Champagne Poodleon
About Me
Hi, I'm Ted, and drink much of the Champagne and write most of the articles here. Fascinated by great drink and food - including Champagne!
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Champagne Questions
Champagne Questions and Answers
What is the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine?
Which is the best Champagne?
How many servings from a bottle of Champagne?
What is the alcohol content of Champagne?
Where to buy Champagne bottles?
How long does Champagne last?
What is Andy Warhol Champagne?
How is Champagne made?
What grapes are used to make Champagne?
What causes the bubbles in a glass of Champagne?
Does Champagne go bad?
How to store Champagne?
Can you use Champagne flutes as water glasses?
How to open Champagne?
How many calories in Champagne?
How to keep Champagne from going flat once the bottle is opened?
Should Champagne be stored on its side?
What color is Champagne?
What to serve and eat with Champagne?
How to drink Champagne?
How to pour Champagne ?
How long after opening before Champagne goes flat?
Where does the name Champagne come from?
What is Pink Champagne?
What is the bump in the bottom of a bottle of Champagne called?
What is the largest bottle of Champagne?
What is the standard size for a bottle of Champagne?
How to hold a Champagne flute?
What is a Champagne cocktail?
What is a good Champagne for a wedding toast?
What is the most expensive bottle of Champagne?
How many glasses of Champagne in a bottle?
Why do they break a bottle of Champagne on the bow of a ship?
Why do we drink Champagne at New Years?
How do they get the cork into the Champagne bottle?
How do you save Champagne without a cork?
How drunk do you get from one glass of Champagne?
How long can Champagne be in the freezer?
How long does Champagne stay in your system?
How many oz is in a bottle of Champagne?
How much is a case of Champagne?
Should you drink Champagne before midnight?
What is the name of old fashioned Champagne glasses?
What kind of Champagne should you use for mimosas?
What is Champagne in a can?
Does Champagne freeze in the freezer?
Does Champagne need to be chilled?
What is the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine?
All Champagne is Sparkling Wine, but not all Sparkling Wine is Champagne. To be Champagne, it must come from the Champagne region in France from specific vineyards, be made using the Méthode Champenoise, and be made from allowable grapes which are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. There are also a few "ancient varieties" of grapes a very few producers still use.
Which is the best Champagne?
This is certainly a question of opinion, as tastes vary and so do styles of Champagne very much. I would include the following in my top ten Champagnes, in no specific order: Vintage Krug, Cristal, Dom Perignon, Bollinger Grand Annee, Deutz Cuvee William Deutz, Salon, Veuve Cliquot La Grand Dame, Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill, and Deutz Amour de Deutz.
How many servings from a bottle of Champagne?
Six flutes per bottle.
What is the alcohol content of Champagne?
Most are between 11% and 13%, similar to most other wines.
Where to buy Champagne bottles?
Champagne is the most fragile of wines, so in general you want to buy it somewhere that has a good turnover and is cool. When buying Non Vintage wines, and this is most wines, buying them from cool store shelves is fine, say under 70 degrees Fahrenheit, unless they've been there for a long time.
Older Vintage wines or vintage wines that are kept for a while should be kept much cooler, and often they are kept in controlled storage, usually at 55 degrees or similar. Beware Champagne that has been kept at room temperature for a long time. It ages much faster.
How long does Champagne last?
If treated well, meaning kept cool and out of direct sunlight, any Champagne will easily last 3 or 4 years. If it is a vintage Champagne, especially a Prestige Cuvee like Dom Perignon or Cristal from a great year like 1985, 1988, 1990, or 1996, it can last for decades! Storage is much more important with wines that will be kept a long time, but certainly there are Champagnes from the 50s and 60s (and even back to the 20s if you can find any) drinking extremely well!
What is Andy Warhol Champagne?
Moet and Chandon released some of their 2002 Dom Perignon in Andy Warhol inspired decorated bottles and similar boxes. They were made in 3 styles, Warhol-toned blue, yellow or red. Inside is ordinary Dom Perignon 2002, which is quite spectacular - an excellent vintage. Take a look at the bottles to the right to see what they look like.
How is Champagne made?
Champagne is made by the traditional Méthode Champenoise. After the initial or primary fermentation like all other wines, it is bottled and yeast and sugar (often Saccharomyces cerevisiae or a blend and Rock Sugar) are added so that a second alcoholic fermentation occurs in the bottle. This causes the carbonation and bubbles.
What grapes are used to make Champagne?
Most Champagne is made of at most three grapes, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Blanc de Blancs Champagne is made entirely of Chardonnay. Blanc de Noirs is made entirely of Pinot Noir and sometimes Pinot Meunier.
Note that there are some obscure varietals no longer planted in Champagne although existing vines are allowed by French law in Champagne. These so-called "ancient varieties," less that 0.1% of grapes used, include Arbanne, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris (also known as Fromenteau), and Petit Mesilier.
What causes the bubbles in a glass of Champagne?
