What Is Champagne?

Whether you are a hotelier or someone who works in a restaurant, or bar/night club or you don’t work at all in the hospitality industry, it is good for you knowledge to know what champagne is. Champagne is a sparkling wine made from the Champagne region in northeastern France. You must know that any other sparkling wine made out of the Champagne region of France is called just sparkling wine. Champagne is known for its bubbles, created by a secondary fermentation in the bottle.

The traditional method of making Champagne involves a process known as méthode champenoise or the traditional method. After the initial fermentation of the base wine, a mixture of sugar and yeast is added to induce a second fermentation in the bottle. This process creates carbonation, resulting in the bubbles characteristic of Champagne. The bottles are then aged on their lees (sediment) for a specific period, contributing to the complexity and flavor profile of the final product. Keep in mind that this entire process could take from several months to years, that’s why Champagne is quite expensive compared to other sparkling wines.

Grape Varieties Of Champagne

The primary grapes used in the production of Champagne are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.

1. Chardonnay: A white grape variety that contributes elegance, finesse, and freshness to Champagne. Chardonnay-based Champagnes often have citrus, green apple, and mineral notes.
2. Pinot Noir: A red grape variety that adds structure, body, and red fruit characteristics to Champagne. Pinot Noir-based Champagnes can exhibit flavors of red berries, cherry, and sometimes a subtle spiciness.
3. Pinot Meunier: Another red grape variety that provides fruitiness and roundness to the blend. Pinot Meunier is often associated with more approachable, fruit-forward Champagnes and can contribute flavors of pear, apple, and floral notes.

Combining these three grape varieties allows Champagne producers to create a balanced and complex final product. The specific blend of grapes can vary depending on the Champagne house and the style of Champagne they aim to produce. Some Champagnes may be labeled as “Blanc de Blancs,” indicating that they are made exclusively from Chardonnay, while “Blanc de Noirs” indicates a Champagne made exclusively from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

Types Of Champagne And Classifications

There are several types or styles of Champagne, and these styles are often categorized based on their sweetness levels. The sweetness levels are determined by the amount of residual sugar in the wine after the fermentation process.

Types of Champagne based on their sweetness level:

1. Champagne Brut Nature or Brut Zero: This is the driest style of Champagne with no added sugar. It has a bone-dry taste and is often preferred by those who enjoy crisp, refreshing wines without any sweetness.
2. Champagne Extra Brut: Slightly more complex than Brut Nature, Extra Brut Champagnes have minimal added sugar (0-6 grams/liter) resulting in a very dry taste. These Champagnes are still quite dry but may have a touch more roundness on the palate.
3. Champagne Brut: The most common style of Champagne, Brut is dry but has a small amount of added sugar (less than 12 grams/liter). It strikes a balance between dryness and a hint of sweetness, making it versatile and suitable for various occasions.
4. Extra Dry/Extra Sec: Despite its name, Extra Dry Champagnes are slightly sweeter than Brut. They have a bit more residual sugar, resulting in a slightly sweeter taste profile (12-17 grams/liter). This style is often preferred by those who enjoy a touch of sweetness without it being overly sweet.
5. Champagne Dry/Sec: Sec Champagnes are noticeably sweeter than Brut or Extra Dry (17-32 grams/liter). Despite the term “Sec” translating to “dry” in French, in the context of Champagne, it indicates a moderately sweet style. It pairs well with desserts and is less dry than the previously mentioned styles.
6. Champagne Semi-Dry/Demi-Sec: This is a distinctly sweet style of Champagne (33-50 grams of sugar). Demi-Sec Champagnes have a higher level of residual sugar, making them suitable for pairing with desserts. They are less common than the drier styles but are enjoyed by those who appreciate a sweeter sparkling wine.
7. Champagne Doux: “Champagne Doux” refers to the sweetest style of Champagne (+50 grams of sugar/liter). The term “Doux” translates to “sweet” in French. Champagne Doux has a higher level of residual sugar compared to other styles of Champagne, making it noticeably sweet on the palate.

Now that we know types of champagne by their level of sugar, let’s have a look at types of champagne by their grapes.

Types of Champagne by their grapes:

1. Blanc de Blancs: This Champagne is made only from Chardonnay grapes. Blanc de Blancs Champagnes are known for their elegance, finesse, and crisp acidity. They often exhibit citrus, green apple, and mineral notes.
2. Blanc de Noirs: This Champagne is made exclusively from red grape varieties, usually Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier. Despite being made from red grapes, Blanc de Noirs are white because the juice is pressed off the skins before fermentation. These Champagnes tend to be more robust and may have red fruit flavors.
3. Rosé Champagne: Rosé Champagne can be made using a blend of red and white grapes or by allowing the red grape skins to stay in contact with the juice for a brief period during fermentation. This results in a pink or salmon-colored Champagne. The flavor profile varies but often includes notes of red berries and floral elements.
4. Prestige Cuvée: This is a top-quality Champagne often considered the flagship wine of a Champagne house. Prestige Cuvées are crafted with meticulous attention to detail and often include the best grapes from the finest vineyards. They can be a blend of various grape varieties and vineyard sites.
5. Vintage Champagne: Produced only in exceptional years when the grapes are of exceptional quality, Vintage Champagnes are made from grapes harvested in a single year. They showcase the unique characteristics of that specific vintage and are typically aged for an extended period before release.
6. Grower Champagne: Some Champagne producers, known as “grower-producers,” use grapes exclusively from their own vineyards. These Champagnes often highlight the terroir of a specific region and may have a more artisanal, small-scale production approach.

Now that you are aware of what Champagne is, its types, and classifications make sure you are confident and use the knowledge above in your everyday work.

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