ALL About Champagne

There are close to three hundred houses producing Champagne. A bottle can only be labeled Champagne if it comes from a small area in France call the Champagne region or “Champenois” (the collection of Champagne producers). Bottles produced outside of this region are called sparkling wines, and although all Champagne is classed as sparkling wine, you will come find many bottles of sparkling wine which isn’t Champagne. Spanish Cava and Italian Prosecco are fine examples, as they are produced outside of the “Champenois” region.  Well over 300 million bottles of champagne and sparkling wine are produced each year.

So, how do you choose a good bottle of champagne? Well, choosing a bottle of Champagne may sound a daunting task, but you don’t need to over think the buying process. Once you know what to look for, deciding what to buy is simple. There are a few facts you should know about champagne, such as types and styles and bottle sizes. Once you become familiar with these facts it will be easy to choose the right champagne for the right occasion, and in no time you’ll be picking out the perfect bottles of Champagne.

Types Of Grapes

There are 3 grape types that are used to create Champagne – Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are black grapes, while Chardonnay is a white grape. The quantity of each grape that is used to make a particular champagne varies. If you happen upon a “Blanc de Blancs”, this is Champagne which is made entirely from the Chardonnay grape. “Blanc de Noirs”, however, is Champagne made from the red grapes – Pinot Noir and/ or Pinot Meunier.

Styles Of Champagnes

Champagne comes in a large selection of styles, and can be described as very dry to very sweet. The style that people are most familiar with is the dry style is known as “Brut”. If your preferences run in a slightly drier direction than you might consider looking for “Extra” or “Ultra Brut” bottle of champagne.  If you prefer a slight sweetness than a “Sec” or “Demi Sec” champagne may fit the bill, and if you prefer a desert champagne you might choose a “Doux” which is intensely sweet and very rare method of Champagne.

 

Types Of Champagne

The least expensive type of champagne is known as the “Non Vintage” type. This style is blended from wines of several years and, in doing so, this ensures that a steady style is achieved. “Non-vintage Champagne” is stored for about a year before it is sold, and is basically the entry level or house style Champagne. Going up a level, the next champagne is known as a “Vintage”. This one is also made from a blend wines, but the difference being that these grapes are from a particular year, when the quality of the wine is good enough to declare a vintage. ”Vintage Champagne” will have been stored for at least three years.  If you want to really splurge on a bottle of champagne then you might choose a very special bottle produced in a vintage year, is known as a “Prestige” or “Deluxe Cuvée”.  This champagne is considered the cream of the crop and it will set your wallet back about three times more than a non-vintage and perhaps is double the price of vintage Champagne. The grapes used in the top notch champagne are hand selected, and the Champagne will producers will leave it to mature for five to seven years. The last type is the “Rosé based Champagne” it has a darling pink tinge that comes from adding a tiny amount of darker colored wine to give it the subtle pink hue.

Sizes Of Bottles

Champagne bottles sizes inlcude: 75 cl bottles and Magnums (1.5 litres). However, you will also come across bottles sized Quarter (18.75 cl) and Half bottles (37.5cl), along with Jeroboam (3 litres), Rehoboam (4.5 litres), Methuselah (6 litres), Salmanazar (9 litres), Balthazar (12 litres), and Nebuchadnezzar bottles (15 litres)

 

Find The Right Bottle Of Champagne.

Finding the right bottle of champagne is about personal taste, and aging. Champagne produced in a traditional methods using oak barrels, and fermenting for at least 5 years will produce some of the top notch champagnes available. Younger champagne will be less expensive, but will not have the same quality of finish to the palate as properly aged champagnes.

Find more information here on picking bottles of champagnes and individual reviews of gift champagnes. Pick out a wonderful bottle and have the champagne delivery send it to someone special. The gift of a fine champagne will never go out of style.

 

A Carpentier Brut Champagne, Andre Carpentier Champagne, Billecart Salmon Champagne, Bollinger Special Cuvée, Charles Heidsieck Champagne, de Venoge Champagne, Etienne DumontChampagne, Krug Grande Cuvée, Gosset Grande Réserve, Moët & Chandon Nectar Imperial Champagne, Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial , Louis Roederer Champagne, and many more.

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