Interesting Facts About Champagne
“Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.” – Mark Twain
Champagne wine is probably the most romantic beverage in the world, which is why for some people a bottle of champagne is a symbol of some kind of celebration. It’s also why not many people can imagine a proper celebration without a glass or two of bubbly. It’s the ideal gift for anyone and for any occasion, and it’s the perfect drink to share with a loved one.
Champagne has a very interesting and quite rich history. This fun, tasty, bubbly beverage is the favourite wine of many people around the globe. And if you are one of those who love the feeling of Champagne bubbles in their nose, before buying your next bottle, you should learn some facts you may not have known before.
Health Benefits of Drinking Champagne
If the fact that it is incredibly tasty isn’t a reason enough to open a bottle, a glass of Champagne wine also has a lot of health benefits. Wine has antioxidants that fight free radicals, or unstable atoms which can cause heart diseases, diabetes, obesity, etc. Champagne contains fewer calories than other types of wine, so it’s a healthier choice and it’s better for people trying to lose weight.
So, the occasional glass of bubbly could be good for your blood flow, for your bones, your skin, etc. It can also help lower the levels of bad cholesterol, protect you against blood clots, lower the risk of diabetes, improve heart health, increase sex drive, etc. Champagne is also good for your mental health. It can improve your mood, not only because of the alcohol but also because it contains magnesium, potassium and zinc. Furthermore, according to some research, moderate consumption of Champagne can help improve our memory, and it’s also thought to decrease the risk of dementia.
Types of Champagne Wines
Champagne wines can be made from different grapes, both red and white, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meslier, Arbane. There are several types of Champagne with different prices, made from different grapes. Furthermore, you can choose vintage or non-vintage Champagne. Vintage can only use Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier or Chardonnay grapes, and they must be aged for at least 3 years in the bottle – while the non-vintage Champagne must be aged at least 15 months.
The sweetest type of Champagne wine, Doux, has 50 grams of sugar per litre, and the driest one, Brut Nature has no added sugar. Some types you can find on the market include Champagne Brut Nature, Champagne Rosé, Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Champagne Blanc de Noirs, Champagne Extra Dry, Champagne Doux, etc.
Types of Champagne Glasses
Drinking Champagne wine is a whole experience, the wine itself isn’t the only part. To be enjoyed properly, Champers wine should be consumed in special glasses made just for the wine. So, when you want to enjoy some bubbly, there are three types of glasses to choose from: Champagne flutes, Champagne tulips and Champagne coupes, known also as saucers.
The Name
Champagne got its name after a wine region in the North East of France called Champagne. There are many, many sparkling wines around the globe, but not all of them are Champagne wines, even though most people call any sparkling wines Champagne. This, of course, doesn’t mean that there aren’t other good sparkling wines or that they don’t taste good, but it simply means that they aren’t Champagne wines. In reality, only the sparkling wines made in Champagne should be called that way. However, this is not the only criteria that a wine needs to meet to be deemed Champagne. Namely, the wine should also be made according to an official method used in the region.
The Legend
Dom Perignon isn’t only a winery or a brand of vintage Champagne wines. In fact, the company got its name after the Benedictine monk who is considered to be the inventor of these loved sparkling wines. Nevertheless, there are more theories about the origin of the wines, which only confirms that Champers wines are worth it.
In any case, the wine industry owns a lot of its inventions to Dom Pierre Pérignon and his experiments. He contributed to the industry in more than one way. He was the first person to blend grapes in order to improve the quality of the wine, he perfected the art of producing clear white wines from black grapes, which enhanced the tendency of Champagne wines to retain their natural sugar, he could decide when to bottle the wines in order to capture the Champagne bubbles. Dom Pérignon was also the person who started using corks instead of wood, and he introduced thicker glass to strengthen the bottles. It took more than a century after his death, but in the 19th century, Champagne become progressively the main style of wine produced in the region.
