There are many things and events in life that can make you go breathless from happiness: Watching a wedding couple glide up to the altar.

On occasion, I suffer from a bout of the Scandinavian “Jantelag” (Tall Poppy Syndrome) and almost feel ashamed over my enjoyable job as an expert on scents

Have you seen the warm and memorable feel-good film, The Bucket List, starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson? Two terminal cancer patients, with completely different backgrounds,

Napoleon supposedly said ‘In victory you deserve champagne. In defeat you need it.’ Legendary champagne widow, Lily Bollinger had a similar idea: “I drink Champagne when

It is always nice to travel light. I have Champagne Hiking friends that bring stuff for a week as they embark on a tour. I, on the

There are of course a number of details that will determine how a wine moment is perceived. To make this complex process easier to grasp,

Now that I have shared my favourite Champagne Hiking locations, it is high time for you to try your wings if you have not already done so.

Who? Solo Hiking = When you hike on your own. Pair Hiking = Only you and a friend. Multi Hiking = Champagne Hiking with more than two participants. When? Winter

Once you have read my advice in the first part of the book, on what you should consider before Champagne Hiking, it’s time to choose champagne and

Lidingö, Sweden Champagne: Henriot ‘Millésime‘ Time: May to September. From late afternoon to sunset. ‘What’s more natural than starting our champagne adventure with my champagne oasis. My

Sweden Champagne: Louis Roederer ‘Rosé Millésime‘ Time: A warm, sunny and windless day, from mid-May to the beginning of September. From lunch to sunset. There is nothing

Fårö, Sweden Champagne: Cattier ‘Clos du Moulin‘ Time: May to September. From an international perspective, I would champion Gotland as Sweden’s most interesting and beautiful landscape. The white,

The Åland Islands, Finland Champagne: Veuve Clicquot ‘Cave Privée Rosé‘ Time: June to August. If you are interested in champagne, you probably know that divers in 2010

Finland Champagne: Krug ‘Vintage‘ Time: Any sunny day, May to August. Finland might not be the first country that springs to mind where wine is concerned, but

Norway Champagne: Philipponnat ‘Clos des Goisses’ Time: A sunny day in July, in the afternoon. I love Norway! Not only because my sweetheart is from Norway, but

Norway Champagne: Henriot ‘Cuve 38‘ Time: Any sunny day, May to August. Sweden has produced a large number of great athletes. Many of them significantly greater than

Lofoten, Norway Champagne: Bruno Paillard ‘Blanc de Blancs‘ Time: June to August. Lofoten (Lynx’s foot) has long been a dream destination for me, and we were finally

Lofoten, Norway Champagne: Charles Heidsieck ‘Champagne Charlie‘ Time: June to August. Norway has many gems but Lofoten, with its northern lights and midnight sun, is a treasure

Lofoten, Norway Champagne: Bollinger ‘R.D.’ Time: June to August. Do you always have to make a physical journey to make a Champagne Hiking? Can we not travel in

Iceland Champagne: Jacquesson ‘Vauzelle de Terme‘ Time: June to August. When the self-sacrificing collective of the Icelandic football team created a sensation in UEFA EURO 2016, many

Iceland Champagne: Moët & Chandon ‘Grand Vintage Collection‘ Time: June to August. Have you heard of the ‘Rainbow Mountains’ in the north-west of China? If not, Google

Iceland Champagne: Agrapart ‘Cuvée Venus‘ Time: June to August. ‘And then – then I finally saw the Cherry Valley! Oh, the valley, white cherry blossoms everywhere. White

Iceland Champagne: R.H Coutier ‘Millésime‘ Time: June to August. It may seem strange that it is almost walking distance between three of the Icelandic locations in this

Iceland Champagne: Veuve Clicquot ‘La Grande Dame Rosé‘ Time: June to August. Iceland is not known as a country with a fauna of dangerous animals, but the

Zealand, Denmark Champagne: Ruinart ‘Dom Ruinart Rosé‘ Time: Afternoon to sunset, April–October. The world-famous Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said: ‘Gilbjerghoved will always remain one of my favourite places. This

Zealand, Denmark Champagne: Perrier-Jouët ‘Belle Epoque Rosé‘ Time: Throughout the year. As you know, I have tried to avoid restaurants and instead focus on locations in nature

Jutland, Denmark Champagne: Deutz ‘Amour de Deutz Rosé’ & ‘William Deutz Rosé‘ Time: Afternoon to sunset, April to October. Jutland is a beautiful, windswept and arid part

Jutland, Denmark Champagne: Dom Pérignon Time: A sunny day, June to August. While collecting locations for my joyful Champagne Hiking, one of the first types of nature I

Northern Ireland Champagne: Léclapart ‘l´Apôtre‘ Time: April to September. When Pål and I planned our travels for this book, we didn’t always manage to book flights with

