Champagne school

3.. 2.. 1 ..Learn the basics of choosing, storing, opening and drinking champagne.

1 - CHOOSING THE RIGHT CHAMPAGNE or SPARKLING WINE
Not all sparkling wines are Champagne, and not all Sparkling wines are bad! Champagne is in fact a type of Sparkling wine that is made in the Champagne region of France. Only Sparkling wine made in this region of France can be called Champagne.

Prices of Champagne bottles range between $10 and $2000. As a general rule the price is partially determined by the vintage of the bottle. A vintage Champagne refers to Champagne made with grapes from one specific year only. A non-vintage Champagne or Sparkling Wine is a blend of grapes gathered from at least two different year's harvests. Nearly all Champagnes and Sparkling Wines are made from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier grapes.

	If you are going to be mixing your sparkling wine/champagne with a liqueur or other spirit (see champagne cocktails), we suggest you go with a Simple Brut or Brut

Sweetness Levels: General Guidelines: (everyone's taste varies)
Brut Nature: Very Dry
Simple Brut: Dry with no sweetness
Extra Dry: Slightly Sweet
Sec: Sweet
Demi Sec: Very Sweet
Doux: Very Very Sweet

2- STORING AND PREPARING

Champagne and Sparkling Wines do not go bad as long as they are stored correctly. (This means those unopened leftover bottles from last year's party are still good) Ideally Champagne and Sparkling Wines are stored on their side, in a cool and dark place.

Temperature variations should be avoided and the bottles should not be moved. Before serving Champagne or Sparkling wine they need to be chilled. Not only will the champagne taste better cool, it will also foam less when opened. Ideally four to five hours of refrigeration is needed. Once opened it should be put on ice.

3- OPENING AND SERVING
The traditional way to open a Champagne or Sparkling wine bottle is to remove the foil, twist out the cork, and aim it away from friends and antiques as the cork flies out of the bottle. Experienced bartenders and serving staff will tell you that there is a simpler and more dignified (but maybe not as much fun) way to properly uncork the bubbly. After removing the foil, untwist the wire mesh (usually 6 turns), grab the cork firmly with one hand, and twist the bottle (not the cork!) with the other hand. This simple system works, gives you greater control and helps open more than one bottle as the clock moves closer to Midnight.

SERVE and ENJOY