This is not champagne. Sparkling wine is not necessarily champagne, but champagne must be sparkling wine! Champagne is the most famous sparkling wine. According to the French Champagne Origin Protection System, only sparkling wines produced using the Champagne brewing method using designated grape varieties, namely Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier, in the Champagne region of France can be labeled as Champagne.

The differences are also obvious:

1. The production areas are different. Champagne is only produced in the Champagne region in northeastern France. Sparkling wine can be produced in many countries and regions, but there is only one type that can be called Champagne.

2. Different grape varieties. The grape varieties used in Champagne are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Among them, Chardonnay is synonymous with white wine and is also the white grape variety with the largest planting area in the world. Chardonnay itself has no fixed aroma. Depending on the growing environment, it can exhibit different aroma characteristics, such as apple, citrus, and pineapple aromas. In the Champagne region of France, Chardonnay is often aged with wine lees. Of course, the Champagne produced also has a very unique flavor.

3. Different brewing methods

There are many ways to brew sparkling wine

(1) Traditional method: There are many steps in the traditional method. First of all, Fermentation is carried out in stainless steel barrels, and then mixed with different base wines for brewing. The wine is then bottled and secondary fermentation is carried out in the bottle. The secondary fermentation usually takes at least several months. After the secondary fermentation The wine will be given aromas of biscuits and toast.

After turning the bottle, spitting out the lees and corking the wine, the process is complete. Wine made using traditional techniques can be called Champagne. Therefore, the cost of champagne is relatively high, so the price will be relatively more expensive.

(2) Transfer method: The difference between the steps of the transfer method and the traditional method is at the end. The transfer method does not perform the bottle-turning process. The wine is poured into a sealed wine tank for clarification, and then bottled. The cost will be lower. The transfer method is commonly used in the production of New World sparkling wines. Note that the secondary fermentation of the transfer method is also completed in the bottle.

(3) Tank fermentation method: fermentation is carried out in a pressure-resistant sealed tank, and then filtered and pressurized filling is completed. This method is relatively low cost.

(4) Carbon dioxide injection method: It is to inject carbon dioxide into the wine. This method is the lowest cost and does not produce better quality wine.

Extended information

History and culture

1. The King of Wine

In France, wine, brandy and champagne industries are the three largest Champagne is a pillar industry, and Champagne is also known as the "King of Wines". The reason is roughly that Champagne originated in France; in terms of production methods, Champagne is made from high-quality white grape wine plus sugar, and is fermented again before it becomes aerated and tastes A more beautiful special wine; Champagne is suitable for men, women and children, and is suitable for drinking on various occasions and at any time.

2. Wine of Victory

It is said that when French Napoleon was young, he had a good relationship with a classmate named Jean-Remy Moai. This man often invited Napoleon to the restaurant he opened. Drinking champagne in the winery. Later, every time Napoleon went to his classmate to drink champagne before going on an expedition, and he returned home victorious every time. However, before setting off again in 1815, Napoleon did not say goodbye to his classmate, and the wine he brought with him was also gone. Not champagne but beer, and it failed miserably at Waterloo. As a result, champagne has become a symbol of victory and hope for success in the minds of the French.

After the Russian, Austrian, British and other multinational coalition forces that defeated Napoleon invaded France, they transported all the champagne in the Moai cellar on horse-drawn carriages and became their spoils of war. But Mr. Moai said humorously, let them grab it, they will definitely become my customers in the future.

Soon, the great French writer Hugo received an unsigned letter on the envelope with the words "To the greatest poet in France, Paris" written on it. He thought he was not qualified enough, so he returned the original letter to the post office. So the post office forwarded it to the poet Della Martin, but he humbly returned the letter to the post office.

The post office staff had no choice but to open the letter.

It turns out that this letter came from the Moscow Palace. There was only one sentence in the letter: "Salute to the greatest poet in France-Mr. Moet, who made champagne!" It can be seen that the power of champagne cannot be replaced by other things. It conquered the things that Napoleon could not use. Guns "solve" opponents.

3. Auspicious wine

It is said that when the launching ceremony of a new sea-going ship is held abroad, the wife of the ship owner (or his representative) always throws a bottle of champagne at the bow of the ship and crushes it. It's called "Bottle Throwing Ceremony".

It turns out this has a history. In ancient times when science and technology were backward, crew members were killed frequently. Whenever there was a shipwreck, those still alive on the ship could only write down what they wanted to say on paper, put it in a champagne bottle, seal it and throw it into the sea to let it drift. Hopefully it will be discovered by other ships or people on shore.

So whenever a storm breaks out at sea or the ship fails to return after the scheduled time, the families of the crew members gather on the shore to pray and hope that their loved ones can return home safely. However, the cruel facts are always difficult to meet this most basic desire of people. Often, in despair, only heartbreaking champagne bottles can be seen occasionally.

So there was the "bottle throwing ceremony" mentioned at the beginning, wishing that there would no longer be such floating bottles on the sea; and the mellow aroma of wine filled the bow of the ship to ward off evil spirits and eliminate disasters. Therefore, the more shattered the champagne is on the bow of the ship, the better, which indicates that the new ship will always sail safely.

Although shipwrecks have been basically eliminated nowadays, the custom of "bottle throwing" still exists, but it has just evolved into a traditional festive ceremony. It can be seen that champagne is also a symbol of good luck and safety.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Champagne

Baidu Encyclopedia - Sparkling Wine