All terms

Champagne

Champagne is a sparkling wine that comes exclusively from the Champagne region in northern France, northeast of Paris. The name is protected by law, so only sparkling wine from this defined area may be called Champagne, even if others make wine in exactly the same way elsewhere. The region is France's northernmost wine region, with a cool, damp climate and a thick chalk subsoil that helps give the wines their fresh acidity and finesse. The most important grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

What makes Champagne special is the traditional method (méthode champenoise), in which the second fermentation takes place in the bottle itself. The long time spent on the lees afterwards gives the fine, persistent bubbles and the characteristic notes of bread and brioche. You will often come across styles such as Blanc de Blancs (white grapes only), Blanc de Noirs (black grapes only) and rosé, and the sweetness ranges from bone-dry Brut Nature through the widespread Brut to the sweet Doux. Many Champagnes are blends (assemblage) of several vintages, plots and grapes.

A common misconception is that all sparkling wine is Champagne. It is not. Crémant, Cava and Prosecco are other sparkling wines, and only bubbles from the Champagne region may carry the name. Serve it well chilled.