Synonymous with luxury and sophistication Champagne is becoming ever popular as a drink that can be enjoyed more regularly and not just for special occasions such as weddings.
Champagne has always been popular in the UK and now with competition between producers and retailers there has never been a better time to buy this special drink.
Vintage or Non-Vintage
Of the many styles of Champagne available the non-vintage varieties tend to be more popular in the UK. Non vintage Champagnes are blended from the grapes of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meurnier, together with a select vintage of a previous year to add consistency and taste.
Vintage Champagnes are made from the grape harvest of one particular year and are therefore more variable in taste with each vintage or year having it’s own distinct characteristics.
Some things you might not know about Champagne
- An average bottle of Champagne contains over 7,000,000 bubbles;
- The pressure inside a bottle can be as high as 50 bar, the equivalent to being 40 metres beneath the sea;
- Cheap Champagne can taste acidic because it’s not been adequately aged. Ideally Champagne should be stored for 3 years to mature sufficiently;
- The perfect bottle size is a Magnum;
- Reputedly, vintages of 1990, ’96 and ’99 are the best;
- A ceremonial method of opening Champagne is with a sword. The art of Sabrage is still carried out today although not one to try at home!
- Champagne has been reported to be beneficial to coping with Stroke, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Champagne Protects Brain Cells From Injury, Study Finds