An Introduction To The French Wine

In whichever part of the civilized world you may live, you
are sure to have heard of the famed "Champagne". It is a
word and thought synonymous with greatness, achievement and
quality, and it is a wine that has been around for
centuries.

Champagne has been used traditionally for glorious
occasions such as celebrating a milestone, victory of some
sort, and to toast the bride and groom on their marriage.
It is often served with meal or desert. The special wine
has been an integral part of sports celebrations since Moet
et Chandon, the famed French winery, started offering their
Champagne to the winners of Formula 1 Grand Prix events.
The whispering noise made while opening a Champagne bottle
is sometimes called "le soupir amoureux" or "loving
whisper". A single edged sword, called a "sabre" has been
used in many occasions to open Champagne bottles with great
ceremony. This is a technique commonly known as "sabrage".
However the term is also used for simply breaking the head
of the bottle.

Produced exclusively in the historic province in the
northeast of France, the wine takes its name from the
region it is produced—located about one hundred miles east
of Paris. The exclusive quality of this wine has driven
legislations to protect its identity and distinguish it
from possible imitations. The wine "Champagne" named after
the French region in northeast France meaning "open
country". Genuine French Champagne will have the word
"Champagne" imprinted on the label, beginning with a
capital "C". The name is highly protected by law and other
wine manufacturers are prohibited from using it on their
bottles.

Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay are the three
different grapes employed in the production of Champagne.
Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are classified as "black
grapes", while the more well known Chardonnay is classified
as "white grape". The wine is produced by inducing the
in-bottle secondary fermentation of the wine to effect
carbonation. In secondary fermentation, the wine is bottled
with a combination of yeast and fresh sugar known as
"liqueur de triage". As carbon dioxide is released as a
byproduct of fermentation, the wine is made "bubbly".

The type of Champagne and its flavor is indicated on the
label of the bottle. Some Champagne are a blend of
different grapes—producing an exquisite taste. "Blanc de
noirs" is a French term meaning "white of blacks". It is a
white Champagne wine produced exclusively from black grapes.

Like sparkling wine, Champagne is very common during
celebrations of achievements. Although considered a type of
sparkling wine, Champagne is distinct from all other
sparkling wine due to its exceptional quality and
appraisal. There are however, instances of manufacturers
who use cheaper quality grapes which degrade the quality of
the wine. Tasting the original Champagne once will impress
itself on your mind and you will be able to distinguish it
from lesser quality.

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