As we mentioned in Part 1, Champagne is a sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. Technically speaking, Champagne is sparkling wine produced only in the Champagne wine region in France, and most commonly includes chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier grapes; each house uses its own blend of Champagne wine, with most Champagnes being the product of several vineyards and vintages.
The majority of Champagne produced is the result of multi-vintage blends. When vintage Champagne is produced, it is a house’s most prestigious and expensive wine.
Sparkling wine produced in other wine making areas in the world are known by different names, and may be produced using processes inferior to the Methode Champenoise — the traditional method used in the Champagne region of France.
(Click “Next” to see All About Sparkling Wine Part 2)