Champagne is the perfect drink for celebration. Its light and sparkling quality make it a go-to for festive occasions such as weddings and the likes, but also it is an excellent pick for a bubbly cocktail after work. This guide to buying champagne explains the difference between Champagne and champagne (yes, there is one) and spills about how to buy a bottle of bubbly safely.
Champagne is different from sparkling wine. Champagne with a capital “C” can only come from the Champagne region in France, which means it comes with a hefty price tag. However, champagne (with a lowercase “c”) from other areas—usually called sparkling wine—is moderately priced and can be just as delicious.
The very best and most expensive Champagnes are single-vintage ‘prestige cuvées’ that include names such as Krug Clos du Mesnil, Clos d’Ambonnay, Louis Roederer’s Cristal, Dom Pérignon and Salon Le Mesnil. In the last 10 years, smaller grower-producers have seen a rise in popularity — particularly among expert collectors who really know their Champagne.
Non-vintage vs. prestige cuvée. What’s the difference?
Many producers release a top Champagne, known as its prestige cuvée. These are only made following an exceptional harvest and, as a result, exist in much smaller quantities, and at much higher prices. Salon Le Mesnil, for example, has released just 39 vintages since it was first produced in 1905.
A Champagne house’s prestige cuvée will often have its own name: Louis Roederer calls its prestige cuvée Cristal, while Pol Roger produces Sir Winston Churchill — a vintage Champagne that aims to imitate the robust build of the famed politician. Vintage Champagnes have the potential to evolve in bottle and develop honeyed, crème brulée complexity.
The vast majority of all Champagne, however, is non-vintage. This type of Champagne is made not from a single harvest, but from a blend of several years, resulting in a consistent house style. For this reason, non-vintage Champagnes will be undated. Moët & Chandon is the best-known non-vintage Champagne.
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