Champagne Part 1

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and yes it is the season for Champagne and Sparkling wine. Today we begin a series of programs devoted to wines with bubbles.

I am often asked what’s so special about Champagne and why are some people snobs about it? To begin with we must understand a very important fact; in France the wines are generally named for their region of origin. For example, if you buy a red Burgundy it is from the place by the name of Burgundy and made mostly from Pinot Noir because that’s the red grape chiefly grown there. Champagne is also a place or a region of France in which a very sophisticated effervescent wine is made. The wine from this region is name for the region and called Champagne.  By understanding that, you will recognize that an effervescent wine is only true Champagne, if it comes from the Champagne region of France.  However, the French certainly elevated effervescent wines to an art form. In many parts of the world, the French winemaking technique is employed in the creation of bubbly wines. Some of those producers feel it is alright to call their bubbly wine Champagne, simply because it is made in that style. However, it is my personal opinion that the wineries with the most integrity will simple print on the label, Methode Chapenoise or “individually fermented in this bottle”, to let us know that the wine was made using the Champagne style of winemaking. Join us tomorrow as Vine to Wine further explores this fabulous beverage, Champagne.