There’s something about the Cayman Islands at Christmas that just calls for Champagne. Maybe it’s the way the fairy lights reflect off the water at sunset, or the fact that so many of us seem to be at brunch by 11am on Christmas Day. Whatever it is, we take our celebrations seriously here — and that means taking our bubbles seriously too.
Win a bottle of Champagne from Jacques Scott
More than just a party drink
Champagne has come a long way from being “just” the thing you pop at midnight on New Year’s Eve. According to Sotheby’s wine writer Lucy Shaw, it’s now being taken increasingly seriously by collectors and has exploded onto the secondary market in recent years. The prestigious auction house has noticed a major shift — prestige cuvées from top producers like Salon and Krug are now commanding serious money at auction.
How serious? In June 2024, Sotheby’s held their first-ever auction dedicated solely to Champagne. The sale featured bottles from collector Pierre Chen’s cellar and brought in €1.35 million. Three magnums of Salon 1990 fetched €25,000. A single magnum of Dom Pérignon P3 from 1966 sold for €23,750. We’re not talking about wine you casually open on a Tuesday anymore.
Shaw points out that Champagne covers around 34,000 hectares across 319 villages in northeastern France, and remains the benchmark against which every other sparkling wine is measured. The styles run from fresh and tart to rich and full-bodied — there’s genuinely something for everyone.
What gives Champagne its distinctive character? The wine sits on its lees (that’s the leftover yeast cells, for the non-wine nerds among us) for at least 15 months, and often much longer for the good stuff. That’s where those gorgeous notes of buttered toast and roasted nuts come from. It’s not just bubbles — it’s craftsmanship.
The investment angle
For those who like their hobbies to potentially pay for themselves, Champagne is worth paying attention to. Sotheby’s reports that from 2022 to 2023, the value and volume of Champagne sold at their auctions tripled — jumping from US$1.9 million to US$5.3 million in a single year. A Champagne producer even cracked their top 10 producers sold at auction by value for the first time, with Krug landing in sixth place.
As Sotheby’s experts note, many Champagnes are symphonic in structure — meticulous blends of wines from multiple villages, vineyards, and years. The iconic Krug Grande Cuvée, for example, is a blend of 195 wines from 12 different years. That’s not winemaking, that’s orchestration.
Finding great Champagne in Cayman
Now for the practical bit. You don’t need to fly to France or bid at auction to get your hands on excellent Champagne — Jacques Scott has you covered right here on island.
They’re the Cayman Islands’ largest wine, beer, and spirits retailer, with eight locations scattered across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac (George Town, Seven Mile Beach, West Bay, Harbour Walk, Frank Sound, Savannah, East End, and the Brac). Their flagship Fine Wine Store on North Sound Road was even featured in Wine Spectator and has just undergone a major revamp – if you need another reason to stop by.
The Champagne selection is impressive. They stock the big names — Taittinger, Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger, Moët & Chandon — alongside a solid range of Prosecco and Cava for those times when you want bubbles without the splurge. Interestingly, some of these houses — like Bollinger — also appear at prestigious wine auctions, so you’re sipping in good company.
The Jacques Scott team describes Taittinger Brut Réserve as “Cayman’s favourite Champagne” — an elegant, aperitif-style wine with racy acidity and a fine, creamy mousse. It’s a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and 25% Pinot Meunier, and it’s ridiculously food-friendly.
Even better timing: they’re running a holiday sale right now that includes many of our Champagne favourites.
Matching Champagne to Cayman’s festive calendar
One thing that makes Champagne so perfect for our holiday season is its versatility. As Sotheby’s puts it, it’s best enjoyed before, during, or after a meal — “in both victory and defeat,” as Napoleon apparently said.
For Christmas brunch (let’s be honest, a religion unto itself here in Cayman), a Blanc de Blancs is hard to beat. Made entirely from Chardonnay, it’s got bright citrus and minerality that cuts through eggs Benedict and smoked salmon beautifully.
New Year’s Eve is when you bring out something special. A vintage Champagne or prestige cuvée feels appropriately momentous — whether you’re at one of the restaurants along Seven Mile Beach or hosting at home.
And then there’s January, when Cayman somehow manages to top itself.
Cayman Cookout 2026
The 17th annual Cayman Cookout runs January 14-19, 2026 at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. If you haven’t been, it’s genuinely one of the world’s most celebrated food and wine festivals — and it happens right here on our little rock.
Hosted by chef Eric Ripert (of Le Bernardin in New York and Blue here at the Ritz), this year’s lineup includes José Andrés, Andrew Zimmern, Emeril Lagasse, and Kate Gerwin. Champagne features heavily throughout the weekend, adding to the glamour-meets-Caribbean vibes.
Events sell out fast, so if this is the year you finally go, don’t wait around.
The bottom line
Whether you’re building a collection, hunting for the perfect bottle to bring to Christmas lunch, or just want something lovely to sip while watching the sunset, Champagne delivers. At its best, as the Sotheby’s team notes, it’s as expressive of terroir as any Burgundy — complex, nuanced, and worth slowing down for.
Pop into one of Jacques Scott’s locations to explore what’s on offer this season, or order online and let them bring it to you. Your festive season self will thank you.
Cheers, and happy holidays!