Wine Region - Champagne

 

The Champagne wine region has a history of cultivation dating back to the Middle Ages.  Though now best known for sparkling wines, the region was lauded early on for their still Champagne wines.  The region is home to some of the oldest and best known producers of Champagne wines including Moët et Chandon and Veuve Clicquot.

 

 

The Champagne wine region was legally defined in the 1920s.  Including five districts, Champagne wines highlight the different characteristics available from each district and often employ blends to produce balanced Champagne wine.  Later revision of the Champagne wine classification system included official rating of grape and vineyard quality for each district. Grand Cru is the highest rating, followed by Premier Cru and Deuxième Crus.  If a vintage is specified for a Champagne wine, all grapes must come from that vintage year, while non specified Champagne wines can be blended from several vintages.  

 

 

Champagne wine is produced in one of the northernmost wine regions in the world.  High altitudes and cool temperatures year round make the Champagne wine region a challenging place for cultivation.  Local forests help keep the temperatures in the Champagne wine region stable, as well as maintaining soil moisture, though the cooler weather produces Champagne wine grapes with high acidity, ideal for sparkling Champagne wines.  Heavy chalk deposits and marine sediments in the soil help to create the light, smooth quality of Champagne wines.  

 

 

Five districts are included in the Champagne wine region: Aube, Côte des Blancs, Côte de Sézanne, Montagne de Reims, and Vallée de la Marne. 

 

 

The Champagne wine varietals include Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay.

 

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