“Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!”

            ~Dom Perignon upon making Champagne

Champagne, a sparkling wine, provides the perfect accessory to a celebration or just an evening at home. It is produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France, all other bubbly is labeled as sparkling wine. In order to qualify as sparkling wine within the Champagne region a wine must:

1. Be produced within the Champagne district.
2. Be produced from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and/or Pinot Meunier grapes grown there.
3. Get its bubbles via the méthode champenoise.

Lying just 90 miles Northeast of Paris, Champagne is one of the most well know appellations in France. However, the grapes of this region struggle to reach maturity and are extremely acidic. The factor that makes this region stand out is its sparkling wines. The soil contains deep layers of chalk, and both the soil and climate are similar to Southeast England. Champagne grapes are picked later in the year because the region has a colder, shorter growing season.

 

Champagne production occurs through a method called méthode champenoise. After primary fermentation and bottling, a second fermentation occurs in the bottle. This fermentation is induced by adding grams of yeast and rock sugar to the bottle. Maturation can last from 1.5 years to three years depending on the harvest. At this time, the Champagne bottle is sealed with a crown cap, similar to those used on beer bottles. CO2 is created through the fermentation process and dissolves into the liquid. Each bottle then goes through a process called remuage to remove the deposits of dead yeasts cells or lees. In this process the the bottle gradually goes from horizontal to upside-down, capturing the lees in the neck of the bottle. The necks of the bottle are frozen, caps removed and the gas pressure shoots out the frozen lees. The bottles are topped off with reserve wine and corked, ready for consumption.

 

Champage varies on level of sweetness and style. Below are a few basics:

 

*Brut: Very dry, usually the best quality and good with food

*Extra Dry: A little more sweet than Brut, just off-dry

*Sec: Medium-dry, good for parties

*Doux: Sweet, dessert style Champagne

*Non-Vintage: Blend of two or three vintages

*Vintage: Made from a single harvest and the best grapes

*Blanc de Blancs: Made only from Chardonnay, usually fruity and creamy

*Blanc de Noirs: Made only from the two Pinots. Full-bodied

*Rosé: Made by blending some red wine into the Champagne.