Did you know that? Champagne was the wine served at the coronations of the kings of France. This is one of the many reasons why it has a special place in the world of wine. To shine at your holiday meals, here are some answers to the questions that everyone has about champagne:
Has champagne always had bubbles?
No! In 498 in Reims, the wine of Champagne which celebrates the baptism of Clovis, the king of the Franks, did not have any (by the way, the Kingdom of France was born this day!). It is only at the end of the XVIIth century that it becomes effervescent thanks to the "méthode champenoise" . This consists in putting a still wine (not sparkling) in bottle by adding sugar and yeast and thus provoking a new fermentation. Under the action of yeasts, sugar is transformed into alcohol andCO2 which is trapped in the bottle and forms the famous bubbles.
In which glass to drink champagne ?
In the past, champagne was drunk in glasses, but today it is served in flutes (their narrow opening prevents the bubbles from escaping too quickly and allows the aromas to be concentrated). A legend tells that the first champagne glass, which appeared in the 18th century, would have been molded on the breast of the Marquise de Pompadour, favorite of King Louis XV and great lover of champagne . Today, oenologists and sommeliers prefer to drink champagne in a tulip-shaped tasting glass, similar to a wine glass, in order to better enjoy its aromas and, above all, to avoid spoiling its effervescence.
Are there different types of champagne?
Here are some explanations to understand the differences:
Brut, Extra-Dry, Dry... Depending on the amount of sugar added after the second fermentation in the bottle, the champagne will be more or less sweet. After the disgorging, the expedition liquor is added and according to the dosage, we will have from extra brut to sweet.
Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, Rosé... Champagne is said to be " Blanc de Blancs " if it is made only with Chardonnay - the flagship white grape variety of Champagne - and " Banc de Noirs " if it is made with Pinot Noir and/or Meunier grapes.
Champagne Rosé is made from the maceration of black skinned grapes before pressing.
Champagne is vintage when it is made from the grapes of a single harvest (therefore from a single year). It is non vintage when it is composed of a blend of several years of harvest.
Which champagne to choose as an aperitif?
Before the meal, it is preferable to serve a lively and not very sweet champagne that opens the appetite and does not weigh down the palate so that the rest of the meal can be enjoyed. A pure Chardonnay(Blanc de Blancs) Brut or Extra-Brut is ideal. You will be able to tell that it has lemony notes, that it is light, airy and very refreshing.
Watch a video from the Robert Faivre Champagne House to better understand...
Consult the Robert Faivre Champagne House