Why does Champagne cost more than other wines? You can get sparkling wine around the globe: Spain's cava and Italy's Prosecco are also world-famous. But the real-deal stuff—wine that can legally be called Champagne—generally costs between $25 and several hundred dollars in the United States. Why the steep price? First, there's a limited quantity: It must come from a specific region of France. Second, it goes through a labor-intensive process (described in the production section). Third, you are paying rent on the aging of the bottle, in a sense. Like any good wine, the aging process transforms (mellows, integrates) the flavors. Better Champagnes have been laid down for several years. And finally, there are many special cuvées (blends): Some contain wine only from a specific vintage (harvest), for example.
在这个mini-guide,香槟时我们会告诉你was first made, how it's produced and aged, and all the keywords you need to make an informed decision when you're staring at a row of bottles adorned with fancy French words.
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What grapes are used to make Champagne? How do they get the bubbles into the bottles? |
What is a cuvée? How can you tell if Champagne will be sweet or dry before you buy? |
Fiona Beckettis an award-winning British food and drink writer and the author ofChampagne and Sparkling Wine. She also has a Web site,www.matchingfoodandwine.com.