Ireland Champagne: Delamotte ‘Collection‘ Time: April to September. We should have been completely exhausted after our mammoth day, but felt shamelessly alert and enthusiastic as we euphoric

London, UK Champagne: Pol Roger ‘Vintage‘ Time: April to September, depending on the weather. The British are masters when it comes to picnics and champagne. In between

France Champagne: Dom Pérignon ‘Rosé P3‘ Time: April to October. Is there a more regal and Francophile place to enjoy champagne, than at the castle where the

Paris, France Champagne: Moët & Chandon ‘MCIII‘ Time: April to October. Half an hour after leaving Versailles we arrived at the world’s most iconic structure, in tough

Paris, France Champagne: Lanson ‘Noble Cuvée Blanc de Blancs‘ Time: April to October. After such an intense and upsetting day, we weren’t that keen on drinking the

Champagne, France Champagne: Dom Pérignon ‘P3‘ Time: April to October. The British were the first to deliberately produce sparkling wines, and the first French sparkling wine did

Champagne, France Champagne: Krug ‘Clos du Mesnil‘ Time: April to October. Krug’s 1.87 hectares small, walled Chardonnay vineyard in the heart of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger is no Angkor

Champagne, France Champagne: Clos des Goisses ‘Juste Rosé‘ Time: Afternoon to sunset, April to October. The first time I heard of Champagnes steepest hill, was when Christian

Champagne, France Champagne: G.H. Mumm ‘R. Lalou‘ Time: Afternoon to sunset, April to October. It was here, in the heart of Champagne, that the seeds of our

Champagne, France Champagne: Louis Roederer ‘Cristal Rosé‘ Time: All year long, if you are bestowed the rare luxury of a personal invite by Louis Roederer. Get ready for

Champagne, France Champagne: Pommery ‘Clos Pompadour‘ Time: April to October. Les Crayères is one of the world’s foremost champagne oases. To me, the elegant castle and the divine

The Moselle Valley, Germany Champagne: Louis Roederer ‘Blanc de Blancs‘ Time: May to September. The Moselle Valley is the reason why I became a champagne expert. My

Bavaria, Germany Champagne: Pommery ‘Louise Pommery‘ Time: May to September. Having just returned from the Balos Beach (Crete) I jumped behind the wheel of my new BMW

Zermatt, Switzerland Champagne: Veuve Clicquot ‘La Grande Dame’ Time: At noon, June to August. I know nothing better than to travel with my children. This time, just

Zermatt, Switzerland Champagne: Selosse ‘Substance‘ [Watch Anselme Selosse in the Champagne Master Class explain his philosophy on winemaking. Click here.]  Time: In the morning, June to August.

Vicosoprano, Switzerland Champagne: Duval-Leroy ‘Femme‘ Time: At noon, June to August. The order is different in this book, in reality, Mr Yellowbridge and I woke up in

Bellagio, Italy Champagne: Charles Heidsieck ‘Blanc de Millénaires‘ Time: April to September. After our overwhelming experience at Lake Albigna, Mr Yellowbridge and I had no option but to

Portofino, Italy Champagne: Taittinger ‘Comtes de Champagne Rosé‘ Time: April to October. There is no doubt in my mind that Portofino is home to the world’s most

Italy Champagne: Saint Gall ‘Cuvée Orpale‘ Time: From March to June and September to October. Some twenty years ago I was told by a common friend, that

Sorrento, Italy Champagne: Deutz ‘Cuvée William Deutz‘ Time: April to October. The competition between the Italian locations in this book is as fierce as in the Juventus

Capri, Italy Champagne: G.H. Mumm ‘Mumm de Cramant‘ Time: April to October. ‘It was on the Isle of Capri that I found her … This was true

Provence, France Champagne: Deutz ‘Amour de Deutz‘ Time: From March to October. The French Riviera is undoubtedly the most famous beach strip in the world. Cannes, with

Provence, France Champagne: Guy Charlemagne ‘Mesnillésme‘ Time: From March to October. The Riviera is perhaps the most famous and touristy beach strip there is, but there are still

Provence, France Champagne: Jacquesson ‘Avize Champ Caïn‘ Time: From March to October. The aesthetically inclined people have always been dreaming of an all-embracing master piece. The Greek

Porto, Corsica, France Champagne: Taittinger ‘Comtes de Champagne‘ Time: April to November. Afternoon. The island of Corsica is a fragrant paradise. This is especially true for the

Deia, Majorca, Spain Champagne: Ruinart ‘Dom Ruinart‘ Time: April to October. Majorca has been a favourite destination for Scandinavians and Brits since the first charter flights headed

Andalusia, Spain Champagne: Pol Roger ‘Blanc de Blancs‘ Time: March to June, and September to October. Life is too short to drink Spanish Cava! It is the

