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Champagne and
Sparkling Wines for your holiday needs
As we approach the holiday season,
many readers have asked about champagne and sparkling wines. Some people do not
know the difference, and often call sparkling wine or prosecco champagne. In
this issue I will explain the differences, and best regions for champagne.
Many people do not know that champagne is not
only a sparkling bubbly, but a growing region in France.
Champagne is located in the north
eastern region roughly 90 minutes from Paris.
Champagne’s distinct taste is
delivered with grapes that have a higher acidity than other regions. The region
is comprised of four major areas. Champagne,
France is ideal
in location, grapes, climate, and soil
What is champagne made from? It is
not champagne grapes. There are actually three grapes used in the production of
champagne; Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay. In France, only sparkling
wines that come from the region of Champagne may be referred to as “Champagne”. Champagnes are divided into types; non vintage, vintage, and cuvee or
prestige. Non vintage means there could be a blend of two or more harvests.
Vintage is from a single vintage from that year (no blending), and
Cuvee/Prestige means from a single vintage with longer aging requirements.
Why is some Champagne so expensive? Some our single vintages and aged longer,
some are made with select or better grapes, some are made from the first
pressing of the grapes, some might be produced only in vintage years, and some
are made in limited quantities. Good champagne is made with a good balance of
fruit, acidity and then mixed with bubbles (CO2) carbon dioxide.
The acidity is what gives freshness and longevity to the wine. Champagne is also used to stimulate the palate before a meal or used
in food pairing.
There are many champagne’s available in the market. Some
people ask what kinds of champagne’s are there. Other then vintage, non
vintage, and cuvee there are Brut - Dry, Extra dry - Semidry, Sec - Semisweet,
and Demi - Sweet. When selecting champagne you must look at the label and see
what style you want. If you are pairing with wedding cake, you would select a
Sec or Demi. If you are just drinking or pairing with some seafood, caviar, or
pate you might enjoy a brut style. Some like a softer brut and request Brut Rose.
This champagne has a pink color to the wine and is made by adding red wine to
the blend or leaving the red grape skins exposed to the liquid.
French champagne is
made from a process called Methode Champenoise, similar methods are used
outside Champagne, France such as traditional or classic methods. There are 11
steps. Harvesting, pressing, first fermentation (sugar + yeast = Alcohol + CO2), blending (most important), adding
of sugar and yeast and temporary bottle cap placed on, second fermentation, aging,
riddling (slow turning, causing sediments to rise to the neck of the bottle),
degorgement (freezing solution expels the frozen sediment that built up during
the previous steps), dosage (adding wine and cane sugar-this decides what style
the wine will become), and final re-corking.
Champagne should be consumed in a proper glass. The two glasses
commonly used are a flute or tulip-shaped glass. The flute not only holds the
bubbles, but enhances the bouquet of the wine. Other than the proper glass, opening
a champagne bottle properly must be addressed. Many people like to shoot the
cork across the room, or make a large popping noise “wrong in both cases”.
First, champagne is under tremendous pressure and can be dangerous if opened
without caution. Make sure it has been properly chilled before opening. Remove
foil from top. Place your hand over cork. Slowly remove the wire that is
holding the cork on the bottle. Turn the bottle one way and hold the cork, turn
it very slowly so that there is no or little sound. This is important to keep
the CO2 in the bottle as well as the champagne.
Sparkling wine is produced in many countries and with
various qualities. All countries outside Champagne France, must call there
sparkling bubbly; Sparkling Wine (NY, CA), Sekt (Germany), Spumante (Italy), or Cava (Spain). Prosecco is the name of both a grape that is grown in
North-eastern Italy, and a sparkling wine that is made from that grape.
Prosecco comes in a variety of styles, from dry to light to slightly off-dry, and
sweeter versions. The major difference in sparkling wine and champagne is the
process and of course the grapes. As we saw the 11 step process is expensive,
timely, and labor intensive.
The champagnes currently available are extensive. A few available
are;
Louis
Roederer Cristal Brut vintage 99 or 00 ($229-$300); Dom Perignon Brut Vintage
98 ($145-$180); Perrier Jouet Fleur Brut ($105-$140); Veuve Clicquot Brut
($37-$55); La Demoiselle Brut ($27-$35); Pannier Brut ($25-$35); Roederer
Estate Sparkling Wine, California ($16-$21); Rive Della Chiesa Prosecco, Italy ($17-$20).
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