10 Frequently Asked Questions About Champagne

• Where Is Champagne From? The Champagne region of northeastern France.

• What Is Champagne? Sparkling wine.

• Is All Sparkling Wine Champagne? While all Champagne is sparkling wine, not all sparkling wine is Champagne. This is because, to be Champagne, it needs to come from the Champagne region of northeastern France.

• What Makes Champagne Bubbly? Fermentation.

• How Can I Make Champagne Last Longer After Opening? Re-cork the bottle and keep it refrigerated.

• What Kind of Grapes Are Used To Make Champagne? There are 7 grape varietals used to make champagne. These include:

  • Chardonnay (white)

  • Petite Arbanne (white)

  • Petit Meslier (white)

  • Pinot Blanc (white)

  • Fromenteau (white)

  • Pinot Noir (red)

  • Pinot Meunier (red)

• What Makes Champagne Dry? A Champagne's level of dryness depends on its sugar content. Champagnes with less sugar are considered more dry while those with more sugar are considered less dry. The driest champagnes are Bruts and Extra Bruts.

  • Extra Brut 0.6%

  • Brut 1.5%

  • Extra Dry 1.2 – 2.0%

  • Sec 1.7 – 3.5%

  • Demi-Sec 3.3 5.0%

  • Doux 5% +