{"id":1257350,"date":"2019-10-30T14:19:50","date_gmt":"2019-10-30T19:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=1257350"},"modified":"2023-04-03T06:48:02","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T11:48:02","slug":"what-is-champagne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/what-is-champagne\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Champagne? We Answer All of Your Questions About Bubbly"},"content":{"rendered":"
If you're anything like me, you love<\/em> the occasional glass of Champagne. It's a marvelous aperitif\u2014nothing sets the stage for a meal quite like a glass of bubbly. You've likely sipped both Champagne and sparkling wine, and may have wondered if there's a difference. Here's the lowdown!<\/p>\r\n\r\n 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, but not all whiskey is bourbon<\/a>. It's technically illegal for a wine to be labeled Champagne if it doesn't hail from the eponymous French region, or if it deviates from the strict set of guidelines outlined by law. (That's why we capitalize actual Champagne, but keep it lowercase when referring to bubbly overall.)<\/p>\r\n\r\n The price tag on your bottle of Champagne all comes down to the way it's made. (Bear with me, we're 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.<\/p>\r\nThe 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. From here, the wine must age for another 15 months for non-vintage or a minimum of three years for vintage, although some houses age their Champagnes for much longer.\r\n\r\nWith such a lengthy and labor-intensive process, it's no wonder Champagne boasts such a hefty price tag! If you're on a budget, our roundup of the best cheap champagnes<\/a> will keep your guests, and your wallet, happy. Serve it in the right champagne glass<\/a> and nobody will mind a bit.\r\n\r\nIf you want to make that bubbly last all night without having to actually pour every single glass, set up a self-serve champagne bar<\/a> with sparkling wine, mixers and garnishes.\r\n \t\t\t It’s the staple for every major celebration. But have you ever wondered, what is Champagne? How is it different from sparkling wine?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7006,"featured_media":1257441,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[305513,305487,303883,305562],"categories-v2":[310840,310796,308476,310877],"coauthors":[39575],"acf":{"ncv_override_generic_settings_option":false,"ncv_autoplay_option":"","ncv_stickyplay_option":"","ncv_ads_option":"","ncv_mute_option":"","ncv_comscore_option":"","ncv_moat_option":"","ncv_autoplay_mobile_option":"","ncv_viewable_threshold_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_option":"","ncv_autopause_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_mobile_option":"","ncv_autopause_mobile_option":"","ncv_sticky_mobile_option":"","ncv_remove_player_option":false,"long_pin_file":false,"long_pin":""},"yoast_head":"\nWhat is Champagne?<\/h2>\r\n
What are the types of Champagne?<\/h2>\r\nChampagne comes in a wide spectrum of styles and all of them are delicious. The most common ones you'll see lining the shelves of your local wine shop or supermarket are dry, aka not sweet. That would be Brut Nature, Extra Brut or Brut. If you like a sugary kiss to your bubbly, keep an eye out for bottles labeled Extra Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec or Doux. They're rarer but 100% worth hunting down.\r\n\r\nBy the way, here's how to open a Champagne bottle<\/a> the right way.\r\n
Why is Champagne so expensive?<\/h2>\r\n
What's the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine?<\/h2>\r\nSparkling wine comes from just about everywhere in the winemaking world. While many are made in the same way as Champagne, some sparkling wines get their fizz from other less time-consuming and less expensive methods.\r\n\r\nTake 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.\r\n
What should I buy?<\/h2>\r\nIt all depends on what you prefer! For special occasions, you can't go wrong with a bottle of Champagne. But if you'd like to sip a flute of fizz on the regular, sparkling wine is your best friend. If you have Champagne tastes on a beer budget, fear not. You can still get your fix of bubbly courtesy of other excellent but more affordable sparkling wine regions. Value sparkling wines like cava, cremant or Prosecco are fantastic bases for cocktails<\/a> or as a secret ingredient in dessert recipes. Learn how to make prosecco grapes<\/a> with vodka.\r\n\r\nIf you're whipping up a dessert that calls for a splash of bubbly, don't use Champagne\u2014it's too expensive! Stick to budget-friendly bottles and you'll never go wrong.\r\n\r\nUp Next:<\/strong> The Best Champagne for Mimosas<\/a>, According to a Sommelier\r\n
<\/a><\/div>Holiday Mimosa<\/a>Add a splash of color to your brunch table with this rosy holiday mimosa. It has a fantastic sweet-tart taste. \u2014Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana
<\/a><\/div>Cotton Candy Champagne Cocktails<\/a>You\u2019ll love these whimsical champagne cocktails. The cotton candy melts away, leaving behind its pretty pink color.\r\n\u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
<\/a><\/div>Bubbly Champagne Punch<\/a>This bubbly champagne punch combines fruit juices, sparkling and sweet wine, and fruit. The pretty ice ring is a flavorful way of keeping the punch cold throughout the festivities.
