Let’s Talk Story With Chuck Furuya

And Chef Christian Page

As we continue into 2023 at Lanai City Bar & Grill, we wanted to create more and more informational pieces which we hope will shed more light on what we offer.

We transitioned in the second half of 2022 to a wine program, which featured family owned & operated wineries, indigenous grape varieties when appropriate, heirloom / heritage vines & those that are farmed more sustainably.

For this 2023 inaugural piece we look to highlight 2 brilliant renditions from Champagne, France.

The largest (quality) category of Champagne available here in Hawaii is Négociant Manipulant (NM).  Part of the legal stipulations include—you can buy grapes, juice or wine and then use them to make a House blend to your style.  So, that category includes Champagne houses like Veuve Clicquot, Nicolas Feuillatte & Moët Chandon just to name 3.  

The smallest (quality) category of Champagne available here in Hawaii is Récoltant Manipulant (RM)—which is nicknamed “grower” Champagne.  Part of the legal stipulations include—you must own your own vineyards, farm your own vineyards, make your own wine & bottle your own wine.  While that’s not necessarily a quality determinant, it can say something about artisan/ handcrafted wines, as the finest estates are normally quite small in size & production.

We proudly offer two RM Champagne at Lanai City Bar & Grill:

J. LASSALLE Brut Preference  "Premier Cru"

J. Lassalle was established in 1942 in the village of Chigny-les-Roses on the Montagne de Reims.  Their estate vineyards are ALL PREMIER CRU rated, which is quite prestigious, notable & desired.  The style of these wines is unforgettable—so wonderfully sheer, elegant, ethereal, graceful, refined, seamless with a certain ampleur, as they say.  Today, run by THREE generations of ladies, their wines are of the highest standards done with their tradition of  “une femme, un esprit, un style” (one woman, one spirit, one style), which holds true today more than ever.

PEHU-SIMONET Brut Rosé Face Nord “Grand Cru"

David Pehu studied oenology in Burgundy, France, and is the 4th generation of his family to own & operate this small 7.5 hectare domaine.  He is a real fanatic in his quest, using only Grand Cru grapes in his wines, thus selling off those that are only Premier Cru in pedigree.  (How fanatical is that?).  His wines make statements—more profoundly fleshy & glossy—reminiscent of a stallion thoroughbred in stature & style.  His Rosé Champagne sets a clear standard for his neighbors to chase.  Grand Cru, baby!!!!!!  Come & get it, while you can.

- Chuck Furuya