Carmine

Champagne, or sparkling wine as it is known outside of France, certainly conjures up romantic images. Champagne has a reputation for being THE beverage to serve at most special occasions. And rightfully so. At it's finest, Champagne is delicate, crisp and clean. A good bottle flirts with the perfect qualities of the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or other grapes from which it was made.

Champagne should be served cold. Most experts suggest 45 degrees Fahrenheit as proper serving temperature. Bottles may be stored on their sides or upright. It is best not to store Champagne in an area where the temperature fluctuates greatly. Incidentally, a great tip for rapidly chilling a bottle is to fill an ice bucket around the bottle with equal amounts of crushed ice and ice water. Always keep the champagne on ice, not in the freezer, between servings.

Color and sweetness are characteristics of champagne that one sees on every bottle. Champagne is not always made from white grapes, hence the different colors. Rose, for example, is created by adding red, still wine to the cuvee. The same effect in rose can be achieved by utilizing the color of the red wine skins. Red Meunier or Pinot Noir grapes are used to make a sultry and delectable Blanc de Noirs Champagne.

Next time you check out the label on a Champagne bottle, you'll see references to it's sweetness. Brut, as a classification, is probably the most dry. Perhaps you enjoy a dry Champagne, but want a touch of sweetness. Your best bet is a classification known as "extra brut." Interestingly enough, should you see a classification that reads "extra dry", it represents medium dryness. You like your Champagne sweet? Make sure the label reads "sec", or "demi-sec." The latter being quite sweet, and is frequently served as a dessert wine.

As far as price is concerned, French Champagnes are going to be the highest priced. If you are reluctant to spend the "big bucks" on French Cahmpagne, their are some very good alternatives. In recent times, some legendary French Champagne makers have started making an American variety in California. Mumms, for example, has a wonderful Cuvee Napa made in California. Very tasty and reasonably priced! Also, try some Spanish "Cavas", they are very inexpensive and quite good

O.K., hopefully this information will be helpful the next time you're asked to pick the Champagne for a special occasion. The truth of the matter is, let your taste be your guide. Hey, I'm sure you've got good taste, you're reading this article!

Michael Hutchins is a noted author and speaker on subjects related to entertaining at home. A self proclaimed "party animal", Michael is noted for his wit and creativity. He created his online store, http://www.home-bars-and-more.com to be fun, "one-stop" shopping for all your home bar needs. It's a fabulous place to browse around! Check it out now!