Only a handful of grapes across Champagne are allowed to be used for its base or “cuvée” (a blend of the first and most concentrated extraction of juices from pressed grapes).Īlthough the ratios vary, about 90% of all blended Champagnes use 2/3 red and 1/3 Chardonnay mixes. In addition to location, Champagne also receives its distinguished name because of the grapes used to produce it (and the distinct flavors that result from grapes grown in Champagne’s cooler climate and chalky, mineral-rich soils). Sparkling winemaking in Champagne dates to the 1700s, and today, vineyards span 84,000 acres throughout the hillsides and plains of its five main growing regions: Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, and The Aube. Outside of the Champagne region, French sparkling wine is known as Crémant. Nestled in the country’s northeastern corner, near Paris, the only labels that are legally allowed to bare the name “Champagne” are bottled within 100 miles of this region (according to European Law). We’re helping to decode the differences between these two bubbly beverages, so you’ll be more informed the next time you pop that bottle and click glasses (this New Year’s Eve, perhaps?).Ĭhampagne, the wine, is named after the region where it is grown, fermented, and bottled: Champagne, France. Don’t let the bubbles fool you. Although sparkling wine and Champagne both possess a refreshing effervescence and a similar trademark “pop” when uncorked, there are a few main reasons why the two labels display different names.
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