Five Facts You Must Know About Champagne

Bonjour! By the time you read this, I’ll be in Champagne. After visiting the Loire Valley and the D-Day beaches of Normandy, my mom and I are ending our trip to France with a stop in the region that’s home to the best of the bubbly.

Given that I like to think of myself as a global bon vivant , I thought I knew the deal on Champagne the wine, if not Champagne the place. Alas, I was wrong. So here are the basics on bubbly. I’m willing to bet you might find some of these facts a bit surprising.

Champagne is from Champagne, period

Fact No. 1: Not all sparklers from France are Champagne. To be called Champagne, the wine has to be from the Champagne region. There are other great French sparklers, such Cremant de Bourgogne from Burgandy and Vouvrey from the Loire Valley, but they can’t legally be called Champagne. And of course, sparkling wines from outside of France may be delicious, but they are not Champagne.

Fact No. 2: Champagne the place is the northernmost major wine producing region in the world. Located along the 49^th parallel, which is equivalent to the most northern parts of the US-Canada border, it is pretty far up there. Are there other wine producing regions that are farther north? Sure. For example, the Ahr wine region in northern Germany is located between the 50^th and 51^st parallels. And, thanks to climate change, there are new wine producing regions in Finland, Sweden and Norway. But for major wine producing regions, Champagne is it. Who knew?

Oh Good! A Quiz

Fact No. 3: True or False? The British invented Champagne. It’s true! While legend has it that a French Benedictine monk invented champagne (thank you Dom Pérignon) it was actually a British scientist who developed the process that produces the bubbles in 1662, years before the French. Mon Dieu!

Fact No. 4: Champagne is a blend of three grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

The Fifth Fact is Always the Best

Fact No. 5: You can learn how to choose the ideal Champagne for your palate. Think about sweetness levels and look for these words on the label:

• Brut: Dry.
• Sec: Dryish, but less dry than Brut.
• Demi sec: Medium dry, that is, less dry than Sec.
• Doux: Medium sweet.

Champagne Pointers by Palate

I would think about it like this: If you are in the Accessible Tribe, go with a Doux. If you’re in the Balanced Tribe, consider a Demi Sec or Sec. Developed Tribe? Go with a Sec or Brut. And if you’re in the Complex tribe, Brut is for you.

Not sure what tribe you are in? Take our nifty quiz and start getting personalized wine recommendations based on your palate.

Cheers! Oh, and be sure to toast the Brits next time you are quaffing Champagne.