How to choose champagne for the New Year

Champagne is an indispensable attribute of the New Year holidays. And even those who prefer other drinks are sure to drink a glass of sparkling wine to the chimes. How to choose a drink and not regret your choice? 

The first thing to understand is that champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is champagne. Real champagne must have a name on the label in Latin and is made from 3 grape varieties – Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir.

Champagne made according to the correct technology, but from a different variety or in another province of France, is designated as Cremant on the label.

 

Label

Do not be lazy to read the label and decipher it according to the following marks:

RM is a company that grows grapes and produces champagne from them;
NM – a company that buys grapes for its own production;
MA – a company that has nothing to do with wine production and grape harvest – it acts as an intermediary;
SR – an association, a cooperative of winegrowers who produce champagne;
CM is a cooperative that grows grapes and pooles their crops;
RC – a company that sells champagne and is part of a cooperative for the sale of sparkling wines;
ND is a company that sells champagne under its own name.

Other important information on the label:

  • Extra brut, Brut nature, Brut zero – champagne does not contain additional sugar;
  • Brut – dry champagne (1,5%);
  • Extra dry – very dry wine (1,2 – 2%);
  • Sec – dry champagne (1,7 – 3,5%);
  • Demi-sec – semi-dry wine (3,3 – 5%);
  • Doux is a sweet champagne with a high sugar level (from 5%).

Bottle

A champagne bottle should be made of dark glass, as wine in a light bottle allows light to pass through and spoils the taste of the wine.

Probka

Ideal when the bottle of champagne is sealed with a cork stopper, not made of plastic. Of course, plastic cork is cheaper to manufacture, which is reflected in the cost of champagne, but plastic is breathable and can make the wine taste sour.

Bubbles and foam

Shake the bottle well before buying and see how the bubbles and foam behave. In a good champagne, the bubbles will be the same size and will be evenly distributed throughout the liquid, slowly floating upward. The foam will take up all the free space under the cork.

Color and transparency

When pouring champagne into glasses, pay attention to the color and clarity. A quality wine will be light and without sediment. If the shade is dark, the champagne is likely to have deteriorated. Too light or bright color indicates a fake product. 

The color of champagne is white (yellow) and pink. The rest of the colors are a play of chemicals and additives.

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Champagne is served chilled to 7-9 degrees with appropriate snacks. 

We will remind, earlier we told, than champagne is useful, and also shared the recipe for jelly from champagne. 

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