In some people's minds, according to The World Encyclopedia of Wine, Chardonnay is a synonym for dry white wine. It is indispensable in the production of the sparkling wine called Champagne we all love for celebrations, such as New Year's Eve, weddings and special birthday parties.
Along with Pinot Noir (a red grape used in the production of Champagne (without the red skins) and Pinot Meunier (also a red grape) Chardonnay leads the trio of wines used in Burgundy for Champagne making.The home territory of Chardonnay was actually called Champagne, a province in France now part of Burgundy. The best grapes are from the part of the Marne Valley around Rheims, the centre of the Champagne industry.
The Monk Who Invented Champagne
Reputedly developed by a monk, Dom Perignon in the 17th century, Champagne is a blended wine, blended after the first fermentation. After the second fermentation, it is sweetened to induce further fermentation. It is the carbonic acid retained in the bottle after the final fermentation that makes the wine sparkle. It is the tiny sparkling bubbles that make the wine enter the bloodstream quickly and "go to your head." It is, therefore, the ultimate party drink.
Sales of Champagne Are Booming
In 2008 and 2009, the Champagne market went sour and many producers cut production, actually allowing grapes to rot in the fields.But there has been an amazing recovery, given the economy. Although some Champagnes are very costly, such as Veuve Clicqot, Mumm Grand Cru, Louis Roederer 2004 Cristal and Perrier-Jouet 2004 Belle Epoque, it seems that even in tough economic times, people want to drink Champagne.There are many labels, however, such as Lanson-BCC and Nicolas Feuillatte that are affordable.
According to Emily Sauty de Chalon, president of 1855, a French online wine shop, "Champagne sales are faring well ahead of the holiday season and are up 15 per cent compared to 2010."
The Champagne Region
Only Champagne from the Champagne region (once a province of France) in Burgundy is permitted to be called Champagne. Other sparkling wines may be labelled champagne-type. As my Larousse Gastgronomique says, "The cellars of Champagne are famous. One single wine embellishes them, a truly precious wine, a wine for kings, champagne."
Champagne is Classified into Three Types
The order in which the Champagne trade classed the vineyards is strict. First come the Premier grands crus made of black grapes (without the skins) - Ay, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzenay, Verzy (black) and Mailly. Next there are what the French call the Deuxiemes grands crus divided into wines made from black grapes and white grapes, some communes as they are called producing Champagne from both black and white grapes). There are also the Troisiemes crus, not as expensive - such as Champagne from Epernay, Chamery, Villedommange, Mancy, Vinay, Boursault and Vauciennes.
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