<\/a><\/div>Sparkling Peach Bellinis<\/a>Folks will savor the subtle kiss of peach flavor in this elegant brunch beverage. \u2014 Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
<\/a><\/div>Poinsettia<\/a>Mixing festive red cranberry juice, Triple Sec and champagne creates a fun poinsettia drink for Christmas parties, a New Year's Eve bash or any get-together during the fall and winter seasons. Garnish with a few fresh berries and enjoy. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
<\/a><\/div>Champagne Cocktail<\/a>This amber champagne cocktail is a bubbly twist on the traditional old-fashioned. Try it with extra dry champagne. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
<\/a><\/div>Champagne Party Punch<\/a>To make this punch even more festive, float an ice ring in the punch. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
<\/a><\/div>Cranberry Orange Mimosas<\/a>We love making cranberry mimosas on a slow Saturday morning or during the holidays.
<\/a><\/div>Vanilla Bean Fizz<\/a>A homemade vanilla bean syrup from our home economists fabulously flavors Champagne. The bubbly beverage is ideal for holidays throughout the year.
<\/a><\/div>Sparkling Apple Pie on the Rocks<\/a>This is the perfect fall cocktail. Apple cider mixed with a cinnamon caramel apple simple syrup and topped with bubbly\u2014it's the best holiday drink ever! \u2014Becky Hardin, St. Peters, Missouri
<\/a><\/div>Peach Champagne<\/a>I searched high and low for the perfect punch recipe and finally decided to create my own. This sipper is a big hit at parties, especially weddings. In summer I freeze fresh peaches and fresh strawberries; if you don't have fresh fruit, store-bought frozen fruit works just as well. \u2014Linda Hall, Evington, Virginia
<\/a><\/div>Mimosa Floats<\/a>Everyone needs a little treat at brunch! I wanted to kick things up a notch, so I added a scoop of ice cream to my mimosas. Sometimes I add chocolate, too.\u2014Amy Lents, Grand Forks, North Dakota
<\/a><\/div>Kir Royal<\/a>Kir royal is a two-ingredient French cocktail that\u2019s swimming with rich black currant flavor and layered with all the nuanced notes of champagne. Let this be the easy, effortless aperitif for your next party.
<\/a><\/div>Negroni Sbagliato<\/a>Everyone is talking about this now-viral cocktail, the Negroni sbagliato. But how do you make it? And how do you pronounce sbagliato<\/em>?
