Champagne

The sparkling wines of Champagne are revered the world over. Mainly produced with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier, these wines are the model for traditional method sparkling – with the best capable of ageing beautifully in bottle.

Adored by kings, queens and tsars, the sparkling wines of Champagne became the ultimate accessory in royal courts once its effervescence was restrained by strong glass bottles, corks and the wire cages still used today. Its early associations with luxury and the novelty of its sparkle continue to make it the aspirational and symbolic product it was more than 200 years ago.

This spirit is one of Champagne’s best kept secrets. The most gently pressed, delicate juice from each crop is dedicated to the region’s sparkling wines. The later press segments, however, which contain more flavour and phenols, are often used to make Ratafia. These musts aren’t fermented but are fortified with grape brandy, making a mistelle, which is then aged in cask.

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