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BY CESAR X. CHAVEZ, Certified Master Wine Specialist
We often raise a glass of bubbly to toast a special occasion like a birth, an anniversary or a work accomplishment. The celebratory bubbly beverage I’m referring to is Champagne. Of course, when most people say “Champagne,” they are usually talking about sparkling wine, not sparkling wine made in the region of Champagne in France.
So what do you really know about Champagne, other than it is bubbly, it’s expensive and for people that don’t know their limits during times of celebration, can induce bad behavior and possibly an unneeded hangover. Not very many people really know what Champagne is. Even people that think they know what this delectable bubbly concoction is really don’t know much about it at all.
I have heard perfectly well-educated, wine savvy people say some of the dumbest things about Champagne not realizing that they are perpetuating many falsehoods to people that are wine newbies, who in turn continue the spread the same inconsistencies to others.
I’ll begin with the much over used rhetoric many of you seasoned wine drinkers have heard many times over, but for the sake of necessity, it shall be repeated – “All Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne”. There, it’s been said, now let’s move on.
Much of this sparkling/Champagne confusion though can directly be blamed on some American wine makers who shamelessly, because of a nifty loop-hole in international legislation, called their sparkling wine ‘Champagne’, thereby infuriating not only the French, but wine makers from all over the world. The argument is much too lengthy and detailed to elaborate in this article, but no decent and respectful wine-maker outside of the appellation of Champagne would ever call their sparkling product Champagne (not even to mention, it is illegal in most countries to do so). Quick trivia: What do the French call their sparkling wine made in France but not made in the Champagne region? It is generally called “Cremant” or “Mousseaux”.
I will be giving you some recommendations for any upcoming noted occasions such as Valentines Day. You should be able to find these picks here in San Antonio without difficulty. So, anyway here we go!
LABOURE GONTARD CREMANT DE BOURGOGNE – From the Burgundy region comes fresh, clean, lemony notes with a floral aroma. Great value- $13.99 (France)
CAMPO VIEJO CAVA BRUT RESERVE – A citrusy mouthful with lime and tangerine flavors and great acidity. – $23.99 (Penedes, Spain) LOVELY!
VEUVE CLIQUOT YELLOW LABEL BRUT – Complex aromas of beautiful ripe fruit wit excellent depth and
MUMM NAPA BRUT PRESTIGE – With aromas of apple and fresh ginger and various complexities and layered flavors of raspberry and spice, Love it!- $15.99 (Napa Valley, Ca)
J VINEYARDS SPARKING ROSÉ – Aromas of strawberry, nectarines and juicy apples, bright acidity with a nice lingering finish! – $29.99 ( Russian River Valley, Ca) This is perfect for Valentine’s Day.
//SA
