Where Does Champagne Come From
You might be wondering why this piece of information is important for the buying guide. You might have also been curious at some point about why we put the word Champagne in quotation marks up there. Relax, well explain.
Everybody knows that Champagne and celebrations go hand-in-hand. Its the world-renowned beverage for toasting and undoubtedly adds to the jollification and delicacy of your festivities by tenfold. However, Champagne, with the capital ‘C’ can only come from the Champagne region in France. And champagne with a lowercase c, well thats your moderately-priced or sometimes even bog-standard sparkling wine if not chosen carefully.
Thats why, in order to choose the just-as-great tasting bubbly as it looks, you may want to look for the word Methode Traditionelle on the wine label. As opposed to Prosecco, Champagne is made using the traditional method where the second fermentation is done in individual bottles precisely the reason behind Champagne being more expensive than other sparkling wines, besides its opulent branding.
The 17 Best Champagnes To Give As Gifts
Whether for a client or a friend, a bottle of Champagne makes a fabulous gift.
But the art is in the choosing.
According to Jeffrey Meisel, president and founder of the curated wine and spirits e-tailer Merchants of Beverage, one label does not fit all.
And, especially for a business gift, you want to make sure your selection sends the right message.
As Meisel is in the business of hand selecting Champagnes for different people and occasions, we asked him to create the ultimate Champagne gifting list for business, personal, and holiday giving.
How Long Does Champagne Last After Opening
The bubbles in your Champagne will dissipate within a few hours after opening, but there are tools you can employ to mitigate this, such as sparkling wine stoppers and hinged metal corks. For a down-and-dirty DIY method, try dangling a spoon into the neck of your Champagne and placing it in the refrigerator: the metal of the spoon keeps the air in the bottle neck colder than the air in the reservoir below, creating a “cold cap” which helps to seal in the bubbles. Whether you’re using the spoon trick or one of the re-sealing gadgets, your Champagne should drink pretty nicely for two to three days, as long as it’s kept in the fridge.
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The Producer: Winegrower Cooperative Or Merchant
Champagne is divided into three large families of producers: independent winegrowers, cooperatives and merchants, i.e. the Champagne houses, which buy a large proportion of their grapes from the winegrowers. All of them can produce good and great champagnes. Therefore, this is apparently not an important characteristic for choosing a champagne. Nor is the brand, as some names, unknown to the general public, can easily be compared to the more prestigious operators.
To continue this quest for a good champagne, what sugar content, what colour, how old should it be, and should it be organic?
Laherte Frres Ros De Saigne Les Beaudiers Extra Brut Nv
Part of the Air’s philosophy is going beyond the mainstream labels we as consumers know and love though these certainly have a time and a place and exploring wines from smaller houses that grow their own grapes. “The people that are on our list are moms, dads, sons, and daughters,” says Amanda Echevarria, who has worked at Air’s since 2017. For Echevarria, supporting growers throughout her career has been important from both an economic and social perspective, and some of her most meaningful experiences along the way have revolved around Champagnes from small purveyors. Picking favorites can be tough, she tells me, but she’s always had a soft spot for pinot meunier grapes .
“There’s more to Meunier than meets the eye this grape is so versatile, and that’s the very reason I adore it. You can expect flavors crisp, poached pears and graham cracker to earthy, cheesy mushrooms or jammy prunes, currants, and cherries. This grape is a giver.” Both Echevarria and Ogando are die-hard fans of this bone-dry rosé by Laherte Frères, an embodiment of all there is to love about pinot meunier that’s relatively easy to find, says Echevarria. Ogando describes the flavor profile: “This wine taunts my palate with white chocolate-covered cherry and lightly dried herbs. It’s a vivacious and slightly creamy delight an absolute must-have.”
To buy: $75, winex.com
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The Grapes You’re Toasting With Can Differ Bottle By Bottle
Understanding which types of grapes were used to make your bottle of bubbly will help you find the best style for your palette. Thankfully, it’s all in the label:
Blanc de Blanc:This quite literally translates to “white from whites,” and means the wine was produced exclusively with white grapes. Blanc de Blanc Champagnes are made with 100 percent Chardonnay grapes. In rare cases, this process can involve using Pinot Blanc grapes as well. While initially used to refer to still wines, “blanc de blanc” now almost exclusively refers to sparkling wines and is the epitome of Champagne. The resulting wine bears a strong resemblance to a Chardonnay and has minerality and chalkiness. Think of yellow-hued foods here, like butter, lemons, and tart apples for pairing inspiration.
Blanc de Noir: Similarly, Blanc de Noir, or “white from reds” are made from red grapes, most often Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Interestingly, despite the inclusion of red grapes, Champagne maintains its light coloring because it spends almost zero amount of time in contact with the skins during the winemaking process. These bottles tend to be fruitier and a bit more full-bodied due to the inclusion of red grapes. Red fruits, like raspberries and strawberries, tend to best complement a Blanc de Noir.
Mot & Chandon Imprial Brut
This world-renowned brand is the standard by which you must judge all champagne. And the benchmark is exceedingly high for the Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut.
