Champagne (called "sparkling wine" when from outside France) is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Muscat and other grapes. As with any wine, let personal preference be your guide.
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1. Taste various champagnes to get an idea of what kinds appeal most to you.
2. Ask friends whose tastes you respect for advice and recommen-dations, and don't be afraid to consult wine sellers as well.
3. Familiarize yourself with the various types of Champagne (from France) and sparkling wine (from California) as well as their various characteristics: dry or sweet, creamy or yeasty, crisp or dry, full bubbles or delicate bubbles - and remember, these characteristics are subject only to your tastes.
4. Familiarize yourself with the reputations of sparkling-wine producers. Ask how their wine is made and how they were rated in previous years.
5. Choose champagnes for entertaining with an eye not just on your own tastes, but on those of your guests - and your budget.
"Sparkling wines" are from California, while the French insist (to the point of legal action) that true Champagne comes only from specified regions of France. When selecting wine, consider vintage, region and wine producer.
Obtain a copy of a current vintage chart, which rates different years' grape quality. For example, 1990 and 1995 were good years for France's Loire and Champagne regions, while California had good years in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995. (See the related sites for more on
vintage charts.)
Enroll in a wine-appreciation class if you want to learn more about how to taste, judge and recognize the various characteristics of wines.
Expect flavors such as melon, peach, apricot, dry, green apple and toast when tasting sparkling wine.
Champagne instantly conjures up images of festive celebrations, but there's no need to wait for a special occasion to break out the bubbly. This sparkling wine has taken its rightful place on the dinner table as a delicious food accompaniment, with more affordable selections available than ever. Go to http://www.winespectator.com/ for insider tips on the best vintages, but keep in mind that a mid-range champagne may actually give you the best bang for your buck.
The only legitimate Champagne, according to French law, hails from France's Champagne region.
All other products. (California's Korbel Champagne being one exception.) Called spumante in Italy, sekt in Germany, and vin mousseux in France.
A rigorous, multistep process. Indicates a top-quality sparkling wine was made exactly the same way as French champagne--"fermented in this very bottle."
Made only on occasions. Wines from the declared year must compose at least 80 percent of the cuvee (blend of still wines), with the balance coming from reserve wines from prior years. Must be aged for three years before rele4ase.
These blends of usually five to seven years make up 75 to 80 percent of those bottled. It is typically made in a definitive house style and maintained by meticulous blending. It is with this reserve that the winemaker is able to create the same style every year.
Determined by the winemaker during the process of fermentation with the addition of dosage (a secret blend of wine, sugar and sometimes brandy). Levels include brut (very dry), extra brut (extra dry, but sweeter than brut), sec (medium sweet), demi-sec (sweet, considered a dessert wine) and doux (very sweet, considered a dessert wine).
Made by adding a small amount
of red still wine to the cuvee, although some producers extract color by macerating the juice with red grape skins.
The clearer the better and more full-flavored. Made entirely from the red Pinot Noir and/or Meunier grapes.
Usually more delicate and the lightest in color. Made entirely from Chardonnay grapes.
Made with only slightly more than half the pressure of standard sparkling wines. Has a creamier mouth-feel.
The top ranking a French vineyard can receive. Means "great growth."
Second highest ranking of French vineyards. Means "first growth."
A French term for "great brand" and is used unofficially to refer to the best champagne houses.
Also Read:
How To Make Great Drinks