European Champagne

Champagne is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the world today. An expensive champagne connotes luxury, wealth and celebration.

Champagne is a type of sparkling wine that is produced by a secondary fermentation of wine to create carbonation. Several varieties of grape are used to create the best champagnes. There are several types of champagne, and different types appeal to different people. The four main types are: Prestige cuvee, blanc de noirs, blanc de blancs, and rose champagne. They can then be further characterized by the amount of sugar that is added to them to establish their sweetness. Some of the different terms used include: brut natural/brut zero - less than 3 grams of sugar per liter; brut - less than 15 grams of sugar per liter; and doux - more than 50 grams of sugar per liter.

Technically only champagne that originates from the Champagne region in France can be labeled as ‘Champagne’. Some of the best champagnes in the world come from this region, and also some of the most expensive. Other countries however make their own versions of champagne using the same techniques as used in France, and many to a similar standard. In this article we shall look at some of the best, most luxurious European champagnes on the market.

In the Champagne region alone there are over one hundred champagne houses, and over 32,000 hectares of vineyards.

If you are looking for the best European champagne available, some of the best include: Bollinger, Moet et Chandon, and Veuve Clicquot - all from the Champagne region in France.

Bollinger was founded in 1829 and still continues to be run by the Bollinger family. They produce several varieties of champagne both vintage and non-vintage. Some of the most exquisite vintage champagnes they produce are: Vieille Vignes Francaises; Grand Annee and R.D. Their Special Cuvee is their best selling non-vintage champagne.

Vieille Vignes Francaises is considered to be Bollinger’s most luxurious and prestigious champagne. Only a very small quantity of them are produced, and they only use the best wine available. Around 3000 to 5000 bottles are produced every year making it very rare and desirable for every champagne connoisseur, and every bottle is numbered.

Moet et Chandon is the largest champagne house in the world and also one of the oldest. Moet et Chandon champagne is the height of luxury, and a favorite of many celebrities and high-profile people around the world. They even have a license to provide wine to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The champagne house is also co-owner of the luxury brand Louis Vuitton. Moet et Chandon was established in 1743 by Claude Moet. Annually they produce over 26 million bottles of champagne. There are several varieties of Moet et Chandon champagne ranging drastically in price and quality. Some of the rarest champagnes they produce cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Veuve-Clicquot is another of the Champagne regions most luxurious and popular champagnes. The champagne house was founded in 1772 and in 1811 produced what is widely said to be the first modern Champagne - comet vintage. They pioneered some of the best-used methods in champagne making including remuage. Like the other champagne houses they have a range of high-quality champagnes ranging in price and age.

Not all of the best European champagnes are made in France though. Some great champagnes are produced in Italy. Italy produces more varieties of sparkling wine than any other country in the world. Italy is probably best known for it’s range of Proseccos. Most Italian champagnes are produced in the cooler northern part of the country in places such as Piedmont, Veneto and Lombardy.

Prosecco is a lightly sparkling champagne that is light and refreshing often with hints of fruits such as melons and pears. One of the best Italian champagnes is Franciacorta, and uses the French champagne method. The taste is very subtle, and the bubbles are small yet plentiful - a sign of a great champagne. The champagne is created using a range of grapes including Chardonnay, pinot bianco, and pinot nero. All Franciacorta champagne is aged for at least 18 months, and the vintage for at least 30 months.

Another great Italian champagne is Moscato D’Asti. It is also a lightly fizzy champagne, with less bubbles than Franciacorta. It is a light and refreshing drink that is relatively low in alcohol content.

When trying to choose the best European champagne, you can be overwhelmed with options. If you want a high quality champagne but at a cheaper price, it is best to choose a champagne not produced in the Champagne region in France - as these are typically a lot more expensive than those made in other European countries. However, the quality of true luxury French Champagne by far surpasses many of it’s European counterparts.