Champagne is one of the world-famous specialties of France. It is regarded by Westerners as the best drink for festive banquets. It is said that amber champagne can best bring out the spirit of spring. The French are so proud of it. , because only then can God’s grace be reflected and the most delicious champagne in the world be drunk. Especially when the champagne cork is opened, the sound of popping the air and the foam overflowing have long been the best magic weapon to create a climax of joyful atmosphere. So how to appreciate champagne?
The word champagne (CHAMPAGNE) is synonymous with happiness, laughter and joy. Because it is a kind of wine used to celebrate festivals, it has luxury, temptation, and romantic colors, and it is also the king of wines.
How to appreciate champagne has naturally become an art. As follows:
Shape
The packaging of champagne is relatively unique. Similar to the curve of the shoulder, there is a bright collar on the high collar; the bottle stopper also shows graceful lines, the passion trapped in the wire seal is waiting for you to open, the elegant label is the most graceful brilliance, the champagne bottle Has a personal charm. The bottle is made of thick glass, and the dark glass prevents even the strongest sunlight from invading the spirit of the wine.
Color
Champagne is similar to ordinary white wine. When it is produced, the grapes are gently pressed so that the juice and peel are quickly separated. The color of the peel will not penetrate into the grape juice, so Black grapes can also produce golden and white champagne. Generally, grapes can be squeezed about three times, but the highest-end champagne is only brewed from the pure grape juice (Cuvee) of the first squeeze. The beautiful pink champagne (Rose) is made by slightly releasing the color of the peel during pressing, or by adding a little red wine to some champagne juice.
Taste
The taste of Champagne is mainly reflected by the grape varieties and the careful blending of the bartenders. The style of each grape variety has different reflections on the taste of the wine: for example, Pinot Noir can bring the aroma of red fruits, mellow and intense; Chardonnay is characterized by delicateness, floral aroma, and sometimes even mineral aroma; Mornier Pinot has a soft character, and the wine produced is round and fragrant. Most champagnes are blends of these three grapes in different ways, but there are also a few wineries that specialize in producing champagne from a single variety such as Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. Generally speaking, the higher the proportion of Chardonnay, the fresher and more refreshing the flavor. Pinot Noir injects a rigorous and thick structure into Champagne, and the taste tends to be strong and mellow.
Quality
The Champagne family has four major categories:
1. Fragrant Champagne: highly irritating to the senses, rich in flavor, with shrub aroma and spice aroma. and red fruit aroma;
2. Lingxiu Champagne: lively, light, delicate, exuding plant fragrance and citrus aroma;
3. Rich Champagne: generous, passionate, hazy , with the aroma of butter bread, cinnamon or honey, often pink champagne or semi-dry wine;
4. Magical champagne: mature, mellow, with high-end spice aroma, including special champagne and rare champagne The aroma of vintage wine.
Vintage
Champagne also has vintage characteristics. Most champagne wines are often not labeled with a single vintage. Instead, wines from various vintages, estates, and varieties are extracted and blended under the control of the winemaker to produce non-vintage champagne (NV). The price is relatively affordable and the flavor is relatively good. Affinity; Vintage Champagne (Vintage Champagne) will only be produced when the climate and harvest are excellent and the grape quality is excellent. Generally, vintage Champagne takes more time to mature in bottles before being released from the factory. Therefore, it not only reflects the climate and terroir characteristics of the production area in that year, but also expresses a rich and honest taste, which is also more suitable for long-term storage.
Quality
The Champagne family has four major categories:
1. Fragrant Champagne: highly irritating to the senses, rich in flavor, with shrub aroma and spice aroma. and red fruit aroma;
2. Lingxiu Champagne: lively, light, delicate, exuding plant fragrance and citrus aroma;
3. Rich Champagne: generous, passionate, hazy , with the aroma of butter bread, cinnamon or honey, often pink champagne or semi-dry wine;
4. Magic champagne: mature, mellow, with high-end spice aroma, including special champagne and rare champagne The aroma of vintage wine.
Vintage
Champagne also has vintage characteristics.
Most champagne wines are often not labeled with a single vintage. Instead, wines from various vintages, estates, and varieties are extracted and blended under the control of the winemaker to create non-vintage champagne (NV). The price is relatively affordable and the flavor is relatively good. Affinity; Vintage Champagne (Vintage Champagne) will only be produced when the climate and harvest are excellent and the grape quality is excellent. Generally, vintage Champagne takes more time to mature in the bottle before being released from the factory. Therefore, it not only reflects the climate and terroir characteristics of the production area in that year, but also expresses a rich and honest taste, and is more suitable for long-term storage.