champagne

The appellation Champagne AOC is undoubtedly the best known and most famous in the world. The Champagne region is divided into various areas with different characteristics, which also guide the cultivation of vines: the Montagne de Reims area is famous for Pinot Noir, Côte des Blancs and Côte de Sézanne for Chardonnay, Vallée de the Marne for Pinot Meunier and the southernmost area of the Côte de Bar for Pinot Noir.

In general, the soil of Champagne is characterized by calcareous-clayey marl with a strong presence of chalk. And it is precisely the deep plaster layer of the subsoil that constitutes the wealth of this territory. The Champagne region represents the extreme limit of the cultivation of the vine to the north and the white color of the chalk reflects the little heat of the sun transferring it to the plants. In addition, it also functions as a large water resource, which drains the surface of the vineyards by retaining water in depth for dry periods.

The success of the wines of this region stems from the method of production of Champagne, the first wine to use the technique of refermentation in the bottle, which subsequently took the name of " méthode champenoise " or "classic method". Thanks to this procedure, still wines, to which a yeast and sugar syrup called " liquer de tirage " are added, undergo a second fermentation in the bottle which produces carbon dioxide and determines the formation of the precious bubbles. Once the aging period on the lees is over, which will be removed from the wine by dégorgement, the bottle is re-filled with a mixture called " liquer d'expédition ", containing old wines and a quantity of sugar that will determine the final dosage of the cuvée: pas dosé, extra brut, brut, extra dry, sec, demi sec, or doux. The exact composition of the blend, which contributes to giving the so-called goût maison , is a secret closely guarded by every producer.

The allure of wines elaborated according to the method that is the basis of the success of Champagne, comes from an extraordinary terroir, from a tradition of centuries-old culture and from the art of assembling the three main vines used: Pinot Noir which gives structure, Chardonnay which gives finesse and elegance and Pinot Meunier which gives a fruity touch, allows to obtain wines of great charm and gustatory balance. The most traditional assembly of the Champagne of the great Maison often involves similar percentages of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, however there is no shortage of different assemblages, especially in the case of small producers, who have vineyards in one area. We can speak of "Blanc de Blancs", when a champagne is produced with only white grapes, of "Blanc de Noirs" if produced with only red berried grapes, of Rosé if there is a slight pause on the skins or the addition of a small percentage of red wine.

The name Champagne is traditionally linked to the concepts of prestige, luxury, elegance, allure and charm. However today, also thanks to e-commerce, it is possible to grant yourself the privilege of tasting a good bottle of Champagne at absolutely affordable prices. In our selection you will find a wide assortment: from the most famous brands such as Moët & Chandon , Ruinart , Veuve Clicquot , Laurent-Perrier , Mumm , Billecart-Salmon , Bollinger , Charles Heidsieck , Taittinger to smaller producers such as Philipponnat or Bruno Paillard, up to cuvée de prestige "Cristal" by Louis Roederer , "Belle Époque" by Perrier-Jouët or the legendary " Dom Pérignon ".

Discover the pleasure of buying a good bottle of Champagne online on VINO75, each label in our selection offers you the indication of the best combinations, so you can already choose at first glance the perfect Champagne for any occasion.