Sat. Jan. 30

The Tour de France involves bicyclists and, most often, Lance Armstrong. The “Tour de Champagne” involves champagne and seven American cities, including Cambridge, where it all begins this year on Saturday Jan. 30. Once again, it’s at the Charles Hotel and, while nothing in life is guaranteed, my wife Roza and I went to this last year and “splendid” does come to mind. What you get: Champagnes from over 20 Houses; culinary delights from some of the area’s best chefs, live music and an opportunity to give back. That is, there’s a silent auction benefiting The Greater Boston Food Bank. This takes place from 7-10 and will run you $115. If that’s not quite enough there’s the Fin de Soiree at Regattbar (also in the Charles) where there’s, um, more champagne, more music, a Peyrot cognac tasting, coffee service by EVS Nespresso, and desserts by the Charles Hotel. If you want to include this latter nightcap in your evening, the cost is $145 (total). “If you like champagne, it’s like being turned loose in a candy store,” says my wife, recalling last year’s festivities. “From Cristal to Veuve Cliquot to Krug your head literally spins from your choices.”

   Richard Marble, who lived in the Boston area for 12 years until 1990, came up with the idea for the Tour. It launched in 2008. "I presented it to the French Embassy and got them involved as a semi-parnter. We choose cities where the consulate is a strong one." In terms of the people who go, "what we find," he says, "is we don't see as many French people as we do Francophiles."
   Then, again, isn't champagne universal? "That's really the idea," says Marble. "The aura of champgane is the attraction." 
      This event's featured retailers are Marty's Fine Wines and Federal Wine & Spirits.  They may have up to 28 champagne houses, the heavyweights but also "some small houses on the upswing," says Marble.
       Vinnie Strully, a buddy of mine from many, many Red Sox games - he shares a season ticket plan one row and directly in front of me - was at last year's Tour, too. "It's an excellent event, drinking lots of champagne with great tastes from local restaurants all in support of the Food Bank," says Vinnie, who is the CEO/founder of the New England Center for Children. (Charity is near to Vinnie's heart. The NECC is a world leader in research and education for children with autism; they have centers in Southborough and Abu Dhabi.)  Said Vinne: "I really like the number of small boutique growers represented in addition to the big boys like Veuve, Krug and Moet. You get to taste several hand crafted delicious artisan champagnes form small growers whose reputations are on the rise. It's an all around fun event and you always pick up some new champagne you didn't know about." 

  Music from the Jeremy Carlstedt Jazz Band.

  Oh, yeah, the couple in the photo is my wife and myself at the 2009 Tour. My wife always looks spiffy. Me, sometimes I clean up good. 

1 Bennett St., Cambridge, 617-661-5000 www.tourdechampagne.com/boston