Algarve, Portugal Champagne: Claude Cazals ‘Clos Cazals’ Time: April to October. Champagne as the perfect drink of love. A romantic encounter, a tête-à-tête. Yes, I believe this

France Champagne: Selosse ‘Rosé‘ Time: May to September. After dinner to sunset. My honey and I recently made a very exciting journey by car through lesser known

Lithuania Champagne: Krug ‘Collection‘ Time: Afternoon to sunset, April to September. Now the time has come for the eastern parts of Europe. Over the years as travelling champagne

Poland Champagne: Laurent-Perrier ‘Grand Siècle‘ Time: April to September. When I compiled my list of potential locations for this book, I did, of course, focus primarily on

Slovakia Champagne: Vilmart ‘Cœur de Cuvée’ Time: April to September. This Slovak champagne excursion is probably the worst planned ever. Pål and I have a relationship like

Austria Champagne: Selosse ‘Le Bout du Clos Ambonnay‘ [Watch Anselme Selosse in the Champagne Master Class explain his philosophy on winemaking. Click here.]  Time: April to October.

Austria Champagne: Selosse ‘La Côte Faron Aÿ‘ [Watch Anselme Selosse in the Champagne Master Class explain his philosophy on winemaking. Click here.]  Time: April to October. I

Austria Champagne: Henri Abelé ‘Collection‘ Time: April to October. After an imperial breakfast, we headed for Zell am See and the next luxury hotel. Grand Hotel at

Slovenia Champagne: Henriot ‘Cuvée des Enchanteleurs‘ Time: April to October. Pål and I made the first trip for this book to Slovenia, and this is where we decided

Slovenia Champagne: Michel Arnould ‘Mèmoires de Vignes‘ Time: April to October. Filled with champagne and wonderful impressions, we walked home with the empty ice bucket under the

Croatia Champagne: Lanson ‘Noble Cuvée‘ Time: April to October. After our second, quieter evening in Bled, we headed for the next climate zone, just a hop, skip,

Greece Champagne: Larmandier-Bernier ‘Vielle Vignes du Lévant‘ Time: April to June, and September to November. Ever since I first saw Roger Moore take a fall from one

Santorini, Greece Champagne: Selosse ‘Millésime‘ [Watch Anselme Selosse in the Champagne Master Class explain his philosophy on winemaking. Click here.]  Time: Sunset, March to June, and September

Amorgos, Greece Champagne: Alfred Gratien ‘Millésime‘ Time: Sunset, March to June, and September to October. This scenic destination made the cut by fluke, and we have Pål’s

Crete, Greece Champagne: Pierre Peters ‘Les Chétillons‘ Time: Dusk or after dinner to sunset, March to mid-June, and September to October. Sweat is pouring from my forehead, down

New York, USA Champagne: Lanson ‘Clos Lanson’ & De Venoge ‘Louis XV Rosé‘ Time: April to October. We have left our beloved Europe and crossed the Atlantic

Ontario, Canada Champagne: Bonnaire ‘Collection‘ Time: May to September. Some twin souls are brought together by fate. A perfect example would be principal dancer Brendan Collins and

San Francisco, USA Champagne: Dom Pérignon ‘Rosé P2‘ Time: April to October. When weather permits. My daughter, Stella, and her boyfriend lived and worked for a few

California, USA Champagne: Billecart-Salmon ‘Cuvée N.F.‘ Time: Throughout the year. When weather permits. It would in all likelihood not be a problem produce a book with hundreds

Nevada, USA Champagne: Piper-Heidsieck ‘Rare‘ Time: March to June, and September to November. Given everything you know about me at this point, you might think that Las

Arizona, USA Champagne: Billecart-Salmon ‘Cuvée Elisabeth Rosé‘ Time: March to May, and September to November. It felt surreal when Stella, her photographing boy-friend Freddy and I left

Region de la Antárctica, Chile Champagne: Tasting of three Pinot based champagnes Time: December to March. Next on our list is South America, perhaps the most exciting

Patagonia, Chile Champagne: Paul Bara ‘Comtesse Marie de France‘ Time: December to March. After our striking Road Hiking in the middle of the road, we settled into Punta Arenas’ only hotel

Patagonia, Chile Champagne: Bollinger ‘Vieilles Vignes Françaises‘ Time: December to March. Any other time, the flat tyre would have had us worried throughout the night, but the

Patagonia, Chile Champagne: Drappier ‘Grande Sandrée‘ Time: December to March. Having spent a few days in the stunning Patagonian national park, it dawned on me that this

Patagonia, Argentina Champagne: Gosset ‘Celebris‘ Time: December to March. Have you also been drooling over Youtube, or been amazed by the National Geographic films, depicting gigantic icebergs that come

Brazil Champagne: Perrier-Jouët ‘Belle Epoque‘ Time: April to June, and September to November. With a sense of loss, but also firm belief in a speedy reunion, we