It is celebratory champagne at its finest. This beverage features an otherworldly golden color courtesy of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier.
The velvety liquid is almost syrupy on the tongue, allowing you to observe heady hints of croissant, honey, and green apples on the first nose.
The second nose is extremely subtle wisps of white flowers mingle with afternotes of lemon curd.
This premium product is authentic French champagne at the most affordable price.
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We Asked 10 Sommeliers: Whats The Best Cheap Champagne
Champagne is popular for good reason: The regions tight regulations and high standards signify that any bottle labeled Champagne will be well made and delicious. Plus, when it comes to celebrations of all kinds, nothing sparks excitement quite like popping the cork on a beautiful bottle of bubbly. But Champagne also comes with a price tag often a very large one.
But the popularity of this style doesnt mean theres no value to be found in the category. For the best deals in this rarely affordable category, we asked wine pros to recommend their favorite bottles under $50. Heres what they said.
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The Best Champagnes Under $150
As you go closer to the over-$100 price point, you’ll start seeing more vintage wines. The grapes for vintages all come from the same year, and the wines are aged longer than non-vintages. Leaving a bottle to sit for three years takes up space, which costs money. There are also constraints on how much is grown in Champagne, France.
“It’s a small area of land, so they can only produce so much,” said Crystal Hinds, who owns Effervescence, a sparkling wine lounge in New Orleans. “You’re paying for the taste of that terroir, which is usually very limestone.”
At under $150, you’ll also see some cuvées, which is a term winemakers use to designate their very special blends. But there’s no real regulation of the term, so its appearance on a label doesn’t ensure quality.
Best Sweet Sparkling Wine: Freixenet Cordon Negro Sweet Cuve Cava
Courtesy of Drizly
Freixenet is one of the best-known names for Spanish cava. While the winerys extra dry gets a lot of attention, their Cordon Negro Sweet Cuvée Cava is equally impressive. Made with the same méthode traditionnelle as Champagne, the cava has a ton of personality and an irresistible creaminess anyone will fall for.
Produced in the Catalonia region of Spain, Freixenets wines are designed specifically for modern tastes and cuisine. Sweet Cuvée Cava is a newer addition to the portfolio and its an expression that is sure to catch on as more people give it a try. The cava is a blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo, and Parellada grapes that come together with a tantalizing peaches and cream taste. Its not too sweet and very approachable, and the elegant black bottle hides its thrifty side, so its perfectly shareable, too.
Region: Catalonia, Spain | ABV: 7% | Tasting Notes: Peach, cream, grapefruit
For a true Champagne, we recommend the Mailly Brut Reserve Grand Cru Champagne because it’s big, bold, and fruity. La Vostra Prosecco, on the other hand, is a dry and acidic prosecco with lovely fizz.
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Gh Mumm Grand Cordon Champagne
G.H Mumm Grand Cordon is a flagship Cuvee featuring a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The result is refreshing sparkling wine with heady notes of fresh fruit.
The champagne has clear transparency and frothy mousse, emphasizing its mid-gold hue.
The lively aroma offers a variety of notes, including butter and green apple, on the first nose.
The second nose has scents of baked apples that give way to a vanilla fragrance. Other notes play around the air, although not quite distinct at this stage.
However, the Bollinger Special Cuvee seems rough on the tongue because of its high acid content. Its a dry champagne, not for individuals with a sweet tooth.
Find The Best Champagne And Bubbly On Any Budget
Theres no doubt about it: trying to find the best Champagne is intimidating. While its exciting to traipse through the sparkling wine aisle, it can turn stressful pretty fast when you see the French names, opulent branding, and hefty price tags. You ask yourself,
How much should I be paying? Is it any good? Will people actually like it?
You panic, grab the prettiest label, and speed off to your celebration, hoping it tastes as good as it looks.
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Should Champagne Be Chilled For Mimosas
When making any cocktailparticularly one thats not served over icechilled ingredients are most ideal in that the colder the collective initial temperature of the drink, the longer it takes to dwindle down to room temperature. Nobody likes a room-temperature mimosa . If both your orange juice and bubbly are chilled, youll be good to go.
The Mailly Brut Reserve Grand Cru Champagne Is Our Top Pick
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The Spruce Eats / Amelia Manley
Whether it’s a wedding, the holidays, or any other big event that calls for a celebration, there’s something magical about popping the cork on a bottle of Champagne.
The Mailly Brut Reserve Grand Cru Champagne is our No. 1 pick because it’s big, bold, and lusciously fruitplus, it’s a true Champagne. If it’s prosecco that your heart desires, we recommend the dry, acidic, and wonderfully fizzy La Vostra Prosecco.
While good Champagne is known to be expensive, there are some fantastic bottles that are budget-friendly. Although there is a lower-priced true Champagne on the list, most of these bottles are not technically Champagne because theyre produced outside of that specific region of France. Instead, theyre classified as sparkling wines and include impressive cavas, proseccos, and sparklers from all over the world.
