The best champagne to buy: how to choose a great bottle at every price
The best Champagne isn’t always the most expensive bottle. A good Champagne is balanced, fresh, and right for the occasion. Whether you’re looking for an everyday bottle, a thoughtful gift, or something unforgettable for a milestone celebration, understanding Champagne styles will help you choose with confidence. With hundreds of bottles on the shelf and prices…
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5 min read
How to toast with Champagne the right way
A Champagne toast is more than simply raising a glass. Whether you’re celebrating a wedding, a birthday, New Year’s Eve, a promotion, or a quiet personal milestone, the way you toast can make the moment feel more meaningful. The good news is that you don’t need to memorize complicated etiquette rules. A few thoughtful habits…
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9 min read
From an Instagram message to Bouzy: a visit to Champagne Tornay-Hutasse
Some visits to Champagne are booked months ahead, with a careful plan and a full itinerary. Ours began with a single message on Instagram. Table of contents A label I had seen before A few weeks before our trip to the Champagne region, Rémy Hutasse wrote to us. He invited us to visit his family’s…
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6 min read
Best Champagne for mimosas (and what to avoid)
A mimosa is one of the world’s most popular brunch cocktails. Light, refreshing, and incredibly easy to make, it’s the perfect drink for weekend breakfasts, weddings, Mother’s Day brunches, and celebrations with family and friends. But when it comes to choosing the sparkling wine, many people make one expensive mistake: they assume the more expensive…
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3 min read
The best Champagne cocktails to make at home
Great Champagne is usually best enjoyed on its own. But sometimes, the occasion calls for a cocktail. The best Champagne cocktails are elegant, easy to make, and allow the Champagne to remain the star of the glass. Whether you’re hosting a celebration or simply looking to try something different, these timeless Champagne cocktail recipes are…
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5 min read
A day trip to Champagne: is visiting Reims or Épernay worth it?
If you’re visiting Paris and wondering whether a day trip to Champagne is worth your time, the answer is yes. Reims and Épernay are both easy to reach, packed with world-famous Champagne houses and surrounded by beautiful vineyards. Even if you only have one day, you can experience the region where every bottle of true…
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1 min read
Where is Champagne actually made? A map of the region
Champagne comes from Champagne – a real, specific region in northeastern France, about 90 minutes by train from Paris. Its boundaries aren’t a marketing idea; they’re written into French and EU law. The heart of the region The region centres on two main cities: Reims, home to grand Champagne houses and a stunning Gothic cathedral,…
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6 min read
Champagne vs sparkling wine vs Prosecco: what’s the difference?
The difference between Champagne and sparkling wine is simple: all Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne. Champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France and must be made under strict production rules. Sparkling wine is the broader category that also includes Prosecco, Cava, Crémant, and many other sparkling…
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5 min read
Best champagne glasses: Which glass should you choose?
The glass you choose can completely change how a Champagne tastes. For many years, the classic Champagne flute was considered the only proper glass for sparkling wine. Today, however, many Champagne producers, sommeliers and wine lovers have moved towards wider glasses that allow the wine to fully express its aromas and complexity. After visiting dozens…
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5 min read
The best champagne to drink for every occasion
There isn’t one “best” Champagne. The best bottle depends on the occasion, the food, your budget, and even who you’re celebrating with. A non-vintage Brut is perfect for everyday moments, while a vintage Champagne or prestige cuvée shines when the occasion calls for something unforgettable. One of the best things about Champagne is that there’s…
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6 min read
Brut, extra brut, or sec? A complete guide to Champagne sweetness levels
One of the biggest misconceptions about Champagne is that every bottle tastes the same. While grape varieties, ageing and the producer’s style all influence the final wine, one small word on the label often tells you more about its taste than almost anything else. Table of contents Champagne sweetness scale at a glance Style Residual…
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1 min read
What is Champagne, really? (And what isn’t)
“Champagne” gets used loosely to mean almost any sparkling wine, but the real definition is much narrower – and it’s protected by law. Knowing the actual rules makes it a lot easier to understand why a bottle costs what it costs. It has to come from Champagne, France Only sparkling wine made in the Champagne…
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1 min read
How to open a Champagne bottle (without losing an eye)
Champagne leaves the winery under roughly 90 pounds of pressure per square inch – about three times what you’ll find in a car tyre. Treat the cork with a little respect and opening a bottle becomes a quiet, controlled moment rather than a party trick gone wrong. Start cold and steady A well-chilled bottle (around…
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1 min read
Where to Drink Champagne in London
Ask “where can I drink Champagne near me?” anywhere in central London and you’ll be spoilt for choice. Britain has long been Champagne’s most devoted market outside France, and nowhere shows it better than the capital – a city where a glass of bubbles is woven into everything from grand hotels to tiny neighbourhood wine…
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1 min read
Where to Drink Champagne in Barcelona
Barcelona is cava country at heart, but search for a great champagne bar here and you’ll discover a city that adores real Champagne too. Sun, sea and a legendary food scene make the Catalan capital one of the most enjoyable places anywhere to raise a glass of bubbles. Bubbles in a city that knows sparkling…
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2 min read
Champagne bar essentials: two champagne lovers’ accessories you need to know about
Good Champagne deserves good tools. You don’t need a whole bar cart to drink well at home – just a couple of smart pieces that keep things properly cold, glass after glass. Here are two accessories we actually use ourselves and keep recommending to friends. A stainless steel bucket that actually keeps up An ice…
