How to choose a great bottle of champagne

“I see stars.” What they say Dom Perignon said when he first tasted champagne.

A list of champagnes and sparkling wines by price range

We can thank a Benedictine Monk for those bubbles, once considered a flaw, in champagne. Although he did not invent champagne, he perfected the care and tending of champagne’s delicate bubbles. Originally thought to be an imperfection, the bubbles are a result of a double fermentation that occurs naturally to the grapes in this colder region of France. Here, the grapes must be harvested and bottled before winter’s frost. When the warmer weather starts activating the yeasts that were dormant over the winter in the bottled wine, carbon dioxide builds up in the bottles, creating a second fermentation. At the time, these bubbles were considered an imperfection, as the goal was to create a still wine.

By Easter, the bubbles were released, as the winemakers still had no way to create an airtight seal. They were using wood tied with hemp as a bottle stopper. In 1668, a 28 year old Monk, Dom Perignon was appointed cell master at the Abbey Hautevillers in the East region of Champagne. He found a way to seal the bottle with corks from Spain to trap the naturally occurring bubbles. He also is credited with the use of stronger bottles to contain the bubbles, and the innovation of blending the grapes prior to sending them to press. Champagne is a blend of several wines.

This process of second fermentation in a sealed bottle is called methode champenoise and it is precisely how some of the best, and cheaper, sparkling wines are made. There was a time when any wine with bubbles was called “champagne.” But today, that term is reserved exclusively for sparkling wines made only in the Champagne region of France. Specifically, the Champagne region is 90 miles northeast of Paris, close to the border with Belgium. Champagnes themselves typically come from one of three areas within that region: Reims, Marne, or Cote de Blancs. This means there is a finite amount of Champagne produced every year, and with those marques, comes a high price tag.

Why is this important? You can still indulge yourself in ”champagne” from methode champenoise with bottles that do not come for the exclusive Champagne region. For example, in Italy the sparkling wines are referred to as Spumante; there are four types of Italian sparkling wines: Prosecco, Franciacorta, Asti and Moscato D́Asti. In California, for example, champagne is called sparkling wines.

When choosing champagne and sparkling wines, there are four things to consider:

1. Marque: Unlike wines, champagnes are a blend, and are named after the houses that produce them. Each house produced several brands of champagne, known as marques. Marque Area of the Champagne Region: Bollinger Ay Charles Heidsieck Reims Krug Reims Moet et Chandon Epernay G.H. Mumm Reims Joseph Perrier Marne Ruinart Reims Taittinger Reims Veuve Cliquot-Ponsardin Reims. In California, these are called brands.
2. Size:Half bottle, magnum, or Nebuchadnezzer? The half bottle is perfect for a dinner with two. It gives you two glasses, with a little left over. View the size chart here.
3. Vintage: Champagne, unlike some wines, does not improve with age. Champagne us usually helped for up to five years by the house, and once released should be consumed within two years. For a more precise evaluation of the quality of different vintages, however, visit this champagne vintage rating chart.
4. Dryness: To understand the process of making a champagne dryer or sweeter, you will need to know how it is made. Extra Brut, has .06% residual sugar, Brut 1.5%, Extra Dry 1.2 – 2.0%, Sec 1.7 – 3.5%, Demi-Sec 3.3 5.0%, Doux 5% +

As promised, here is my list of champagnes and sparkling wines, by price range.

• $10 to $15. Gruet from New Mexico or Chandon from California. You can typically find bargains on this wine when you buy it by the case. Domaine Ste. Michelle NV Brut, with lime and pear aromas, can often be found for under $10. This is the bottle you can keep on hand at your house at all times.
• $15 to $25. Scharffenberger Cellars, Roederer Estate Brut or Mumm Napa Valley “Brut Prestige,” all from California. Domaine Chandon NV Brut and Blanc de Noir are owned by the French champagne producer Moet. The wines are both, crisp and complex, with spicy notes.
• $25 to $35. At this price range, you can look at wines that come from the Champagne region. You want a bottle with “Heidsieck” on the label. Piper Heidsieck NV Brut is a reliable bottle from a traditional Champagne house. The wine has lemon and grapefruit aromas and lots of creamy texture. Henry Abele NV Brut is a French Champagne, however you can also find great bargains on this one. It is known for its notes of peach and spice in the nose and a crisp, dry finish.
• $30 to $60. In this price range you can find some very good domestic sparkling wines. However, they are rare. Look for DVX by Mumm Napa, Roederer Estate L’Ermitage, Iron Horse Classic Vintage Brut, Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée Brut and Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs. Pommery NV Bru, comes in a tin can in the shape of a Champagne bottle – it has a creamy texture and hints of lemon zest and toasted brioche.
• $100 and up. Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, Dom Pérignon, Louis Roederer Cristal and Bollinger R.D.

Which glass is the perfect glass for champagne?

Flutes are best because they concentrate the bubbles, the aromas and the tastes.

And remember, a loud pop wastes bubbles. How to open a bottle of sparkling wine

1. Make sure the bottle is cold. Sparkling wine tastes best when cool (45 to 55 degrees). The best way to chill sparkling wine is to place the bottle in a bucket of half ice and half cold water for about twenty minutes.
2. Remove the foil covering the cork. Chandon bottles have a tear tab for this purpose.
3. Place a folded cloth napkin over the cork and wire hood. Grasp the cork and neck of the bottle through the napkin. Tilt the bottle away from yourself and others at a 45-degree angle, bracing the bottom of the bottle against yourself. If you are opening the bottle in its ice bucket, brace the bottom against the inside corner of the bucket.
4. Pull down the wire tab that secures the hood; untwist the tab and loosen the wire hood so that it does not catch on the lip of the bottle. However, do not remove the wire hood and do not let go of the cork. Still grasping the cork and wire hood through the cloth napkin, slowly twist the tilted bottle – not the cork.
5. As you turn the bottle, the pressure of the bubbles will push the cork out. Keep a firm grip on the cork and gently let it ease itself out of the bottle. Try tilting the edge of the cork closest to you to allow the gas to escape slowly off the side. The cork should come out with a whisper, not a loud pop. Enjoy!

How to store leftover champagne

Why? If you must store it in the refrigerator for a few months. If you want to save it longer than that, store it outside of the refrigerator, on its side in a dark place.

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