Champagne
Prior to the creation of the Champagne we know and love today, the wines made in this northerly French region were pink and intended to be still. Pinot Noir was the grape used for these wines and remains widely planted today. The move towards sparkling occurred due to the cold winters of the region. The drop in temperature meant that the fermenting wines went into stasis until the temperatures rose again causing a delicate fizz in the final product. This was popular in the English marketplace and in a nifty trade, glass produced in coal-fired ovens in England was strong enough to contain the higher pressure of the sparkling product.
The famous (not at the time) monk Dom Pierre Pérignon furthered the development of the wines but not to the extent with which he is generally credited. He made the first white wine from black grapes having invented the Coquard Press which is still widely used today. He also used the skill of blending wines made from different areas within the region to create better wines. Not only that, it is thought that he introduced the cork seals into France. The wines made during his life though remained only lightly sparkling so people who tell you that he invented Champagne are playing fast and loose with the facts. Indeed, he was choosing to make still wines and regarded the fizz as a wine fault!
Champagne became what it is today through more experimenting in the 19th Century. This included the controlled secondary fermentation in the strengthened English bottles. This is done by adding a measured quantity of yeast and sugar to produce the higher level of pressure in the bottle. Around the same time, riddling using pupitres (wooden frames with angled holes) was developed by Veuve (Widow) Clicquot. The rotating of the bottle in these downward angled frames, meant the dead yeast cells would fall slowly towards the neck. The next step is to freeze the neck of the bottle to remove the deposit and leave a crystal clear wine. This meant that the Dry style of Champagne we love today was able to be produced on a larger commercial scale.
The English market was the first where this new style gained traction alongside the sweet style that the market already enjoyed. At this time in the early 20th Century the boundaries for the region were set with the current areas set in 1927. This was an important step to prevent other places using the name for their sparkling wines. Champagne is regarded as the finest Sparkling Wine in the World and can only come from the Champagne Region. Within the region there is a further system (échelle des crus) for rating the best vineyard sites with Grand Cru and Premier Cru both relevant terms.
The producers in the region will usually keep reserve wines, a portion of recent vintages which is used for blending into the latest vintage so as to create a consistency and reduce vintage variation. These wines, a good example being Bollinger Special Cuvee, are the benchmark of quality for the individual Champagne Houses. In very good years producers will make a vintage Champagne but they rely heavily on their Non-Vintage offering. Keeping Reserve wines has contributed to increased quality and adds depth and complexity since poorer years can and certainly do occur.
Food Matching for Champagne
Usually served as an aperitif, you don't need much with Champagne but salted nuts or crisps work brilliantly. If you are having food then seafood, simply cooked is the ideal. Scallops or Lobster, or smoked salmon sandwiches with oysters a decadent and oft used combination. Hard cheeses make for a good pairing, Cheddar, Gruyère and Comté with good bakers bread work particularly well. There are many who love to wash down take-away fish and chips with Champagne.
Discover our Champagne Collection
Discover our fantastic collection of wines from the historic region of Champagne. These are perfect for gifts and for parties and occasions where celebrating is the order of the day.
If you're looking for a particular wine, please reach out to our team who'll be happy to help. Alternatively you can always explore our Wine Discovery Guide or Wine Collections for some inspiration.
