Champagne is a sparkling wine that comes from France's Champagne Ardenne region.
Champagne is a popular alcoholic beverage usually associated with celebrations and toasts. Champagne originated in 17th century France, when a monk named Dom Perignon experimented with harvesting grapes later and a second fermentation to create the bubbly wine. Most champagne connoisseurs advocate that for champagne to be regarded as authentic, it must come from the French region of Champagne Ardenne and be made from grapes of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier. While the price of champagne can range from extremely expensive to affordable, the best champagnes are largely determined by your own personal preference.
Dom Perignon
Considered the world's first champagne, Moet & Chandon's Dom Perignon has a rich legacy spanning across several centuries. A vintage champagne, Dom Perignon has been imbibed by France's King Louis XIV as well as featured at a host of royal celebrations, including the Shah of Iran's wedding in 1959 and Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding ceremony in 1981. Dom Perignon is produced only during years of strong harvest to ensure that each bottle maintains the high standards of quality and taste first cultivated by Dom Perignon himself. The best years for Dom Perignon are considered 1975, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995 and 1996. Bottles are typically priced between $85 and $150, depending on the vintage year.
Cristal
Louis Roederer's Cristal is one of the world's most expensive champagnes. The cuvee was specially created in 1876 for Russia's Tsar Alexander II and his Imperial Court. Cristal was reportedly packaged in clear crystal bottles so that the tsar could tell if someone was trying to poison his drink. Certain vintage bottles can command thousands of dollars and have since become a favorite for musicians and rappers. The best years for Cristal are considered 1975, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995 and 1996.
Bottles are typically priced from $150 to $300, depending on the year.
Types of Champagne
Ultra brut, extra brut or brut sauvage no added sugar. Brut wines are quite dry and have a very low sugar content, usually less than 1.5 percent. These champagnes are the most popular sellers and go well with a variety of foods, such as strong and mild cheeses, appetizers, seafood, Asian cuisine and poultry. Extra dry wines are slightly sweet and contain up to 2 percent sugar. These wines are medium dry and are ideal to drink as an apertif. Dry or sec wines contain 4 . Dry wines are best paired with mild and strong cheeses and appetizers. Demi-sec wines contain about 8 percent sugar. Because they are very sweet, these wines go well with fruit and desserts. The sweetest of the champagnes, doux champagne contains up to 10 percent sugar.
Vintage vs. Non-Vintage
Vintage champagnes are pricier, as all the grapes are harvested during a single year, whereas non-vintage wines are made of grape blends from several different years. The wine market is dominated mostly by non-vintage blends. Vintage wines are also produced only during years in which the grapes had a very strong growing season. These champagnes are also aged longer than non-vintage champagnes. Moreover, premium vintage champagne, also called prestige cuv e, is made from select grapes from the best vineyards for the year. Oftentimes, these champagnes use only the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir variety.
Tags: percent sugar, wines contain, 1975 1979, 1975 , 1979 1982