The Desserts & Champagne Marketplace Booth

One of my favorite staples at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is the Desserts & Champagne Marketplace Booth which is located at the beginning of the World Showcase Promenade just to the right. As a long time champagne drinker, and dessert lover this booth brings together some of the tastes that I love most. Today we're going to focus on the champagne, but first let's just take a peek at those desserts.

Dessert Trio
The sponsor for this booth's bubbly is Moet & Chandon, one of the finest names in champagne since 1743. No less than four selections of their champagnes are being offered at this year's festival to suit a variety of pallets. When choosing the best champagne for you to try you need to understand the vocabulary, which is slightly different from that of wine. A "Dry" champagne is actually going to be one with the sweeter flavors. A "Brut" champagne is going to be more astringent with flavors that have mineral or yeasty notes, it would be called dry if you were talking about still wine. If you like your wines or cocktails sweet and fruity, you will want to stay away from "Brut" champagne.

Desserts & Champagne Marketplace Booth Menu
Moet & Chandon Imperial
This is the iconic champagne that embodies the main stylistic elements of the brand. Classic and elegant this is a "Brut" champagne. It's main scent reflects the minerals of the terrior, brioche and nuts, while on the palette you find subtle white fruits. I would pair this with the Yogurt Panna Cotta or the Dark Chocolate Mousse.

Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial
New this year this is one of the most unique champagne offerings anywhere and it's available at the Desserts & Champagne booth in 2012. This brand new champagne experience is slightly sweeter than the classic Imperial and has notes of a summer fruit salad. It's said to relax into a bright, very drinkable glass as your ice melts. This is the first and only champagne that has been especially created to be enjoyed over ice. I'm really looking forward to giving it a try with the Lemon Custard with Blueberry Compote.

Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial
Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial
Defined by its flavors of exotic yellow fruit flavors with a peachy hue and nose. It's an "Off-Dry" wine that finishes just slightly syrupy. I might try this with the Lemon Custard with Blueberry Compote. However, what this one really pairs best with is blue cheeses, black pepper, and spicy foods. So perhaps grab a glass and head over to China for some food.

Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial
The pretty in pink bubbly with notes of wild strawberry, raspberry and cherry both in nose and palette. My favorite of the Moet & Chandon selections I've tasted in previous years, this romantic glass pairs well with red fleshed fruits, so I would give it a try with the Yogurt Panna Cotta to pick up on the top flavors of Raspberries and Pomegranate. I'm also quite fond of drinking this one on it's own.

Bottles Waiting To Be Uncorked
My thanks to the Disney Food Blog for exclusive use of their images. All that being said, everyone's taste in alcohol is a little different, and a truly "good" champagne is simply the one that you like best. My opinions will not necessarily be the same as yours. There's no right or wrong. I hope this has inspired you to give one of these fine drinks a try! Leave a comment and let me know which you prefer.