Champagne is Wine

Sounds daft, but we forget Champagne is a wine because of the big brands and the marketing and the fact that all the big houses blend from all over the region. However there are, like everywhere else in the wine world, subregions and each give the wines from there a distinct style. Sure, they may have other regions wines blended in too, but as a general rule, the smaller producers will reflect their regions style.

Montagne de Reims

The Mountain of Reims… well the hill of Reims has many vineyards that slope south or southeast with a Pinot Noir focus. The wines tend to be a bit bigger and richer, with ten of the seventeen Grand Cru vineyards here including Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzy, Verzenay and Mailly-Champagne.

Valle de la Marne

The only Grand Cru vineyard here is Aÿ which is right outside of the city of Epernay. There is a focus here on the Pinot Meunier grape and produces a rich style of Champagne.

Cote des Blancs

Mainly Chardonnay with the remaining 6 Grand Cru vineyards of Champagne. This is the region where there are some spectacular single varietal wines made.

Cote de Sezanne

South of the Cote des Blancs is another Chardonnay dominant region, but most of the wines are blended into larger brand Champagnes.

Cote des Bar

On the border between Champagne and Burgundy, this is mainly Pinot Noir and is similar to Montagne de Reims. Because the region is Grand and Premier Cru-less, you get real value wines here.

So why not pick some wines from the different regions and start tasting?!