How to Choose the Best Champagne and Sparkling Wines

Celebrations always feel incomplete without some fizz. Champagne and sparkling wine are the answer to making all our celebrations and moments a bit more memorable. With the perfect Champagne and sparkling wine gift, one can easily elevate the party mood. But choosing the perfect Champagne and sparkling wine can be a difficult job. Gifts are supposed to be thoughtful, and for that one needs to understand the gift. So when it comes to getting a dazzling bottle of champagne or sparkling wine, one must be able to make a perfect choice.

We’ll carefully guide you through everything you need to know before making a decision to order the bubbly bottle. 

Champagne vs. Sparkling Wine:

It is really important to understand that not all sparkling wine is champagne but all champagne is sparkling wine. There is a distinction between these two and many people are confused by this. So what is this big difference? Champagne is only produced in the champagne region of France. Basically, Champagnes are made from three main grapes, they include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. What makes champagne not stand with the rest of the wine is that it goes through fermentation twice. Normally wine production only consists of a single fermentation process. But Champagnes after the first fermentation goes through a second in sealed bottles. This makes the wine effervescent. The making of champagne itself is a very delicate and complicated process. They are carefully handcrafted and that’s why it holds a high pedestal among the bottles. So a bottle of Champagne as a gift is the best thoughtful gift of passion that you can give your loved one.

Sparkling wine is any wine that is made effervescent through secondary fermentation. And this is why we can categorize champagne as sparkling wine. They are fizzy and bubbly and it’s the best suitable gift to carry for a beautiful date night.

While gifting, we all want to choose the best and most suitable one. So follow our guide and we’ll help you zero down on a great gift.

1.Sweetness Level:

Every bottle of Champagne and sparkling wine has a label indicating its sweetness level. These are- Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra-Dry, Dry, and Doux. The sweetness level increases with each one as given (left to right). It is important to understand the sweetness/dryness level of the bottle, so you can gift the perfect Champagne and sparkling wine gift.

2.Aging:

Age is a really important factor when it comes to sparkling wine and champagne shopping. When it comes to Champagne, the non-vintage or least aged bottles can taste fruitier since they age only up to 15 months. On the other hand, vintage champagne would be aged for four to five years and they shall have a bready taste. It’s always better to choose a Vintage Champagne as a gift, as they have a more delicate and creamy taste palate. And when it comes to sparkling wines, an aged sparkling wine shall lose its effervescent properties after nine to ten years. So you can always go for a younger bottle of Sparkling wine as a gift.

3. Style:

Champagne and sparkling wine have a nuanced set of styles. When it comes to Champagnes, the style is determined by the combination of grape(s) used and not used. Champagne is made primarily from three types of grapes- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Major styles of champagne include Standard, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, Rosé. The classification of Sparkling wines is based on the place at which they are popularly made and the usage of grapes. The major styles are Champagne, Cava, Rose, Prosecco, Crémant, and Sekt.

Now that you have understood the basics of Champagne and Sparkling wines, the choice can be made pretty easily. Champagne is the star among Sparkling wines. Champagnes are made exclusively in the Champagne region in France. And because of their delicacy and uniqueness, they are an expensive deal. So if you are someone who is looking into splurging on a bit more, then you must go for champagne. With a rich and toasty flavour, Champagnes gifts are the most romantic as they come in elegant bottles.

Champagne can also be chosen according to regional classification and producer classification. When it comes to regional classification Champagnes are categorised into Premier Cru, Grand Cru, and Autre Cru. The Premier Cru and Grand Cru classification indicate that the champagne comes from grapes of superior quality which would also be reflected in the quality of champagnes. The Autre Cru classification Champagne is also a decent choice. Either way, it's champagne. They won't disappoint you.

Based on producers Champagnes are divided into three categories and they are Maisons, Cooperatives, and Vignerons. The Maisons are the big guys, they are major champagne-producing houses that run an empire of champagnes. The cooperatives are groups by the village, they produce under the label of CM-Coopérative Manipulant. And if you are someone who is into supporting local businesses and independent owners then RM- Récoltant Manipulant, SR Société de Récoltants, and RC Récoltant Coopérateur” are the labels that you need to look out for. These are champagnes that come from individually owned vineyards.

Our loved ones deserve a good bottle of Champagne and Sparkling wine gifts. With the right choice of a champagne gift basket or a tasteful sparkling wine basket, you can simply woo their hearts and make a special evening to remember forever.