subject: A Beginners Guide To The Delights Of Champagne [print this page] As a true aficionado of fine wine, you're likely to love a good champagne. Not only do they smell and taste great, but the explosion of fizz is unusual and enjoyable. Who doesn't enjoy popping a champagne cork and pouring the wine into a flute as the effervescence forms in the glass? Did you know that wines from the Champagne region of France are the only ones permitted to be called champagne? Although that technically only applies within the European Union, many other countries around the world have agreed not to use the word champagne on their wines to avoid confusing consumers.What Does Vintage Mean?Vintage wines are from one year's harvest only. Usually vintage wines are much more expensive so most people settle for non-vintage wines which are produced from wines of different years blended together. A benefit of non-vintage champagnes is that they are more consistent because they don't rely on one year's harvest.Champagne ProductionThe primary grapes using in making champagne are Pinot noir and Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Mthode Champenoise is how the wines is usually made. Unlike normal wine production, a second fermentation step inside the bottle happens when yeast and rock sugar are introduced. After the frementation is finished, the neck of the bottle collects the waste from the fermentation and is then chilled so that the liquid in the neck of the bottle freezes. When the bottle is opened, the frozen liquid at the top of the bottle neck is forced out under pressure, discarded, and the bottle re-capped.An example of a non-vintage champagne would be Champagne De Vallois, which is a blend of three grape varieties, Chardonnay from the Cote des Blancs, along with Pinot Noir and Meunier from the Marne region of France. The wine itself is dry with an elegant freshness and hints of citrus and cream.Buying OnlineThere are many different champagnes to suit all tastes and budgets. However, one of the best ways to get a good deal is to buy it online, especially if you buy it in a case of six or twelve bottles for dramatic savings. There are some things which are unsuitable to buying online, but fortunately, wine isn't one of them. As long as you buy from a trusted online retailer who packs the wine well, there shouldn't be any problem in getting it shipped to you. Don't forget to check for discounts, coupons and special deals. I've seen fifty percent discounts, which can add up to big savings. Overally, it's possible to get affordable yet excellent wines delivered direct to your door without a huge impact on your wallet, and what better way to celebrate than with a case of champagne?
