Champagne

Champagne is a celebratory drink used to toast newlyweds or commemorate milestones. It can be an aperitif, it can be served during a meal, or it can be served with dessert. Vintage Champagne, the product of a single harvest, is preferred as it is bottled only in years when conditions in the vineyard have been favorable; non-vintage Champagne is released at regular intervals. Champagne cocktails like Bellini (with fresh peach puree and juice), Black Velvet (with stout), Mimosa (with orange juice), and Poinsettia (with cranberry juice) are quite popular at chic bars as they are more genteel than Martinis.



Champagne originates from vineyards in the French region of Champagne. Hence, if you see a bottle with "Champagne" on the label, it is an assurance that this wine has been produced in the northern French region. Sparkling wine made anywhere else in the world, even if the traditional "methode champenois" is used, is just sparkling wine. Therefore, Champagne is always spelled with a capital C. The "champenois" (producers) are protective of the name "Champagne" and take legal action against anyone who uses it improperly.
There are three grapes (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay) used to make Champagne although manufacturers often legally include small quantities of other grape varieties. The first two are black grapes, while the latter is white. The label specifies the contents: "Blancs de Blancs" is Champagne produced from white grapes and is a very delicate wine. "Blanc de Noirs" is Champagne produced from black grapes; it is concentrated, with a strong fruit flavor and bouquet. If neither description appears on the label, chances are that the wine is a blend of the three grapes.
A large part of its appeal is due to the bubbles that spill forth when a bottle of Champagne is uncorked. These bubbles are caused by tiny drops of liquid disturbed by the escaping carbon dioxide or carbonic acid gas that is a natural spin-off of the double fermentation procedure exclusive to Champagne. Cheers!

French Champagne

Champagne is a sparkling wine that originates from the Champagne region of France, approximately 100 miles off Paris. The region encompasses Marne, Haute-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, Aisne and Aube, and the towns of Reims and Epernay; this region has been producing wine for years, but it was only in the nineteenth century that sparkling wine became Champagne's key product.



Today, by law, only sparkling wines made following the local appellation laws and originating in the viticultural region of Champagne are allowed to use that name. In fact, the "champenois" (wine producers) have been known to take legal action against anyone who uses the name improperly; they feel that if a bottle has "Champagne" on the label, it should act as a guarantee that this wine has been produced in the northern French region.
Further, the term "methode champenois" on the label certifies that the sparkling wine was made using the traditional French process. In this process, the second fermentation takes place in the bottle, followed by years of the bottles lying on their sides to age. The bottles are then angled in large racks so the sediment collects in the cap. Subsequently, the neck is frozen in brine, and the caps then swiftly removed so the sediment blows right out of the bottle. This procedure is followed by another few months of aging.
Sparkling wine made anywhere else in the world, even if the traditional "methode champenois" is used, is just sparkling wine. Interestingly, everybody is manufacturing sparkling wine these days. The Spanish call it "Cava". The Germans use the term "Sekt". In Italy, Champagne is known as "Spumante" or "Frizzante". Hence the term "French Champagne".