A much-needed explainer on everyone’s favorite form of fizz.
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You may know a little bit about Champagne.
Perhaps you’ve enjoyed aChampagne cocktail on New Year’s.
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You might even know how to open a bottle of it.
But chances are, at some point, you’ve been intimidated aboutbuyingit.
After all, there are so many varieties of sparkling wine.
What’s the difference betweenBrutandDemi-Sec, orProsecco and Champagne?
“That said, I am not a sparkling wine purist!
While I love a good Champagne, many people are intimidated by its cost and prestige.
Perhaps the biggest differentiator among Champagnes is the range of sweetness you’ll taste.
Champagne ranges from dry to sweet, and that sweetness dictates which foods to pair it with.
Thankfully, it’s all on the label.
Blanc de Blanc Champagnes are made with 100 percent Chardonnay grapes.
In rare cases, this process can also involve using Pinot Blanc grapes.
The resulting wine strongly resembles a Chardonnay and has minerality and chalkiness.
Think of yellow-hued foods here, like butter, lemons, and tart apples for pairing inspiration.
These bottles tend to be fruitier and a bit more full-bodied due to the inclusion of red grapes.
Red fruits, like raspberries and strawberries, tend to best complement a Blanc de Noir.
While the lovely pink bottle may infer sweetness, it’s actually a rather dry, acidic wine.
Whether staying in or dining out, you cannot go wrong with a brut rose.
There’s also more space for your nose and taste buds to experience what you’re sipping.
