While in France....

Marvina S. Robinson
Oct 18
2 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

October 19th. Paris.

I’m at La Grande Épicerie de Paris, which means I’ve convinced myself I’m just running a few “simple errands.” Butter is non-negotiable.Cheese is expected. And of course, I’m stocking up on the French delicacies I always bring back with me. One of my favorites? Smoked duck.It’s rich, elegant and somehow tastes better simply because I carried it home from Paris myself. There are certain things you don’t compromise on, this is one of them.

I’m feeling very accomplished. Very focused. Very adult.

And then…the Champagne section calls my name.

I tell myself I can skip it. I’m here for butter and smoked duck, not bubbles. This is a grocery store, after all.

I do not skip it, what kind of champagne lover would I be???

The Champagne Aisle

There is something about seeing Champagne displayed so effortlessly. No velvet ropes. No dramatic lighting. Just shelves lined with confidence.

I move slowly, taking it all in familiar labels, quiet legends and a few bottles that make me stop mid-stride. And that’s when I see it....

Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2015

This bottle has been on my list for a while. Not because it’s flashy, but because it’s intentional. Created in honor of Sir Winston Churchill, who preferred his Champagne bold, structured and unapologetic.

The 2015 vintage carries that same energy, layered, powerful and patient. This is not a Champagne you rush. It asks you to sit down, pay attention and let the moment unfold.

I glance at the price (it's cheaper and i'm calculating the exchange rate and my VAT refund). Paris has a way of reminding you that Champagne makes more sense at the source.

Butter Secured. Duck Packed. Notes Taken.

I leave La Grande Épicerie with butter in my bag, smoked duck carefully packed and Champagne very much on my mind. This is why I love being in France. Champagne isn’t a spectacle here, it’s part of life, part of the table, part of the rhythm.