The Champagnes on this list are most often dry, but there are also some sweeter sparkling wines. The taste will vary based on the grape varieties and methods used to make them, but theyre all filled with festive bubbles and are affordably priced around $20.
Read on for the best cheap Champagnes.
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Why Trust The Spruce Eats
Madeline Muzzi is a food writer and wine expert. In 2015, she completed an advanced course in wine at the International Culinary Center in New York City and passed the test to become a certified sommelier. She loves sparkling wine and doesn’t stress out about pairings.
This roundup was edited by Jesse Porter, who’s worked as a sommelier for several excellent Champagne programsand yet who finds it challenging to maintain a decent Champagne collection at home, as they tend to pair so nicely with pretty much any meal.
Alexandre Filaine Cuve Spciale Brut Champagne Nv
“This bad boy is a culmination of knowledge, love, playfulness, and excitement from the Champagne house of Fabrice Gass , so you’ll see some of that finesse and detail to attention played out with the Champagne released here,” Ogando says of this non-vintage brut Champagne produced by Gass at his own small estate. “It’s just delightful and reminds me of a blueberry açaí bowl on a fluffy buttery piece of brioche.” A pinot noir-heavy blend, Filaine’s Cuvée Spéciale is filled with precision and tension, he adds, opening up a unique world of flavors that’s nothing short of exhilarating.
To buy: $72, vervewine.com
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How We Tested Champagne
We thought it would be interesting to try the best of the no-name champagnes. We sampled from supermarket own-labels made by giant cooperatives to hand-crafted champagnes made by small growers who use only their own grapes, unusual in Champagne. The wines tried ranged from £10.99 to £35 though the majority were in the £20-30 sweet spot.
Each champagne was tasted blind. Not surprisingly the more expensive bottles, on the whole, tasted better. The conclusion? Around £18 seems to be the minimum you should spend. Anything cheaper, youd be much better going for something sparkling from Australia, New Zealand or Spain.
Best American Sparkling Wine: Korbel Natural California Champagne
Courtesy of Drizly
Korbel has been a leader among California sparkling wines for years. Its readily available in almost every wine store and offered in many varieties, so you will be able to easily find a sparkling wine that is as sweet or as dry as you like.
The driest is Korbel Natural, considered the winery’s “house style” of California sparkling wine. It’s produced from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes grown in Sonoma Countys famed Russian River Valley. The winery uses the same traditional methods as French Champagne. This delivers a flavor that mimics the expensive stuff, but at a fraction of the price. One of the great value bottles of bubbly, it pairs wonderfully with oysters and shrimp and is affordable enough to have around for a last-minute celebration.
Region: Sonoma County, California | ABV: 12% | Tasting Notes: Orange, lime, apple
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Grapes And Types Of Champagne
Real Champagne must be produced with approved grape varietals: Pinot Noir , Pinot Meunier , and Chardonnay being by far the most commonly used grapes in champagnes. Other approved grapes include Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Petit Meslier, and Arbane.
The primary types of Champagne are Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, and Rosé, indicating the varieties and the colors of the grapes used.
Blanc de Blancs means the champagneis made using 100% Chardonnay its light and dry taste make this type of Champagne a popular choice for apértifs.
Blanc de Noirs are white champagnes made from the black grape varieties of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Blanc de Noirs Champagnes tend to be richer and full-bodied.
Pink or Rosé champagnes are produced by adding a small amount of Pinot Noir or by pressing the grape skins .
Most champagnes are non-vintage , meaning they are made from a blend of wines made from grapes from different years, as opposed to one years harvest for vintage or millesimé Champagne .
Vintage Champagnes typically reflect the qualities of a single year. Each Champagne house decides whether it will produce a Vintage Champagne in any given year. Non-Vintage Champagnes, on the other hand, reflect a signature house style that tastes consistent year after year.
Katie Holmes Served Another Perfect Look In Oversized Leather Coat And Champagne
You can always count on Katie Holmes to deliver flawless fashion when she steps out for various events in New York City.
After *that* cardigan set moment, I’m pretty much on board with everything the actress wears , and one of her latest outfits is definitely ticking all the boxes for me.
Holmes stepped out for an appearance on Good Morning America earlier this week, wearing an oversized black leather coat by TOVE, shimmery champagne-colored wide-legged pants by Kallmeyer, ultra-shiny pointy silver wedges, and a green suede clutch bag by Savette.
Her look was definitely not textbook, thanks to the mismatched colors and textures, but I’m telling yait works.
Holmes wore her dark hair down and rocked a simple but elegant makeup look.
The actress appeared on GMA to discuss her new off-Broadway show, The Wanderers.
“I love this play. Very complex characters,” she said.
“And really explores human discontentment, but also ultimately you leave the playthere’s a line about living in your miracle. Like, we’re all living in a miracle. And I though, wow, that’s so beautiful just to think about. Take yourself out of your life for a second. But it takes a while to get there, to the end of the play.
“It’s beautifully written, so I’m very excited. I love working with the actors that I’m working with and it’s wonderful to be on stage.”
The play is on at the Laura Pels Theatre from Jan. 26 to March 26. You can grab tickets here.
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