title: The Essence of Champagne: In the Glass and at the Table
author: Tom Hyland
description: Tom Hyland is a Chicago-based wine writer and photographer who has written for such publications as Decanter, The Sommelier Journal and wine-searcher.com. He has traveled extensively to the Champagne region, meeting with winemakers and growers, and tasting their wines with them in the cellars and at restaurants. He has previously written two books on Italian wines; this is his first book about Champagne.
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  ACT ONE
  
  (The living room of Algernon Moncrieff's flat in Mayfair, London. Lane is
  arranging afternoon tea on a table. Algernon enters)
  
  Algernon: Lane, have you made the cucumber sandwiches for Lady Bracknell's
  tea?
  
  Lane: Yes, sir. (Handing them to Algernon on a silver tray)
  
  Algernon: (Looking carefully at them, taking two and sitting down on the sofa)
  Oh, by the way, Lane, I looked at your notebook. I noticed that when Lord
  Shoreman and Mr Worthing dined with me on Thursday night, eight bottles of
  champagne were drunk.
  
  Lane: Yes, sir; eight bottles.
  
  Algernon: Why is it that, in a bachelor's home, the servants always drink the
  champagne? I just ask because I am interested, Lane.
  
  Lane: I think that it is because the champagne is better in a bachelor's home.
  I have noticed that the champagne in married people's homes is rarely very
  good.
  
  Algernon: Good heavens! Is marriage so depressing?
  
  Lane: I believe marriage is very pleasant, sir. I haven't had much experien