Whether you’re clinking glasses at a festive reception or toasting with family over turkey dinner, there’s nothing quite like a glass of Champagne at Christmas!
Glamorous, festive and celebratory – here are some champagne tips to get the party started.
1. Champagne only comes from the Champagne region which is north east of France, or approximately 150 kilometers from Paris.
2. Tasting
All five senses are approached when enjoying Champagne – colour, aroma, texture, flavour and sound.
When you are tasting and comparing several Champagnes, it is best to serve them in the same type of glass and at the same temperature.
When pouring, fill the glass two-thirds full — this allows space for the aromas to circulate. Once the Champagne has been poured, allow some time for it to open up, revealing its complexities and richness of its bouquet.
To prevent loss of bubbles, Champagne should be poured down the side, rather than straight into the glass.
Avoid wearing lipstick or perfume; they can mask the aromas.
Lastly, when is the best time of the date to taste Champagne?
11 am – yes in the morning.
This is when your senses are at their peak!
3. Flute, Coupe or Tulip?
Stemware is a personal preference.
The flute works better for young Champagnes served at the proper temperature. If you can, avoid the coupe; it might look sexy and sophisticated, but does nothing for the wine. If you are serving a “tête de cuvee” or super-premium Champagne, my suggestion is to use the tulip — they are tall and large enough to allow the aromas to develop while maintaining elegance and depth.
Note — the tulip is used by winemakers for their daily tasting, as well as ISOs.
4. Temperature
The ideal serving temperature is between 8° and 10° C.
Cuvees of high quality and good maturity will be more appreciated at 12° C.
The proper way to chill Champagne is to put the bottle in a bucket of ice water for about 30 minutes.
5. Pairing
Not all champagne tastes the same, and certain varieties will suit certain foods.
Lighter styles like brut will make a delicious pre-dinner aperitif, and pair beautifully with seafood. Or, try a serving a Blanc de Blancs champagne (100% chardonnay) with smoked salmon canapés.
If you’re looking for a Champagne for your Christmas dinner, then a rich, toasty vintage cuvée is the way to go; my second choice would be a rose Champagne they both pair remarkably well with holiday dishes from turkey to cranberry sauce to stuffing, so it can be enjoyed throughout the meal.
6. Holiday Trends
The sheer diversity of champagne that we have on the shelves has never been stronger.
What we should look out for this holiday season is rose and vintage Champagne.
Vintage champagne are not that much more expensive than non-vintage, but they are much smaller in their production and usually finer in quality.
The 2008 vintage which is increasingly on the shelves at the moment, was the best that they’ve had in decades so look for ’08 as a particularly special “Christmas surprise”.
Rose Champagnes sales have increased over the past few years and are still on the rise. Rose is one of the most versatile styles and pair well with Italian food, Asian cuisine like Thai, Chinese and Japanese, and barbecue.
Champagne Tips and Trends for the Holiday Season — Liz Palmer
