12/18/06 Champagne Pt 1

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran and yes it is the season for Champagne and Sparkling wine  not that I really think we need a season or any particular excuse to sip on a glass of bubbly. Today we will begin a week long series all about Champagne and Sparkling wines. I am often asked what's so special about Champagne and why are some people such snobs about it? To begin with we must understand that in France the wines are generally named for the region of origin. For example, if you buy a red Burgundy it is 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 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. Although, the French may be galled to hear that historically the first fizzy wines were actually made in England not in France. However, the French certainly elevated fizzy 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 me tomorrow as Vine to Wine further explores the world of Champagne.