Champagne

Champagne is France's most northerly wine region. The low chalky hills ripple through the Seine valley to form a strictly delimited area. No sparkling wines made outside this perimeter can be called Champagne.  The most favoured villages are permitted the Grand Cru status for their vineyards, with the second tier Premier Cru. Only 3 grape varieties are permitted: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Blanc de Blancs Champagne is made from Chardonnay alone while Blanc de Noirs can be made from either of the region's black grapes. Brut signifies a dry, rounded style, Extra Brut being a little drier while Demi Sec and Doux are progressively sweeter. Non vintage is the style by which all Champagne houses live and die. It is blended across several vintages to create something that is consistent, year on year. In exceptionally good years the individual Champagne houses may choose to make a Vintage Champagne. In this case the resultant wine is a reflection of that particular year.