The bubbles are carbon dioxide, caused by the secondary in bottle fermentation. The bubbles form on imperfections on the glass, and some manufacturers actually add imperfections, in general not visible by the human eye, to increase the amount of bubbles.
Does Champagne go bad?
Yes, it can, from too much age but usually from imperfect storage. Heat and light are enemies of Champagne.
How to store Champagne?
Champagne should be stored in a cool and dark spot. For more on short term storage, see How To Store Champagne, and for longer term storage, see Champagne Cellaring
Can you use Champagne flutes as water glasses?
Of course, why wouldn't you be able too? I'd rather use Champagne Flutes for Champagne myself, but they are quite elegant as water glasses, although they do not hold much water.
How to open Champagne?
Remove any foil and wire cage from the top of the bottle and cork. Be careful in case the cork releases itself, uncommon but not unheard of. Hold the bottle firmly in one hand with the cork pointing away from anyone and anything fragile, just it case it flies free. Grab the cork firmly with your other hand, and twist and pull out all in one motion. It's very simple and the cork will come right out, often with a resounding and festive pop!
It's also possible to "saber" Champagne, breaking the neck with a sword. This is impressive but advanced, and feel free to go check out videos on YouTube for example.
How many calories in Champagne?
There are about 100 calories in a 4-5 ounce glass (meaning 5-6 glasses per bottle size serving), and about 1 gram of carbohydrates in Brut Champagne. We say "about" because it depends somewhat on the type you are drinking.
How to keep Champagne from going flat once the bottle is opened?
Usually this is not an issue as the bottle is consumed quickly, but if
you have some left over, there are ways to preserve it. First and foremost,
keep the remaining Champagne cold! Cold liquids can hold more carbon
dioxide, which is exactly what the bubbles. Since the original cork is not
going to fit back in, a wonderful and inexpensive device called a Champagne Stopper
Legend has it that placing a silver spoon in the neck of the bottle,
handle side down, will preserve the bubbles. I have often seen this done,
but what is really preserving the bubbles is placing the bottle back in the
refrigerator afterwards.
Should Champagne be stored on its side?
For short term storage it does not matter, say for a few months. Longer term people do argue over whether Champagne should be on its side or standing up, and I store it on its side. This keeps the wine in contact with the cork so it does not dry out.
What color is Champagne?
Champagne varies from a very light straw yellow, for example for a Blanc de Blancs, to a deeper and richer yellow, and Rose Champagnes can very from salmon, light orange, all shades of pink, and even fairly dark red.
What to serve and eat with Champagne?
Champagne is an exceptionally food friendly wine. Most Champagnes are delightful on their own or with food, although some are so big and full flavored (for example vintage Krug) that they almost demand food. Some foods that go well include eggs, caviar, seafood of all types, most cheeses especially hard cheeses (very soft and ripe cheeses can kill the taste sometimes), and most any bird.
Champagne also goes very well with many Asian dishes, as the acidity holds up well to sweet sauce as well as spicy foods.
French fries are a great match. As is popcorn with truffle salt. And veal, ham, and pork as well.
For more details, see Champagne Food Pairing.
How to drink Champagne?
Chill in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours, or use a Champagne Bucket if in a hurry. Pour into Champagne glasses, sip, and enjoy. Most Champagnes taste better slightly warmer than refrigerator temperature, so enjoy it as it warms slightly. Often you'll find a fuller range of flavors as it warms. You do NOT want to drink it ice cold!
How to pour Champagne?
After you have opened the bottle, hold the flute at a 30 to 45 degree angle to avoid too much fizz and subsequent overflowing, and gently pour about half an inch to an inch into the flute. Once the froth subsides in a couple of seconds, continue pouring until 1/2 to 2/3 full.
How long after opening before Champagne goes flat?
It varies, but an open bottle in the refrigerator may still have bubbles
the next day. If you use a Champagne Stopper
Where does the name Champagne come from?
Champagne is the name of the province about 100 miles east of Paris where Champagne, the sparking wine, is made.
What is Pink Champagne?
Pink Champagne, also called Rose Champagne, is most commonly made by adding a small amount of Pinot Noir, usually 10-15 percent, to Champagne before its secondary fermentation in the bottle (which gives it its bubbles). The color can range from all shades of pink, to light orange, to salmon, to copper, to darker hues or red.
What is the bump in the bottom of a bottle of Champagne called?
It is called a punt.
What is the largest bottle of Champagne?
A Melchizedek is a 30 liter bottle, and a 30 Liter bottle of Armand de Brignac Champagne sold for $100,000 recently. In reality, such large bottle sizes are rarely made these days. More on Bottle Sizes.
What is the standard size for a bottle of champagne?
The standard size is 750 ml, same as a standard bottle of wine.
How to hold a Champagne flute?
Hold them by their stem so as not to warm the Champagne. Sometimes if it is too cold, as is often the case especially when first poured, I will cup the bowl with both hands to slightly warm the bubbly. If you are not around wine geeks, people will think this is pretty strange though.
