Champagne Facts

Video Transcript

" Hi I'm going to tell you all about Champagne. And when I say all about champagne, I mean the real deal Champagne from the champagne region in France. It's probably the hallmark for the world's sparkling wines. So champagne first of all, always comes from a region called Champagne which is in Northern France. As a matter of fact, it's the wine region that is the farthest north in France. Since its farthest north, it's very cool and that cool climate has everything to do about the famous sparkling wine produce them. Champagne is always made from a blend of three different grapes. I'm sure you've heared of Chardonnay. And I'm sure you've heared of Pinoit Noir. Those always go into champagne or definitely go into champagne. You might not have ever heared of Pinot Meunier, but Pinot Meunier is the third grape that can be made into champagne. So champagne is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or Pinot Meunier grapes that are grown in the champagne region of France, they're picked very early and somewhat tart. They're put through the first fermentation, fermented to dryness, and then you take a little sugar and a little yeast, you mix it up, this is called liquer de teraj. Then you take that liquer de teraj, you add it to the base wine in a process called teraj and then you put it into a bottle. You'll allow the fermentation, second fermentation to occur in the bottle, you take it through a few other steps, you rest it in a beautiful cellar for several years, you take the deadly cells out of the bottle, you clarify it, you pour it into a glass and its champagne. So it's always made in the champagne region of France from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes according to a very specific process, aged for a very long time, put into a bottle that looks like this, given a beautiful label, a fancy cork, a little wire cage, ship off to market. So remember if you use the word champagne, it better be from Champagne, France and if it is you sure to love what you going to get in that bottle."