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jonathan ... jonathan ...
 
M$3 January 09, 2009 08:13 PM

Why is champagne the most prestigious of sparkling wines?

Are there any sparkling wines you like better than champagne? To me, the best part of drinking champagne is knowing I'm consuming something from France.
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phil h phil h
 
January 09, 2009 08:14 PM
I've heard that actual champagne comes from only the specific region of France known as Champagne. So the real stuff is much more rare than, say, other sparkling wines or other wines in general.
Source(s):
The trivia bank in my brain that stores information I don't actually need.


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jonathan h jonathan h
 
January 09, 2009 09:15 PM
Yes, I am aware that champagne comes specifically from France. My question: Is that the only reason champagne is "better" or more prestigious than other sparkling wines?

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cyrusrua cyrusrua
 
January 09, 2009 08:26 PM
There are many strict rules for producing champagne, from the region of growth to the types of grapes used and the yeasts used in both primary & secondary fermentation. This yields a product of consistent quality to bear the name.

The prestige factor, though is primarily a result of marketing. 19th century advertisers made a point of stressing the image as an aristocratic choice. They also pressed to promote to women (an unusual choice for the time) by touting relationships with Duchesses & opera stars. Anything they do has to be classy, right?

It worked, & the prestige is there, but there are plenty of quality non-champagne sparkling wines like Mumm's Cuvee Napa Brut from California.

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jonathan h jonathan h
 
January 09, 2009 09:15 PM
Do you have a source for this? Is Mumm's Cuvee Napa Brut well reviewed and received or is that your opinion?

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cyrusrua cyrusrua
 
January 10, 2009 12:12 AM
Obviously matters of taste are always subjective, but his is a variety I've had & enjoyed as well as being well-reviewed. Here's something from an article by James Raiswell: "Mumm's Cuvee Napa Brut -- a California sparkler -- has one of the best values for non-champagne champagnes and it’s produced according to the best champagne styles.

On the tongue, you’ll pick up dominant flavors of citrus and pear, with a toasty finish. The wine’s bubbles are relatively fine, and the taste is dry and refreshing. This one’s elegant and traditional and pairs nicely with seafood and poultry.

For $20 per bottle, we’d suggest you buy a couple of bottles and break them open at a family celebration, like Christmas or Thanksgiving."

California may not be as glamourous as France, but it's hard to argue with a good drink at a good price. :-)

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mrgunn mrgunn
 
January 10, 2009 03:22 AM
He's telling you straight. There's no difference between champagne and sparkling wine, other than where they're made, and people often refer to both as champagne. There's a long history in wine-making (and food products in general) of giving a regional appellation to a product as a marketing tool. The reputation of champagne as a region has faded recently as great Californian sparkling wines have become available, so if anyone tries to play snob about a sparkling wine not being "real champagne", the joke is on them, because they don't really know what they're talking about. Among people who know wine, they'll both be well-received.

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jonathan h jonathan h
 
January 12, 2009 06:56 PM
Thanks for the comments. When utilizing the text of another source, please give that source credit: http://www.askmen.com/fine_living/wine_dine_archive_200/204_wine_dine.html

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littlepea littlepea
 
January 09, 2009 10:42 PM
I don't know exactly WHY it is the most prestigious of sparkling wines, but Champagne has always been related to luxury. However some other French sparkling wines such as Crémant or Clairette are quite famous as well (at least in France). The taste is slightly different of course but they can be really good.

About two weeks ago I saw a blind test on French television: some non-expert people tried Champagne and Crémant and were asked to choose the one they liked best. Surprisingly, most people prefered the Crémant.

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