When the most awarded champagne house of the century, Piper-Heidsieck, came to Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR), including its Ocean Prime brand with an opportunity to redefine the art of food and champagne matching through the “Essentiel By” program and create a proprietary champagne blend, the CMR team was exuberant about the possibilities of a collaboration.
Piper-Heidsieck and Cameron Mitchell Restaurants Introduce ‘Essentiel’ Champagne Blend
Launching October 10, 2023, Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel By Cameron Mitchell will be available at 34 CMR restaurants, including 17 Ocean Prime locations coast-to-coast . Two thousand five hundred bottles of Essentiel By Cameron Mitchell have been produced, and will be 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, traveled to Reims, France to meet with Piper-Heidsieck CEO, Benoît Collard and Chief Winemaker, Émilien Boutillat, to taste and select this exclusive blend. Piper-Heidsieck is the first Champagne House in the world to open its winery doors, offering its partners the unique experience of crafting their own Essentiel Cuvée to suit their menus.
The champagne boasts 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. Complex and balanced, this wine offers a beautiful finesse and length in the mouth. The blend is: 45% Pinot Noir, 36% Pinot Meunier, and 19% Chardonnay.
Collard explains, “Thanks to partners like Cameron Mitchell Restaurants we were able to take into account the emotions carried out by their fantastic restaurants into the experience of our winemaking, enjoying one of our most iconic cuvées, Essentiel Extra Brut. As part of the collaboration, a blind tasting technique was used to elaborate the Essentiel By liqueur of dosage, with our Chief Winemaker guiding our partners’ senses through the entire experience.”
Boutillat adds, “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. 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.”
Piper-Heidsieck has only partnered with a handful of on-premise venues and sommeliers around the world because it is a very unique process that requires deep expertise and creativity. These venues include Riley Huddleston at The Lido House in California, The Atlas in Singapore and the Michelin-starred restaurant The Coach, headed by Chef Sarah Hayward, in the UK.
Cornwell of CMR states, “I knew from the moment I met Benoît Collard that we had made the right decision to partner with Piper-Heidsieck. 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.”
The exclusive champagne will be 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.
Three exciting in-market events will take place, where guests can enjoy meeting Piper-Heidsieck’s Collard or Boutillat, and enjoy a one-of-a-kind Piper-Heidsieck champagne tasting of Essentiel By Cameron Mitchell and passed appetizers. A credit card is required to RSVP.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Monday, October 16, 2023 / 5:30-6:30pm
$100/person
RSVP by emailing by Friday, October 13: privatedininglasvegas@cameronmitchell.com
Mitchell’s Ocean Club – Columbus, OH
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 / 5:30-6:30pm
$100/person
RSVP by emailing by Monday, October 16: privatediningoceanclub@cameronmitchell.com
Tampa, Florida
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 / 5:30-6:30pm
$100/person
RSVP by emailing by Monday, October 23: privatediningtampa@cameronmitchell.com
About Piper Heidsieck:
Founded in 1785, Piper-Heidsieck owes its success to its bold leadership and pioneering spirit with innovation always remaining at its core. As a B Corp Certified company, the House showcases its unwavering commitment towards an inclusive, equitable and regenerative future throughout its entire winemaking ecosystem, community, and workplace.
As The Most Awarded Champagne House of the Century*, Piper‑Heidsieck has fostered its reputation of wine excellence well beyond the borders of France to reach Champagne lovers in every corner of the globe. Since 2018, Piper-Heidsieck has been paired perfectly with one of the youngest Chief Winemakers, Émilien Boutillat, who is charged with safeguarding Piper Heidsieck’s unique philosophy and leading the House into a new sustainable chapter.
By holding a dual certification of VDC and HVE** in its vineyards since 2015 and joining the IWCA*** in 2022, Piper-Heidsieck continues to improve the quality and authenticity of its wines and acknowledges its global responsibility to positively impact the environment through sustainable practices. In 2022, Piper-Heidsieck became B Corp Certified by joining a community of companies that are leading a global movement to create positive social and environmental impact. The certification reflects the House’s pioneering ethos and daring initiative to be a driving force of change within the Champagne industry. Piper-Heidsieck advocates for the arts and film industry and supports not-for-profit organizations that speak to the House’s core values, while also championing diverse and emerging talent within its employees and collaborators around the world. Since its foundation, Piper-Heidsieck has been free from convention and aspires to innovate and convey self-expression. Today, it brings together Champagne drinkers from 100 countries worldwide, with one bottle popped every six seconds.
* Piper-Heidsieck’s Chief Winemakers received the prestigious title of “Sparkling Winemaker of the Year,” awarded by the International Wine Challenge jury in 2004, 2007, 2008, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2021.** VDC: Sustainable Viticulture in Champagne / HVE: High Environmental Value
*** IWCA: International Wineries for Climate Action
About Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR):
Founded by Cameron Mitchell in 1993, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, LLC (CMR) has built a diverse portfolio of varied concepts, ranging from multi-location upscale destinations to single neighborhood favorites. Today, CMR operates 49 restaurants company-wide under 21 different concepts, with 25 restaurants located in Columbus, Ohio. In addition, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events, the premier catering and event planning company in Central Ohio, oversees three venues in Columbus. The national Ocean Prime concept has 18 locations in 14 states plus the district of Columbia, with future locations opening in Sarasota, Florida and Nashville, Tennessee in 2024-2025. The Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern, a sister company of CMR, currently operates 21 locations in five states. CMR is partnering with Crawford Hoying to open a luxury boutique hotel in Dublin, OH in 2026. CMR and the various concepts have received numerous culinary, leadership, entrepreneur, community service and readers’ choice awards. For more information, visit www.cameronmitchell.com.
As seen on CNN, Forbes and Smart Business, Mitchell shares his story and the wisdom he has gained through the years in his new book “Yes is the Answer. What is the Question?”, available now — www.shopcameronmitchell.com.
About Ocean Prime:
Ocean Prime is a nationally-acclaimed, dynamic seafood and steakhouse from the award-winning Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. Ocean Prime delivers an elevated experience with exceptional ambiance, a chef-curated menu, signature hand- crafted cocktails, a Wine Spectator-honored wine list and genuine hospitality.
Ocean Prime’s menu is elaborate and modern, featuring indulgent seafood presentations, prime steaks, hand-rolled sushi, decadent side dishes and house made desserts. Each dish is carefully made from scratch by the chef team, emphasizing quality ingredients. Ocean Prime cocktails are inspired by classics and delivered with creativity. Just as the concept’s chef’s approach to food, its bartenders take a thoughtful approach to cocktails, using the finest spirits, hand- squeezed juices, and unique aperitifs. Guests create lasting memories raising a toast with their signature smoking Berries & Bubbles or spicy Pineapple Picante.
Every Ocean Prime restaurant is uniquely designed to capture the energy and elegance of each city — making it an unmatched destination to socialize, talk business, celebrate, and indulge. Each location features stunning private dining rooms fit for celebrating with groups of all sizes. Guests can expect best-in-class hospitality from the passionate and knowledgeable associates coast-to-coast.
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Embracing its midwestern roots, Ocean Prime places the highest value on its people. They care deeply about delivering genuine hospitality and believe that every member of the team is essential to creating a memorable Ocean Prime experience. Ocean Prime empowers its associates to say, “Yes is the answer. What is the question?”
Guests can experience Ocean Prime in 18 locations around the country: Beverly Hills, Boston, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver (Tech Center and Larimer Square), Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Naples, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Tampa, Washington, DC. Ocean Prime Sarasota will open late 2024, and Ocean Prime Nashville will open in 2025.
