Champagne

Your Guide to Holiday Bubbles

Not all sparkling wine is Champagne, but all of it is festive. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose.

What's the Difference: Champagne vs. Prosecco vs. Cava?

• Champagne: The gold standard. By law, it can only come from the Champagne region of France. It's made using the méthode champenoise, a time-consuming process where the wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle. This creates its fine, complex, and toasty-yeasty flavors (think brioche and almond).

• Prosecco: A fresh and fruity sparkling wine from Italy. It's made using the "Charmat" method, where the second fermentation happens in a large tank. This makes it faster to produce and gives it bright, crisp notes of green apple, pear, and melon. It's the perfect crowd-pleaser for parties and mimosas.

• Cava: Spain's answer to Champagne. It's made using the exact same traditional method as Champagne, making it the best value for complex, high-quality sparkling wine. It often has more earthy, citrus-driven notes.

How to Pair Champagne for Your Holiday Meal

Don't just save it for the toast! Champagne is one of the most food-friendly wines in the world.

• Non-Vintage (NV) Brut: Your all-star. The high acidity cuts through fat, making it perfect for salty appetizers, fried foods (like latkes or arancini), and rich cheeses.

• Rosé Champagne: An amazing companion for a holiday ham, roast salmon, or even duck.

• Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay): Elegant and crisp. Pair this with raw bar items like oysters, shrimp cocktail, or sushi.

• Vintage Champagne: This is your "main course" wine. Its age and complexity (think toasty brioche, nuts, and honey) pair beautifully with richer dishes like roasted chicken, scallops in a cream sauce, or mushroom risotto.