipping Champagne while snow and ice coat the world outside. The contrast heightens everything—the warmth of the room, the sound of cork popping, the gentle clink of glasses.
Out east, storms have a way of slowing time. Roads go quiet. The usual rhythm of errands and obligations fades. What’s left is presence: the meal in front of you, the person beside you, the glass in your hand.
Champagne Collet fits this mood perfectly. It doesn’t demand attention; it rewards it. It’s the kind of Champagne you can sip slowly over an afternoon, letting it evolve in the glass as the light shifts and the storm carries on.
A Champagne for the Long View
What makes Champagne Collet especially appealing for a Sunday feature is its sense of continuity. This is a house that has seen wars, economic shifts, climate changes, and cultural reinvention—and yet it remains rooted in place and purpose.
That steadiness feels comforting in winter. It mirrors what we seek when we cook nourishing food, open good wine, and choose to stay in rather than push through bad weather. There’s wisdom in honoring the season rather than resisting it.
Collet’s wines don’t chase trends. They focus on balance, terroir, and drinkability—qualities that age well, both in bottle and in life.
Sunday Sips, Redefined
“Sunday Sips” isn’t about indulgence for indulgence’s sake. It’s about intention. About choosing something well-made, thoughtfully sourced, and suited to the moment.
During a winter snow and ice storm out east, Champagne Collet becomes more than a beverage. It’s a gesture—a way of saying that even when the world feels cold and uncertain, beauty and pleasure are still available to us. Sometimes especially then.
Paired with good vegan food, shared slowly, Champagne Collet proves that plant-based cooking and fine wine are not opposing ideas but natural partners. Together, they create meals that are both grounding and elevating, nourishing and celebratory.
So let the storm rage. Light another candle. Refill the glass.
This is what Sundays are for. 🥂❄️
