Wedding champagne
August 18th, 2010
Import and export
August 11th, 2010Well this is it, really. Park Lane is an importer; every month we worsen the trade deficit a little bit as shipments of delicious bubbly head their way over to us from La Belle France.
All in the justification of needs must: as Churchill reminded us (seemingly of Napoleon’s quote before him) “in victory we deserve it [champagne] and in defeat we need it”. Simple. You need it so we import it to keep the supply of personalised champagne flowing.
But I am amazed. In this modern World where even the VAT returns must be filed online, the manual paperwork that accompanies each champagne import is huge with stern penalties if a single bit doesn’t get to the right place - whoever’s fault it is.
And at the coal face, this is what it looks like when Eric (on this occasion) the French haulier pulls up at Frith straight off Le Tunnel ready to discharge 8 pallets of France’s finest.
BUT, to redress the balance in part we have been delighted to send another tranche of animals across La Manche to the ever-fragrant and delicious Helena (and her hubby Patrick). This was not without tribulation as “monsieur le chauffeur” encountered animal rights first hand; while having a tacho rest after leaving us before heading to Poole, his truck was pounced on and the police called. I had to negotiate an emergency resolve (and get the woman lying down in front of the wheels in protest at the cruelty of moving animals - to move), as well as getting the Old Bill to let him on his way. Oh, and did I mention the paperwork for live animal export? No? Probably best as it is beyond belief in complexity and depth: ministry license, animal health license, BCMS cross-check, TB test (don’t mention the badgers), vet inspection, journey log, etc. Didn’t see a box for animal rights protesters, though.
Is this all a day in the life of? Maybe. Perhaps I need to have a word with new neighbour Peter Andre about getting an autobio going as I understand he has some experience in that arena?!
At least the beasts did not look too traumatised when they headed off in search of forage (or frog’s legs, or vin de table, or whatever) on arrival in France.
Bonnes vacances!
John O’groats to Lands End
July 7th, 2010Huge congratulations to the boys who completed the Undentable Run from north north Scotland to the tip of Cornwall. 
I am sure no one forgets the impact of war on serving soldiers but to cover 851 miles to raise money for bereaved military families is just so amazing.
Sustained largely en route by Wild Trail lifestyle bars, the boys certainly looked eager to crack open their special personalised champagne when they reached Lands End.
AND they kept the bottles as souvenirs, rather than popping a message in and despatching them for our Allies in America. Bet the Yanks would have got a bit of a shock to find perfectly labelled champagne bottles arriving on their shores - becuase our personalised labels are guaranteed to stick for 7 years and the inks are totally waterfast!
Which brings me neatly on to friendly fire: I am visiting the producers in France again tomorrow and Friday and this time will definitely add a detailed update and who knows, maybe a You Tube video as well.
Well, miracles can happen!
In the meantime, why not make a quick donation to recognise the boys’ enormous efforts?
Personalised champagne gifts
June 15th, 2010Sunday was one of those magical and truly English summer days. 
A good crowd convened on the local Church for christening of nephew Hector and then back to Nick and Helly’s for excellent lunch and celebration.
AND personalised champagne!
Nick was inspired to produce this label by bottles customers have ordered for christenings via Park Lane online - either for drinking at the event of as champagne gifts.
Unfortunately, there is no accounting for taste when it comes to the label design…
And neither when it comes to the Vicar! Padre Leviseur can properly be described as a “marmite” man of the cloth. Several attendees needed champagne sustenance simply to alleviate the fear of God which Padre’s sermon had struck into the entire congregation when he retold Jezebel’s grizzly death.
I wonder what reaction a congregation would have if champagne was substituted for communion wine? Now there’s a thought!
Amen.
Looking backwards to go forwards
May 21st, 2010Seems like a contradiction in terms but so often it is the rear view we rely on to move forward. I am quite sure that history has been clearly in David Cameron’s mind at the birth of the UK’s Liberal-Conservative coalition government this month.
About the only significant thing I remember from A-level economics - aside from Adam Smith’s invisible hand - was the likening of the UK economy to an economic car which was so very difficult for the Chancellor to steer given that there was only the rear view mirror to look out of for guidance; seems that difficulty still stands twenty years on!
It is certainly this way with the champagne producers. They remember from bygone years how different qualitites of juice need blending differently in order to maintain the consistent style of champagne that is the trademark style of their house.
This, in fact, is the genius and very essence of Non-Vintage champagne in that the blend of cepages (grape varieties) from different crus (villages) and different years gives the blender all the natural tools at their disposal to allow the development of their familiar “house style” and the magical champagne. Just as it was back in day of the so-called inventor of “champagne”, Monsieur Dom Perignon.
And so it is with us at Park Lane - to a point. We now know that personalised champagne is a product that is well suited to the internet. We have high quality champagnes and excellent service. Together this makes a winning and proven coalition. The web site we built needs plenty of work as it evolves but we can deliver that based around the constructive and helpful feedback we receive from our lovely customers (or rather that Nick receives as all feedback goes direct to him!); effectively the rear view mirror telling us what we are doing right and what would make it even better.
So there we are; 
learning from where we have been to navigate to where we are going; rear view all the way… EXCEPT on my recent visit to the producers in Epernay when, while boarding the channel tunnel, the rear view was horrendous and the only thing I knew was that I didn’t want to be there! And that just goes right to the heart of things - add expect the unexpected into the mix and thank you Iceland for another round of UK disruption.
Of course, it is important to be specific about which rear view you are looking into and hoping to learn from…
Bottoms up!
