| Champagne is without question the finest | | | | blends, the Champagne winemakers are able to |
| sparkling wine made in the world. Champagne | | | | create a consistent ''house'' style and, |
| is the name of the wine region located about | | | | indeed, each Champagne producer has its own |
| 90 miles northeast of Paris. | | | | distinct style. |
| | | | |
| Champagne can contain up to three different | | | | Finally, there are several important terms |
| grapes: Chardonnay, and the red grapes Pinot | | | | you will encounter on a Champagne label that |
| Noir and Pinot Meunier. Vintage Champagnes | | | | tell you much about the contents. From dry to |
| are only produced in the very best years; | | | | sweet, Champagnes are labeled Brut Absolut, |
| they are always more expensive than | | | | Brut, Extra-Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec and Doux. |
| non-vintage Champagnes, but they are not | | | | Blanc de Blanc Champagne bottlings are made |
| always better tasting. Most Champagnes are | | | | entirely from Chardonnay grapes and tend to |
| the supreme expression of the Champagne | | | | be lighter and more delicate in style. Blanc |
| blender's art, assembled from numerous | | | | de Noirs Champagnes are made from red grapes |
| vintages, multiple grape types and various | | | | and tend to be fuller bodied and richer |
| selected vineyards within the Champagne | | | | tasting; Rose Champagnes are dark pink in |
| district, then carefully hand made and | | | | color and frequently intensely flavored. |
| fermented in the bottle. By making these | | | | |