Champagne – The combination of a chalk subsoil and a cooler northerly climate help to produce the acidity necessary to make these highly prized wines! Champagne is considered the king of sparkling wines which offer a range of styles from dry to medium (demi-sec), white and rosé. Most is sold as non-vintage but for a real treat go for a Vintage Champagne!
Reims and Epernay both claim to be the capital of Champagne, and where the main big name Champagne houses and cellars are located. But there are many smaller individual winemakers in the region which stretches south to Bar-sur-Aube.
Champagne is the world’s most important region for sparkling wine – and fiercely protective governing bodies are intent to keep it that way. It’s insisted that wines made are subject to strict regulations and, most importantly, must be produced in the region in order to be labelled Champagne.
Wines are usually a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grown on chalky soils not dissimilar to our own in the south of England. They must be made using the traditional method, whereby a blend of base wines undergo a second fermentation in bottle, creating its signature effervescence. Now more than ever, there’s phenomenal value to be found in Champagne – you just need to know where to look.
