All Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. This is a common misconception among everyday consumers, but it's an essential distinction to the winemakers in France's Champagne region that Prosecco and Cava are not Champagne. While most of this bubbly beverage is considered "brut" (dry), there are leaner versions (extra brut, i.e., extra dry) and sweeter versions (demi-sec).
How is Champagne Different from Wine?
To be considered a real Champagne, the wine must be made in the officially designated appellation and made in the traditional method. The traditional method, or méthode Champenoise, sees still wines blended and fermented in a barrel. The next step is adding a combination of yeast and sugar to the wine before bottling. During the secondary fermentation, the base wine is joined sugar and yeast in the bottle, with the yeast particles eventually tapping out and transforming into lees. This is an essential element that provides both texture (also called mousse) and flavor. The riddling process moves the lees or sediment to the neck of the bottle; this step is also called disgorgement. Finally, dosage (the addition of sugar or wine or a blend of both) is added to balance out the final product.
What is a Good Champagne?
Champagnes are known for their effervescence that blends a flavor profile of toasty, nutty, or bready flavors that result from extended contact with the lees. In addition to these yeast-derived flavors brioche-like, many Champagnes exhibit lemony-citrus notes. Blanc de Noirs (a pale Champagne made from only red grapes) can feature light hints of red fruit, while rosé Champagne will more firmly feature strawberry or cherry notes. A Blanc de Blanc is made using only white grapes and shares more in common with Grand Cru Chablis (in Burgundy) than some other Champagnes. When exploring Champagne, don't just stick to the big Champagne houses (Dom Perignon, Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger, Cristal, Krug...the list goes on), but try a grower bottle of Champagne. Unlike the big Champagne brands, the grower Champagne movement is being led by farmers who know the terroir inside and out. So skip the still white wine and go with a brut champagne and potato chips. Getting into Champagne is something to be celebrated. The French are proud of their Champagne cuvées, and they have every right to be
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