Champagne is a location that you can actually visit year-round as the most interesting atractions are underground in the extensive caves where the winemaking takes place. If you are visiting Paris then it is only a short drive to add an excursion to Champagne and we highly recommend it. We visited more than 10 years ago when our children were very young (as you can see in the photo) but it was well worth the trip.
Champagne is made through a special winemaking process known as “La Methode Champenoise” and only the sparkling wines from the region of Champagne (meeting certain important winemaking criteria) are able to carry the name “Champagne”. And there really is a difference in quality and character as sparkling wines made in this manner carry “yeastier” flavors due to the nature of the process.
Some of the iconic bottles are extremely famous and obvious but be sure to try other bottles beyond the better known names as there are a lot of producers that create wine with the same traits. Even though Champagne is not known for value, some excellent bottles will cost less than the iconic names that everyone recognizes.
Scroll down to the bottom to reach the Champagne Essentials video on the region.