South Africa Champagne: Pierre Gimonnet ‘Vieilles Vignes Collection‘ Time: October to March. After our adventures in South America, we had our sights set on Africa, the Cradle

South Africa Champagne: Dom Pérignon ‘P2‘ Time: October to March. Broke from my divorce some years ago, I tried to pull myself together by travelling. I took

South Africa Champagne: Moët & Chandon ‘Grand Vintage Collection Rosé‘ Time: November to March. As you know, a perfect Champagne Hiking is always a meditative, relaxing moment in total

South Africa Champagne: Dom Pérignon ‘Rosé‘ Time: November to March. When the weather is rough, the seafarer’s last resort has always been faith, hope and charity. Hope

Japan Champagne: Salon Time: April to October. It’s 03.53, in a hotel room in Tokyo. I should sleep, but I can’t. The circadian rhythm is disrupted, and

Kamakura, Japan Champagne: R. & L. Legras ‘Saint Vincent‘ Time: April to October. Another jet-lagged and sleepless night later, we found ourselves without a cicerone. We made

Kyoto, Japan Champagne: Selosse ‘Le Mesnil Les Carelles‘ [Watch Anselme Selosse in the Champagne Master Class explain his philosophy on winemaking. Click here.] Time: April to October.

Tokyo, Japan Champagne: Lassalle ‘Spécial Club‘ Time: April to October. Tokyo is a perplexing city. The biggest city in the world, it is remarkably quiet and calm.

Tokyo, Japan Champagne: Krug Rosé Time: Throughout the year. Some people regard modern, high-tech Japan as an abomination, while others see Japan as a leading country. No

Hong Kong Champagne: Krug ‘Grande Cuvée‘ Time: Throughout the year. Hong Kong is the champagne capital of Asia. In an area smaller than Stockholm live almost as

Hoi An, Vietnam Champagne: Deutz ‘Blanc de Blancs‘ Time: November to February. As I stayed at the fantastic Four Seasons resort The Nam Hai, I realised that I

Vietnam Champagne: Dampierre ‘Family Réserve‘ Time: November to February, at dawn a morning without rain. I almost decided to call the day a loss and return to

Krabi, Thailand Champagne: Louis Roederer Cristal‘ Time: December to March. Those rare evenings with lower humidity, when the temperature has fallen below 28 degrees. If you read the

Singapore Champagne: Moët & Chandon ‘Grand Vintage‘ Time: All year round. On the rooftop terrace during the cooler days otherwise inside the Lighthouse Restaurant. Time has come for

Queensland, Australia Champagne: Diebolt-Vallois ‘Fleur de Passion‘ Time: June to October, weather permitting. Neither one of us having ever visited Australia, and with beautiful butterflies in our stomachs,

Queensland, Australia Champagne: Perrier-Jouët ‘Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs’ Time: June to October, weather permitting. The next day Alf, and his Range Rover had another fantastic excursion

New South Wales, Australia Champagne: Mumm ‘Collection du Chef de Caves‘ Time: New Year’s Eve. Already as a child, I would get to see images of fireworks from

Victoria, Australia Champagne: Billecart-Salmon ‘Blanc de Blancs Millésime‘ Time: Year-round, weather permitting. After Sydney, we visited the country’s second metropolis, Melbourne. As is sometimes the case, a

New Zealand Champagne: Taittinger ‘Collection‘ Time: November to February. We had finally arrived in the country, by many described as the world’s most beautiful. New Zealandis in principle

New Zealand Champagne: Joseph Perrier ‘Cuvée Josephine‘ Time: November to February on a rare day free of rain. Standing at the end of my bed, Stravinsky’s The

New Zealand Champagne: Gosset ‘Celebris Blanc de Blancs‘ Time: November to February on a sunny day. Mount Cook, like many other places, is named after Captain James

New Zealand Champagne: Laurent-Perrier ‘Cuvée Alexandra Rosé‘ Time: November to February on a rare day free of rain. Fiordland is probably New Zealand most spectacular region, with

Queenstown, New Zealand Champagne: Pommery ‘Louise Pommery Rosé‘ Time: November to February. Pål put the pedal to the metal, driving from Milford Sound towards our final destination, Azur Lodge

Tellus Champagne: Pol Roger ‘Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill‘ Time: A moment of tranquillity, worship and magic. When I ask people where they prefer to do their own Champagne

Tellus Champagne: Veuve Clicquot ‘Cave Privée‘ Time: A starlit sky in the Southern hemisphere, far from the light sources of civilisation. It is said that the gem-studded ceiling

Space Champagne: Bollinger ‘La Grande Année‘ Time: In the future. How about a glass of champagne on earth’s sister planet? Pål and I got the idea as we

I close my eyes, the only sounds a cooing dove, the croak from a crow and the signal from the level crossing gate at the