If you want to learn more about Champagne in general and what makes it so special, we’re explaining below what exactly is Champagne. We also have a helpful guide to show you how to serve Champagne properly and the answers to our readers’ most frequently asked questions about Champagne. Moët & Chandon What: This charming, quaffable salmon pink number comes from the village of Hautvillers, made famous by Dom Perignon. Notes of strawberry, blossom and toasted brioche make this adaptable and easy drinking, perfect for a summery celebration and an easy pair for all sorts of dishes. You might be tempted by a regular bottle of expensive Champagne which is always a worthy choice as far as we’re concerned. However, the quality of rosé Champagne is better than ever at the moment, thanks to warmer summers and riper fruit, so we think it’s well worth mixing things up a little. Also, there’s no doubt that something a little bit special about glasses full of pink bubbly. What: Small and classy, this producer’s wines are expressive, elegant and aromatic, and well worth seeking out. Based amidst the Pinot Noir grapes of Urville, it is the gentle macerating of the Pinot Noir skins which gives this rosé its pretty salmon pink colour, while the winemaking is all about precision. This reveals itself in spicy minerality and a hint of brioche balanced by strawberry fruit. Dry and delightfully racy.

A top Champagne that’s virtually everyone’s staple. Founded in 1743, Moët & Chandon is one of the most widely-known and beloved Champagne houses in the world—and for good reasons. With 1,200 hectares of vines—the most extensive vineyards in France’s Champagne region—Moët & Chandon blends heritage with Savoir-Fête (celebration know-how) for events that are 100% glamorous. When it comes to Champagne with the lowest sugar content, opt for Brut or Extra Brut, or better even Brut Nature / Brut Zero (no added sugar). Dosage Vintage Champagnes typically reflect the qualities of a single year. Each Champagne house decides whether it will produce a Vintage Champagne in any given year. Non-Vintage Champagnes, on the other hand, reflect a signature house style that tastes consistent year after year. Dosage: Sweetness levels in Champagne

What: This rosé Champagne from Dom Ruinart may have a hefty price tag, but it is a perfect choice for that extra special occasion. The 2004 vintage boasts a crystal clear coppery hue and is made up of a unique blend of 81% Chardonnay and 19% Pinot Noir, which results in a flavour profile which is complex, yet balanced. You’ll also find notes of guava, blood orange and citron, paired with floral aromas. Strictly speaking, if it’s a bubbly wine from another region (even though it can be made with the Méthode Champenoise), it’s a sparkling wine, not Champagne—the name Champagne is protected by EU law. Note that some American and British sparkling wines use the word champagne (with a lowercase “c”) to denote a sparkling wine that is similar to Champagne, but not from the Champagne region. Most champagnes are non-vintage (NV), meaning they are made from a blend of wines made from grapes from different years, as opposed to one year’s harvest for vintage (V) or millesimé Champagne (with the year indicated on the label). To earn the right to call itself Champagne, a bottle of bubbly must also meet the Appellation d’Origine Controlée or AOC standards.

A Champagne House’s prestige cuvées (or Têtes de Cuvée in French) are the best-of-the-best Champagne, typically made from the finest grapes in Champagne’s best vineyards. Playing a starring role in celebrating many of life’s triumphant moments, Champagne comes in a variety of price ranges and a variety of styles. Blanc de Blancs means the champagne is made using 100% Chardonnay; its light and dry taste make this type of Champagne a popular choice for apértifs. Even French sparkling wines from other regions in France are not technically Champagne but are labeled as Cremant. Sparkling wines from other parts of the world are simply labeled sparkling wine. Prosecco from Italy, Cava from Spain, and Sekt from Austria and Germany are some of the most popular sparkling wines.Generally speaking, however, for many people, champagne is just synonymous with sparkling wine. Grape varietals Comtes de Champagne, Taittinger (‘ Probably the finest Champagne in the world’, according to James Bond in Casino Royale)

The addition of sugar in Champagne is called dosage. Champagnes range from Zero Dosage or Brut Nature (no added sugar), through to Extra-Brut, Brut, Extra-Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, and Doux (containing 50 grams or more of sugar per liter). The most popular Champagne are Extra-Brut, Brut, and Demi-Sec. If you are looking for the best sweet champagnes, you should opt for champagnes labeled as Doux (the sweetest classification) like Veuve Clicquot Rich Blanc. Which Champagne has less sugar? Prestige Cuvée champagnes are often considered the Champagne house’s pinnacle of achievement. Prestige cuvées often have their own names.Festive and fancy, French Champagne has become the universal luxury drink of choice for celebrations and special occasions—anniversaries, birthdays, holidays—or just because. A good Champagne makes for a perfect sip thanks to its easy drinkability and food-friendly nature. Champagne, by definition, is a sparkling wine produced (grown, fermented, and bottled) exclusively in the eponymous Champagne region in the north of France. The Champagne region is centered around three main towns, namely Reims, Épernay, and Aÿ. What: Proving that you don’t always have to break the bank to enjoy a good Champagne, this Waitrose Rosé Champagne Brut NV boasts flavours that defy the supermarket steal price. When taking a sip, expect to discover refreshing notes of baked apple, pink grapefruit and summer fruits which are in turn balanced with rich brioche notes. Pink or Rosé champagnes are produced by adding a small amount of Pinot Noir (traditional method) or by pressing the grape skins (maceration method). Vintage vs Non-Vintage Champagne