How to Choose Champagne

Champagne (called "sparkling wine" when from outside France) is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Muscat and other grapes. As with any wine, let personal preference be your guide.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Taste various champagnes to get an idea of what kinds appeal most to you.

2. Ask friends whose tastes you respect for advice and recommendations, and don't be afraid to consult wine sellers as well.

3. Familiarize yourself with the various types of Champagne (from France) and sparkling wine (from California) as well as their various characteristics: dry or sweet, creamy or yeasty, crisp or dry, full bubbles or delicate bubbles - and remember, these characteristics are subject only to your tastes.

4. Familiarize yourself with the reputations of sparkling-wine producers. Ask how their wine is made and how they were rated in previous years.

5. Choose champagnes for entertaining with an eye not just on your own tastes, but on those of your guests - and your budget.

Tips & Warnings

• "Sparkling wines" are from California, while the French insist (to the point of legal action) that true Champagne comes only from specified regions of France. When selecting wine, consider vintage, region and wine producer.
• Obtain a copy of a current vintage chart, which rates different years' grape quality. For example, 1990 and 1995 were good years for France's Loire and Champagne regions, while California had good years in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995. (See the related sites for more on vintage charts.)
• Enroll in a wine-appreciation class if you want to learn more about how to taste, judge and recognize the various characteristics of wines.
• Expect flavors such as melon, peach, apricot, dry, green apple and toast when tasting sparkling wine.

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[grapegirls]

on 3/13/2009 Great info! Our newest "thing" is cooking with champagne and making champagne cocktails. Fun, fun!

on 3/21/2006 Sparkling wine can come from anywhere outside of the Champagne region in France, not just California. New Zealand sparkling wines are quite good.