Did you know? The birth of champagne dates back to the time of the Campani, a Celtic tribe who lived in the region over 2000 years ago, a region now known as Champagne.
This beverage, as emblematic as it is festive, with universal resonances, is a gastronomic must that can be enjoyed at every meal and used in all dishes, to be consumed in moderation of course!
Food and wine pairings, found here :
We can distinguish 4 main categories of champagne:
Brut champagne
Its freshness and acidity, its dry and lively character, pair very well with seafood such as oysters, shrimp and crab, or even grilled, poached or roasted fish. It can also accompany salads, grilled vegetables and sushi.
Blanc de blancs champagne
Blanc de blancs champagne, made exclusively from white grapes (chardonnay), is often lighter and more lively than other champagnes. It's an excellent choice for pairing with seafood, goat cheese, salads, and grilled vegetables. It also pairs well with vegetarian dishes such as salads, grilled vegetables, risottos, and pasta.
Rosé champagne
Rosé champagne is a fruitier champagne, made from red grapes. It can have aromas of red fruits such as strawberry and raspberry. It pairs well with mildly spiced dishes such as curries, grilled meats, pasta dishes, and pizzas, or with goat cheese, Brie, Camembert, Comté, or a strong-flavored cheese.
Vintage Champagne
Vintage champagne, made from grapes from a single harvest year, is more complex and richer in flavor than other champagnes. It's an excellent choice for pairing with flavorful dishes like meat, mushrooms, truffles, and strong cheeses. Vintage champagne pairs perfectly with richer, more complex dishes, such as roast chicken, duck, guinea fowl, quail, beef fillet, or lamb chops.
Choose the right taste according to the type of champagne:
Brut Champagne : it is the most widespread and consumed, drier, fresher and lively, ideal for making a toast during celebrations.
Dry Champagne or “Extra brut”: slightly sweeter than brut, but still fresh and lively
Semi-dry Champagne : the sweetest of champagnes, with slightly fruity and sweet flavors, to be served as an aperitif or with desserts.
Cooking with champagne
Champagne is a gourmet ingredient that adds a touch of sophistication and flavor to many recipes. It can be paired with a multitude of land and sea dishes:
Scallops with champagne browned in butter and shallot, drizzled with champagne and crème fraîche to make the sauce light and delicious.
Champagne Risotto : Champagne is always added at the end of cooking for more lightness and flavors.
Champagne soufflé : added to the soufflé base, champagne creates a light and frothy texture.
Red fruits in champagne : Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, marinated in champagne and sugar, make delicious desserts, served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Chicken with champagne : the chicken fillets are cooked in champagne, crème fraîche and fresh herbs, the resulting sauce is light and fragrant and full of flavor.
From starter to dessert, champagne is perfect for any occasion and can be paired with all types of dishes to enhance their flavors.
Make the champagne dance
On its own, it's a nectar in its own right, but when served as a cocktail, it'll turn heads even more. Here are some of the most famous champagne-based cocktails
For a cocktail that's not too sweet, use a brut, dry, or extra-dry white champagne. Rosé champagne, on the other hand, is best suited to fruity, colorful cocktails.
The Mimosa : The Mimosa is one of the most famous champagne cocktails. It is made with champagne and fresh orange juice, with the ratio of champagne to orange juice adjusted to your personal taste.
The Bellini : The Bellini is a French or "Italian" champagne cocktail, made by mixing chilled champagne with white peach puree, often served in a martini glass and garnished with a slice of fresh peach.
The Kir Royale : The Kir Royale is a timeless French cocktail, made with crème de cassis and chilled champagne, often served in a champagne flute and garnished with a cherry or a lemon slice.
The French 75 : The French 75 is a classic cocktail made with gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar, and chilled champagne, served in a champagne flute and garnished with a lemon slice.
The Champagne Cocktail The Champagne Cocktail is a simple yet surprisingly flavorful cocktail made with sugar, Angostura bitters, lemon zest, and chilled champagne. This cocktail is often served in a champagne flute and garnished with a cherry or orange slice.
How to choose your champagne?
To find an exceptional champagne, it is important to take into account the following key characteristics:
Its balance:
The combination of acidic, fruity and sweet flavors must be harmonious, none of these three elements must dominate the others, to guarantee a pleasant and refreshing taste.
Its complexity:
Premium champagnes release complex flavors on the palate as they age. They can include notes of fruit, nuts, toast, honey, and flowers.
The finesse of the bubbles:
The bubbles in champagne must be fine and persistent to make the texture of the wine silky and light.
Length in the mouth:
A quality champagne must have a long, elegant and refined finish, the flavors must remain in the mouth for a long time after tasting.
Storage potential:
Only the best champagnes can age for years, even decades, and their flavors develop and become even more complex over time. But you should check with your wine merchant.
The origin:
Champagnes with a controlled designation of origin (AOC) are subject to strict regulations to ensure their quality and authenticity. Only wines produced in the Champagne region of France can be called champagne. Some champagne houses are world-renowned and are often considered a hallmark of quality.
Today, champagne remains an unbeatable gastronomic ambassador for France and Champagne region remains one of the main sparkling wine producing regions in the world, with an annual production of around 300 million bottles!
Ema Lynnx
Champagne bottle images © copyright Laurent Perrier