<\/a><\/div>Champagne Fruit Punch<\/a>Toast the happy couple at your next bridal shower with a fun and fruity drink! It\u2019s the perfect refreshment on a hot day. \u2014Kelly Tran, Salem, Oregon\r\n
<\/a><\/div>Pear & Ginger Sparkler<\/a>I created this twist on a Bellini when a friend gave me some Asian pears she grew in her backyard. If you like ginger and want more of a kick, try substituting ginger liqueur for the vodka. \u2014Jacyn Siebert, San Francisco, California
<\/a><\/div>Orange-Apricot Mimosa Punch<\/a>We make this punch for our annual Christmas brunch, and everyone loves it! I usually triple this recipe for a bigger crowd and garnish the punch with an orange-tangerine ice ring made several days ahead of time. \u2014Kathy McKay, Acworth, Georgia
<\/a><\/div>Mango Bellini<\/a>Simple yet delicious, this mango Bellini is made with fresh mango puree and your favorite sparkling wine\u2014I usually choose Prosecco for mine. You can easily turn it into a mocktail by using sparkling water in place of the champagne or Prosecco. \u2014Ellen Folkman, Crystal Beach, Florida
<\/a><\/div>Orange Dream Mimosas<\/a>Your inner child will love this fun riff on the classic mimosa. Use sparkling cider, ginger ale or sparkling grape juice for a nonalcoholic version. \u2014Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
<\/a><\/div>Strawberry Mimosas<\/a>Elevate your brunch game with this easy strawberry mimosa recipe.
<\/a><\/div>French 75<\/a>The classy French 75 recipe is proof that sophisticated doesn't have to mean difficult. All you need is your favorite gin, a lemon, simple syrup and a chilled bottle of champagne or any other bubbly.
<\/a><\/div>Champagne Punch<\/a>A blend of four fruit juices pairs well with bubbly champagne in this party-pleasing punch. A strawberry garnish adds a festive touch. \u2014Amy Short, Lesage, West Virginia
<\/a><\/div>Spring Strawberry Sangria<\/a>Wine-infused berries make a lovely addition to this special-occasion drink. I love serving this during the beginning of spring to celebrate the new season. \u2014Gina Quartermaine, Alexandria, Virginia
<\/a><\/div>Peach-Basil Cooler<\/a>Mix peaches and basil with club soda for a cool and refreshing mocktail! \u2014Dana Hinck, Pensacola, Florida
<\/a><\/div>Mimosa<\/a>Fresh, zesty and ripe with orange-y flavor, this mimosa recipe is the go-to when it comes to brunch cocktails.
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Holiday Mimosa<\/a><\/h2>Add a splash of color to your brunch table with this rosy holiday mimosa. It has a fantastic sweet-tart taste. \u2014Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana
<\/a><\/div>
Cotton Candy Champagne Cocktails<\/a><\/h2>You\u2019ll love these whimsical champagne cocktails. The cotton candy melts away, leaving behind its pretty pink color.\r\n\u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
<\/a><\/div>
Bubbly Champagne Punch<\/a><\/h2>This bubbly champagne punch combines fruit juices, sparkling and sweet wine, and fruit. The pretty ice ring is a flavorful way of keeping the punch cold throughout the festivities.
<\/a><\/div>
Sparkling Peach Bellinis<\/a><\/h2>Folks will savor the subtle kiss of peach flavor in this elegant brunch beverage. \u2014 Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
<\/a><\/div>
Poinsettia<\/a><\/h2>Mixing festive red cranberry juice, Triple Sec and champagne creates a fun poinsettia drink for Christmas parties, a New Year's Eve bash or any get-together during the fall and winter seasons. Garnish with a few fresh berries and enjoy. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
<\/a><\/div>
Champagne Cocktail<\/a><\/h2>This amber champagne cocktail is a bubbly twist on the traditional old-fashioned. Try it with extra dry champagne. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
<\/a><\/div>
Champagne Party Punch<\/a><\/h2>To make this punch even more festive, float an ice ring in the punch. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
<\/a><\/div>
Cranberry Orange Mimosas<\/a><\/h2>We love making cranberry mimosas on a slow Saturday morning or during the holidays.
<\/a><\/div>
Vanilla Bean Fizz<\/a><\/h2>A homemade vanilla bean syrup from our home economists fabulously flavors Champagne. The bubbly beverage is ideal for holidays throughout the year.