NOTE: Portions of this post were originally published in Forbes.
Recently I was invited to attend a Zoom webinar where we learned how to meditate with Champagne. It was organized by Champagne Henriot, who developed a partnership with Dr. Elisha Goldstein, the Founder of the Mindful Living Collective. At first I was a little skeptical, but after we completed the 10 minute meditation and debriefed it, I found it was not only an eye-opening experience for me, but for others as well. In fact the process has been so successful, that Champagne Henriot trade-marked the experience as a “Medi-Tasting.”
How the “Medi-Tasting” Works
Elisha explained that the medi-tasting is based on the STOP technique. “The S stands for stop everything that you’re doing, the T for take a breath, the O for observe, and the P for proceed. For anyone tasting wine professionally this is very important, because if you come in from a stressful place to taste wine, it will impact how you taste. Therefore, you stop, take a deep breath, and then immerse yourself in mindful tasting.”
What is unique about the tasting is that it focuses on all five senses and emotions, rather than just the three senses of sight, smell and taste, as in most analytical wine tastings.
For sight, it is looking at the wine to appreciate the color and size of the bubbles, but also the emotions that the bubbles create. For me, looking at the tiny swirling bubbles filled me with delight and memories of other great experiences tasting Champagne with friends.
For touch, it is using your hand to feel the part of the glass where it embraces the wine. It is cool or slightly warm? Later when your lips touch the edge of the glass before you sip, how does it feel? Is it smooth? Is there a tickle from the bubbles? Pause to appreciate what you will taste. For me, this was a very strange activity to actually feel my lips touch the glass – almost like a first kiss with someone special.
For smell, it goes beyond just documenting the aromas that rise from the wine, but moves onto the emotions that the smells bring. For example, the lemon, green apple, and mineral notes may be familiar, but the smell of butter croissant in the wine may remind you of a peaceful breakfast at French café. This is exactly what happened to me – I was immediately propelled to the small French village of Vence where I remember having a fresh-baked croissant for breakfast in an outdoor café as I watched shoppers stroll by.
For sound, hold the glass up to your ear. Can you hear the harmony of the dancing bubbles, the hiss and the gentle pop? How does this make you feel? For me, this was the most amazing part of the experience, because I had never thought about listening to the wine in a glass. It filled me with delight and a huge thrill to remember that at its essence, wine is alive.
For taste, it goes beyond just documenting the flavors and finish of the wine, but to think about all of the hands that went into making the wine – tending the vineyards, harvesting the grapes, pressing, blending, aging, and transporting it across land and oceans to your glass. For me, I was immediately transported to the vineyards of Champagne where I had spent time examining the grape leaves with friends during a conference. It was a happy sun-filled memory with laughter, and I could imagine all of the hands and hearts that went into making this glass of Champagne. Thinking about how it was shipped to the US and eventually my house, was also quite mind-blowing, because that is something that we don’t usually consider.
For finish, enjoy the lingering taste of wine in your mouth after swallowing. How do you feel, and what does the holistic experience mean? For me, this was a time to relax and really savor the complete Champagne meditation. It was also when I realized that I had been completely in the moment for the whole 10 minutes, meaning I was deeply involved in the process, and not thinking of all the other work I had to do. Pretty amazing!
Video So You Can Try Meditating with Champagne Too
If you are interested in trying the Champagne Henriot Mediation tasting (Medi-Tasting), the process is available for free at this LINK. Enjoy!