What is a Champagne cocktail?
It is a cocktail using Champagne as a base, and they were extremely popular in the mid 1800s and still are today. Examples include the classic Champagne Cocktail, with has a sugar cube, a dash of Angostura bitters, and a lemon twist, the Mimosa, Champagne and orange juice, and the Kir Royale, Champagne and Crème de cassis.
What is a good champagne for a wedding toast ?
Although budget certainly matters, also keep in mind that the majority of wedding guests wouldn't know a great Champagne if it stood up and bit them in the ass!
If you are using real (meaning French) Champagne, any decent Non Vintage (NV) will do. For most weddings I suggest a cheaper sparkling wine, for example Spanish Cava, which is inexpensive and delicious.
What is the most expensive bottle of champagne?
The most expensive is 1907 Heidsieck. 2000 bottles were discovered in1998 in the shipwreck of a Swedish freighter in the Gulf of Finland, which was delivering the bottles to the Imperial Court of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. At US$275,000 a bottle, these are the most expensive bottles of Champagne.
How many glasses of Champagne in a bottle?
Six glasses, although you can stretch a bit of necessary.
Why do they break a bottle of Champagne on the bow of a ship?
Ships have long been Christened, and way back to the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, ceremonies were held asking the gods to protect sailors. By the 1800s, Christening Fluids were used although they were not necessarily wine.
By the late 1800s, Champagne had come into popular use, and still is today. If the bottle does not break it is considered very bad luck.
So in short, they break a bottle of Champagne on the bow of a ship because of tradition and superstition.
Why do we drink Champagne at New Years?
Champagne is a very festive beverage, and it is perfect for festive and celebratory events like New Years Eve and New Years Day, Weddings, Divorces, and Christenings.
How do they get the cork into the Champagne bottle?
Champagne corks are nearly 50% bigger than the opening of the bottle, and are compressed before being inserted. The mushroom shape develops over time. The top of the cork is made of a composite of ground cork and glue, and the bottom of two discs of pure cork.
How drunk do you get from one glass of Champagne?
A little more than from a glass of regular wine. Champagne averages about 11-13 percent alcohol, like most wines, although the bubbles do cause it to be absorbed and get into your bloodstream faster.
If you occasionally drink, are not real small physically , and do not have a totally empty stomach, you will not get drunk from one glass.
My mother gets quite tipsy from one glass, but only has alcocol perhaps once every year or two and is somewhat petit.
How long can Champagne be in the freezer?
Although some people claim it is bad for Champagne, I've never had a problem chilling Champagne in the freezer. 45 minutes is fine and 60 minutes not enough to freeze it. Any longer and it may freeze into a messy slush, and bottle may also break or the cork pop out.
How long does champagne stay in your system?
About an hour for a glass of Champagne, just the same as for any other alcohol.
How many oz is in a bottle of Champagne?
25.4 oz. (ounces) or 750 milliliters.
How much is a case of Champagne?
A standard case is twelve 750ml bottles.
Should you drink Champagne before midnight?
Yes.
I'm not sure why this is a common question, but it is. Champagne is wonderful anytime you might have a glass of wine. It is wine after all.
What is the name of old fashioned Champagne glasses?
They are called Champagne Saucers or Coupes or sometimes Victorian Coupes. Supposedly they are in the shape of the left breast of Marie Antoinette, although few people actually believe this legend.
What kind of Champagne should you use for mimosas?
With mimosas the quality of the orange juice is more important than the quality of the Champagne. A simple non vintage Champagne can be used, although I more commonly use an inexpensive Californian sparkling wine or Spanish Cava, and save the good stuff to be enjoyed on its own.
What is Champagne in a can?
There have been at least are two sparkling wines in a can, but no true French Champagne in a can..
Niebaum-Coppola Winery was the first with their Sofia blanc de blancs, an all Chardonnay California Sparkling Wine in 187 ml pink cans sold in 4 packs with included straws. They have made this for years.
Also in 2007 a Paris Hilton branded Sparkling Wine called "Rich Prosecco" in a gold can was released . It actually is an Italian Sparking wine known as Prosecco, and comes in several varieties today.
Does Champagne freeze in the freezer?
Yes! It won't freeze solid because of the alcohol, but will become a slushy mess, especially if the bottle breaks or the cork releases.
If you put it in the freezer to quickly chill it, do not forget it! better to use a Champagne Bucket.
Does Champagne need to be chilled?
Champagne is best served and enjoyed chilled. Most people drink it at refrigerator temperature, although a bit warmer is better. Letting it warm for 30 or so minutes gets it to about 45 degrees Fahrenheit (about 7 degrees Celsius) which many consider optimal. Ultimately it's what you prefer, and my friend Paul prefers his around 55 degrees Fahrenheit (about 12 3/4 degrees Celsius).
Does it need to be chilled? Yes, for proper enjoyment.