03, 2023
It’s the staple for every major celebration.
But have you ever wondered, what is Champagne?
How is it different from sparkling wine?
If youre anything like me, youlovethe occasional glass of Champagne.
Its a marvelous aperitifnothing sets the stage for a meal quite like a glass of bubbly.
Youve likely sipped both Champagne and sparkling wine, and may have wondered if theres a difference.
What is Champagne?
True Champagne hails from the Champagne region in the northeastern nook of France.
While all Champagne is sparkling wine, not all sparkling wine is Champagne.
Think of it in the same terms as bourbon.
All bourbon is whiskey, butnot all whiskey is bourbon.
(Thats why we capitalize actual Champagne, but keep it lowercase when referring to bubbly overall.)
What are the types of Champagne?
Champagne comes in a wide spectrum of styles and all of them are delicious.
That would be Brut Nature, Extra Brut or Brut.
Theyre rarer but 100% worth hunting down.
By the way, hereshow to open a Champagne bottlethe right way.
Why is Champagne so expensive?
The price tag on your bottle of Champagne all comes down to the way its made.
(Bear with me, were going to get a little technical here.)
The climate in the Champagne region can be unforgiving.
The frost, rain and hail all pose a potential threat to vines during the growing season.
Bad weather can spell disaster for grape bunches, leading to lower yields come harvest.
Once harvest rolls around, the grapes must be picked by hand rather than by machine.
As you might expect, hand-picking grapes is much more expensive.
The real costs start adding up when we get to Champagne production.
Champagne is made using a process called the traditional method.
The grape juice is fermented into a base wine and bottled.
Then, winemakers add a mixture of sugar and yeast to kick off a secondary fermentation in the bottle.
This is what gives bubbly its sparkle.
With such a lengthy and labor-intensive process, its no wonder Champagne boasts such a hefty price tag!
Serve it inthe right champagne glassand nobody will mind a bit.
Whats the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine?
Sparkling wine comes from just about everywhere in the winemaking world.
Take Prosecco, for example.
This Italian bubbly is produced using the Charmat method.
Secondary fermentation happens in large pressurized tanks as opposed to in the bottle.
The result is sparkling wines that are slightly less fizzy than their traditional method counterparts.
What should I buy?
It all depends on what you prefer!
For special occasions, you cant go wrong with a bottle of Champagne.
If you have Champagne tastes on a beer budget, fear not.
Learn how to makeprosecco grapeswith vodka.
If youre whipping up a dessert that calls for a splash of bubbly, dont use Champagneits too expensive!
Stick to budget-friendly bottles and youll never go wrong.
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