Champagne

Champagne is one of the world's most famous wines, yet few know the history and details behind the iconic drink. Produced from the specific Champagne region in France, this sparkling wine undergoes unique processes to attain its name and is distinct from the rest of the world's sparkling wine. With multiple producers, flavors, and bottles, each glass is multi-faceted, luxurious, and sure to enhance the style of any celebration.

History of Champagne

The modern history of Champagne began in the 16th century when the region received a generous boost thanks to local laws. Parisian authorities forbid cabaret owners from sourcing wine within a 90-mile radius of the 'City of Lights,' leaving Champagne as the perfect region to buy wines. From then, more vintners moved to Champagne and started winemaking businesses. The sparkling wines created from chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier were far from perfect, however, as winemaking techniques at this time left lots of cloudiness in the final bottles. It was not until Madame Clicquot Ponsardin, the widow of a local winemaker, created the Reumage, a technique that involved resting bottles at an angle to expel the wine of cloudy yeast. The result was a sparkling wine unlike any other, marking the first time "Champagne Wine" was broadly used.

The technique is still used today with riddling racks found in nearly every Champagne cellar. After this innovation, winemakers began adding sugar to the final bottles, creating the sweetness associated with wine today. From there, different labels were created to denote the sugar levels for the final cuvee. They are as follows:

• Brut nature - bone dry
• Extra Brut - bone dry
• Brut - dry
• Demi-Sec - sweet
• Doux - extra sweet

During this time in the 18th and 19th centuries, Russia became the top importer of Champagne as the Czar and royal family were utterly captivated by Cristal Champagne. Known for enjoying Champagne of extreme sweetness, Louis Roederer created Cristal specifically for Russia's Czar Alexander II, forever changing the history of Champagne. As such, an increasing amount of Champagne houses gained notoriety in Europe, with Krug, Dom Perignon, and Tattinger becoming top producers.

Champagne France Wine Region

Located east of Paris between Reims and Epernay, Champagne is a specific appellation in France, gaining its unique notation of sparkling wine. Only wines created in this region can use the name, differentiating these drinks from sparkling wines made in the rest of the world. The specific process, known as methode Champenoise, is required by vintners in this region. In this technique, yeast and sugar are added in the second fermentation, creating the iconic bubbles (or mousse) that we all know and love.

Vineyards in Champagne contain chalk, limestone, and fossilized seashells, labeled Kimmerdgian soil, and are perfect for the chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier vines. The countryside layout provides perfect drainage and strong root development, ensuring each vine receives a proper water supply. Specific regions within Champagne are known to be more optimal for growing certain varietals, as Montagne de Reims, the most mountainous area, and Aube, the most southern growing area, are perfect for pinot noir. Cote des Blancs and Cote de Sezanne are known for their chardonnay production while Vallee de la Marne, located on the valley floor, works well with pinot meunier. 

Vintage Champagne vs Non-Vintage Champagne

Champagne houses are unique in that they do not produce a new bottle every year, making the distinction between vintage and non-vintage bottles important. Vintage bottles are rarely made by Champagne houses and are created only from grapes sourced from a specific year. Conversely, non-vintage Champagne is created with grapes from multiple years, often producing higher-quality wines. The pinnacle of Champagne, however, are prestige cuvee bottles. These wines are made with the highest-quality grapes from producers across multiple vintages, rarely released, and only publicly available for lavish occasions. Despite each distinction, vintage, non-vintage, and prestige cuvee Champagne is perfect for every celebration. 

Best Champagne Brands

Salon Champagne

Salon is one of the most prestigious houses in Champagne. Instead of making a range of styles that includes a prestige cuvée like most Champagne houses, Salon makes a single prestige cuvée, which is made entirely from Chardonnay from the village Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Dom Perignon Champagne

In the world of champagne, few names resonate as profoundly as Dom Pérignon. Revered for its unparalleled quality, rich history, and association with luxury, Dom Pérignon has become synonymous with celebration and sophistication. This iconic champagne, produced by the esteemed Champagne house Moët & Chandon, has stood the test of time, captivating the palates of connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike.

Taittinger Champagne

Taittinger’s Blanc de Blancs Champagne bottles exclusively use Chardonnay grape varietals. The grapes are grown on the Côte de Blancs, the “hill of whites”, and have a diverse selection of flavor profiles based on the changing terroirs of the hill. Taittinger’s flagship champagne released its first vintage in 1952 and is regarded as one of the most consistent Blanc de Blancs in Champagne.

Other Champagnes

Other Champagnes, such as Cristal and Krug, are Brut Champagnes which are drier. These can be found in both white and rose and use the classic Champagne blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The brut wines typically do not have as much added sugar as other styles and must be under 15 grams of sugar per liter.

Cristal Champagne

Louis Roederer, the producer of Cristal, is at the top of the champagne producer list, along with Moët, Taittinger, Paul Roger, and Krug. Cristal is a Pinot Noir dominant champagne at 60 percent. The other 40 percent is Chardonnay. The producer with around 600 acres of vineyards is known for making one of the most prestigious cuvées in champagne.

Pol Roger Champagne

Pol Roger is one of the most prominent champagne producers and has six official wines. Half of the grapes used are from the 220-acre estate vineyards and the other half are provided by trusted contract growers. One of the most notable champagnes produced by the estate is the Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill. This collectible champagne bottle’s grape blend is a secret and is known for its exceptional elegance.

Krug Champagne

Krug is one of the most prestigious and expensive estates in the region. Champagne bottles of Krug are among the most collectible from Champagne. The producer blends 120 different wines from 10 or more vintages that have been fermenting in the “Krug Library” for different lengths of time. For every vintage, a committee tastes the different wines in the library and decides on the final blend.

Charles Heidsieck Champagne

The depth and intensity of Charles Heidsieck champagnes age in the cellars thirty meters underground? The two, champagne and cellar are inextricably linked. The cellar imprints unparalleled depth and elegance to the wines, the hallmark of the house’s champagnes.

What Food Goes With Champagne?

Because the typical flavor profile of the Champagne blend is mostly dominated by Chardonnay, Champagnes are on the citrussy side, and their drier characteristics pair it well with seafood and other lighter foods.

Its lightness makes champagne the perfect starter wine and is recommended to drink before eating any darker meats or drinking reds.

Upgrade Your Celebration with Luxury Champagne

No lavish occasion is complete without a bottle of Champagne. Celebrating with an iconic glass of Cristal, Dom Perignon, or Delamotte is sure to take your special occasion from great to decadent. Browse our selection of pristinely secured bottles, imported directly from Europe, in single bottles and large formats.