12/10/07 Champagne Part 1

Welcome to Vine to Wine this is your host Linda Moran. Each year at this time I like to a series of programs about Champagne and Sparkling wines  not that I really think we need a season or an excuse to sip on a glass of bubbly. So -Today we will begin a week long series all about Champagne and Sparkling wines. What's so special about Champagne? 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 grapes as 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. However, the French certainly elevated these 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 their right to refer to their bubbly wine as 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 Champenoise, Methode Traditional 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 we further explore Champagne. And thanks for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.