Champagne
The Champagne AOC appellation is undoubtedly the best known and most famous in the world. The territory of Champagne is divided into various areas with different characteristics, which also guide the cultivation of vines: the area of the Montagne de Reims is famous for the Pinot Noir, the Côte des Blancs and the Côte de Sézanne for the Chardonnay, the Vallée de the Marne for Pinot Meunier and the southernmost area of the Côte de Bar for Pinot Noir.
In general, the soil of Champagne is characterized by calcareous-clayey marl with a strong presence of chalk. And it is precisely the deep layer of chalk of the subsoil that constitutes the wealth of this territory. The Champagne region represents the extreme limit of vine cultivation in the north and the white color of the chalk reflects the little heat of the sun, transferring it to the plants. It also acts as a great water resource, which drains the surface of the vineyards by retaining water in depth for dry periods.
The success of the wines of this region stems from the Champagne production method, the first wine to use the technique of refermentation in the bottle, which subsequently took the name of “ méthode champenoise ” or “classic method”. Thanks to this procedure, still wines, to which a syrup of yeasts and sugars called “ liquer de tirage ” are added, undergo a second fermentation in the bottle which produces carbon dioxide and determines the formation of precious bubbles. Once the aging period on the yeasts is over, which will be removed from the wine through dégorgement, the bottle is refilled with a mixture called " liquer d'expédition ", containing old wines and a quantity of sugar that will determine the final dosage of the cuvée: pas dosé, extra brut, brut, extra dry, sec, demi sec, or doux. The exact composition of the blend, which contributes to conferring the so-called goût maison , is a jealously guarded secret of every producer.
The allure of the wines elaborated according to the method that is the basis of the success of Champagne, comes from an extraordinary terroir, from a tradition of secular culture and from the art of blending the three main grape varieties used: Pinot Noir which gives structure, Chardonnay which gives finesse and elegance and Pinot Meunier which gives a fruity touch, allows to obtain wines of great charm and gustatory balance. The more traditional assembly of Champagne by the great Maison often includes similar percentages of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, however there is no lack of different blends, especially in the case of small producers, who have their vineyards in only one area. We can speak of "Blanc de Blancs", when a champagne is produced with white grapes only, of "Blanc de Noirs" if produced with red berried grapes only, of Rosé if there is a slight pause on the skins or the addition of a small percentage of red wine.
Buy Champagne online
The name Champagne is traditionally linked to the concepts of prestige, luxury, elegance, allure and charm. However, today, also thanks to e-commerce, it is possible to allow yourself the privilege of tasting a good bottle of Champagne at absolutely affordable prices. In our selection you will find a wide assortment: from the most famous brands such as Moët & Chandon , Ruinart , Veuve Clicquot , Laurent-Perrier , Mumm , Billecart-Salmon , Bollinger , Charles Heidsieck , Taittinger to smaller producers such as Philipponnat or Bruno Paillard, up to cuvée de prestige "Cristal" by Louis Roederer , "Belle Époque" by Perrier-Jouët or the legendary " Dom Pérignon ".
Discover the pleasure of buying a good bottle of Champagne online on Vino.com, each label in our selection offers you an indication of the best combinations, so that you can choose the perfect Champagne for every occasion at first glance.
What is the best Champagne of all?
Geographically, the Champagne area is complex and for this reason it is not easy to choose the right one or define which one can be the best among the many available. It can help in choosing the best Champagne to know that the types are different and varied: from the Reims mountain quarries you can taste the renowned Blanc de Noirs obtained from Pinot Noir and with a noble and powerful structure, or choose the Marne Valley with its Petit Soft and seductive Meunier. If, on the other hand, you prefer a fine delicacy, the Champagne that is right for you is a Blanc de Blancs produced with Chardonnay grapes. Whatever your taste, Vino.com is at your side to assist you in choosing the best Champagne there is!
What is Pommery Champagne?
That of Champagne Pommery is a story of female audacity. It was the year 1874, when the avant-garde Madame Louise Pommery decided to take a daring path, presenting to the world a Champagne that has the taste of revolution: the first vintage brut in history. At the time, Champagnes had a sweeter taste because they were consumed as dessert wines. Madame Pommery decides to introduce a cuvée with a lower sugar dosage, innovating the taste forever. What prompted Madame Pommery to revolutionize the consumption behavior of the most illustrious drink in the world? The contemporary English market preferred a less sweet taste than the one preferred by the French. Inspired by these premises, Louise Pommery had the brilliant intuition to ask her chef de cave to reduce the quantities of sugar. If today we can enjoy the unique goodness of Champagne Brut, we owe it to Madame Pommery's entrepreneurial courage, at a time when the wine trade was exclusively male prerogative.
Why is Champagne Dom Pérignon so renowned?
Dom Pérignon is legend and perfection. Regardless of your level of passion for Champagne, it is impossible not to have heard of the prestigious Champagne Dom Pérignon at least once. In 1936, in memory of Pierre Pérignon, cellérier of the abbey of Saint-Pierre d'Hautvillers, the Maison Moët & Chandon decided to remember the prestige of this great winemaker and experimenter by using reserve wines to create the first official Champagne Dom Pérignon. Between history and myth, Champagne Dom Pérignon owes its fame to the figure of the presumed inventor of Champagne and to such advanced production and selection criteria as to create a unique and always recognizable product.