Just in time for National Seafood Month, champagne house Piper-Heidsieck collaborated with Cameron Mitchell Restaurants including its Ocean Prime brand to create a proprietary champagne blend that pairs perfectly with oysters. Through Piper-Heidsieck’s “Essentiel By” program members of CMR’s team traveled to Reims, France to taste and select this exclusive blend, which launched earlier this month.
Piper-Heidsieck created a custom and exclusive champagne blend, “Essentiel by Cameron Mitchell."
“Essentiel By Cameron Mitchell” is available at 34 CMR restaurants, including 17 Ocean Prime locations coast-to-coast. Two thousand five hundred bottles have been produced and are available for $30/glass or $120/bottle.
Members of CMR’s team, including Andrea Cornwell, director of beverage, Zach Montgomery, regional director and Mike Davis, regional director, met with Piper-Heidsieck CEO, Benoît Collard and Chief Winemaker, Émilien Boutillat, to craft this special blend. Piper-Heidsieck is the first Champagne House in the world to offer its partners the unique experience of crafting their own Essentiel Cuvée to suit their menus.
Andrea Cornwell, director of beverage, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants.
“I knew from the moment I met Benoît Collard that we had made the right decision to partner with Piper-Heidsieck,” says Andrea Cornwell. “He, much like our associates, is a fabulous representation of ‘great people delivering genuine hospitality.’ I knew the quality of their wine was second to none but was amazed to find out it was only surpassed by their care for their people. During our visit to Reims, we enjoyed blind wine pairings while sharing stories of our mirrored philosophies.”
Andrea Cornwell's tasting notes.
The champagne has a bright golden color with an elegant and fine bubble. The nose reveals a bouquet of pears and acacia honey with a touch of brioche, grilled hazelnuts and blackberries notes. The blend is: 45% Pinot noir, 36% Pinot Meunier, and 19% chardonnay.
Piper-Heidsieck chief winemaker, Émilien Boutillat
“Selecting the liqueur of dosage in the same way you select the best spices for the perfect dish enables you to best match wine to food,” says Émilien Boutillat. “In the case of the Essentiel By Cameron Mitchell, we chose a 6 g/L dosage with a Meunier base liquor to bring delicacy, fruitiness and freshness to the Essentiel base wine.”
The exclusive champagne is available at Ocean Prime locations coast-to-coast (except New York), and the following Cameron Mitchell Restaurants: Cameron’s American Bistro, Cento, The Guild House, Martini Modern Italian, The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek, Del Mar SoCal Kitchen, Del Mar Naples, Prime Social, Hudson 29 Kitchen + Drink, Valentina’s, The Pearl, The Avenue Steak Tavern and Lincoln Social. It will be available at future locations opening in 2024, including Big Rock Italian Chophouse, Birmingham, MI, Butcher & Rose, Columbus and Ocean Prime Sarasota.
On Wednesday October 25, 2023 guests can meet Piper-Heidsieck’s Collard or Boutillat and enjoy a Piper-Heidsieck champagne tasting of Essentiel By Cameron Mitchell and passed appetizers. RSVP by emailing by Monday, October 23: privatediningtampa@cameronmitchell.com
