Masterclass on Champagne

Facts About the Champagne Region

Champagne is located in northeastern France and has a history spanning over 300 years. Today, the region is home to over 15,000 farmers. Annually, more than 300 million bottles are produced and released - and since many Champagnes have a long aging period before reaching consumers, there are actually always over 1 billion bottles in production.

In comparison, Prosecco production ranges between 1-2 million bottles annually, making Champagne a substantial industry.

How Champagne is Made

Champagne can ONLY be made in Champagne. You probably already know that, but what you might not know is how the wines are actually made and the regulations surrounding production.

Champagne is governed by an appellation with strict rules for production to be classified and thus called Champagne. It’s not enough to simply make the wine in the area; producers must also follow a specific method known as the "Champagne method." This involves a second fermentation in the bottle and aging on the lees (yeast residues) from this fermentation process for a minimum of 15 months for NV (non-vintage) Champagne and 36 months for vintage Champagne.

Brut or Sec?

It's important to pay attention when choosing Champagne, especially if you have a preference for dry, semi-dry, or sweeter wines.

Champagne is made in a range of sweetness levels:

• Brut Nature (very dry)

• Brut (dry)

• Demi-Sec (semi-dry)

• Sec (sweet)

The standard is dry Champagne - or Brut, as it will be labeled. This is due to the addition of a dosage (sugar liqueur) during production to adjust the wine's sweetness level. A low dosage helps round out the wine, while a higher dosage imparts a sweeter profile.

The Grapes in Champagne

Three grape varieties dominate most of the Champagne you find on shelves:

• Pinot Noir (38%)

• Pinot Meunier (33%)

• Chardonnay (29%)

However, there are four other grape varieties that can also be used in special cases: Arbanne, Petit Meslier, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris, though they collectively make up less than 1% of the total cultivation area.

Blanc des Blancs

Translated directly as "the white of whites," this term indicates that the Champagne is made from white grapes, typically 100% Chardonnay.

Blanc des Noirs

Literally "the white of blacks/dark/reds," this term signifies that the wine comes exclusively from dark-skinned grape varieties, usually 100% Pinot Noir.

You might wonder how a white Champagne can be made from dark grapes. This is possible because the grape pulp is white, and by gently pressing the grapes and not fermenting with the skins, no color is extracted, resulting in a white wine (Champagne) from dark grapes.

Non-Vintage

The majority of Champagne produced is non-vintage (NV). In Champagne, there is a deep tradition of blending different vintages to achieve greater balance and, in many cases, a more consistent expression year after year. It is not permitted to indicate multiple vintages on a bottle, so these are labeled Non-Vintage or NV. This principle applies to about 80% of the total production.

Vintage Champagne

In contrast to Non-Vintage, there are vintage Champagnes, based on a single year and highlighting the unique characteristics of that specific vintage. Only about 20% of the total annual Champagne production is vintage-specific.

Good Champagne Vintages

Over the past 30 years, there have been six particularly extraordinary vintages in Champagne:

• 1990

• 1996

• 2002

• 2008

• 2012

• 2015

If you are curious about tasting some of the famous Champagnes, the chances are good here at ShareWine. Below you can see some of the exciting bottles from the area.