Most people are surprised to learn champagne is not a
type of grape. There are three main grapes used, two
of which are well known: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Champagne is the wine where workers in caves are
photographed turning hundreds of bottles per minute
(contrary to popular belief, all still wines are best left
alone once bottled). Champagne can be all Chardonnay
grapes, often called blanc de blanc. It can be pinkish
(known as ros��) when you mix a high ratio of the red
grape Pinot Noir. There is no truly ���red��� champagne for
even with a very high ratio of Pinot Noir the skins of the
grapes which produces the color are not mixed with the
pressings. Aficionados exist for each blend.
All champagne is not champagne. France restricts the
use of the name. In America we ignore them but many of
the top producers here are French outposts in Napa; they
avoid the ���c��� word. The Aussies produce champagne,
the Spanish Cava, the Italians Asti Spumante and other
sparklings. Even the English due to global warming
are now getting great press on champagne grown on
the wrong side of the channel (If you are a supporter of
Governor Perry, fill in your explanation for why England,
which couldn���t grow a brussel sprout 20 years ago, is
now warm enough to grow grapes).
HYLAND
