More exclusive, Dom Pérignon is the prestige cuvée of Champagne House Moët & Chandon. Dom Pérignon is named after a Benedictine monk considered by many to be the spiritual father of Champagne. (*According to him, Champagne is like ‘tasting the stars’—an out-of-this-world summary that seems pretty accurate even to this day). A French classic, Dom Pérignon is the most famous brand of vintage Champagne (meaning: produced using the best grapes grown in a single year) in the world. Dom Pérignon is a favorite of royalties and celebrities alike. Memorably, Dom Pérignon was the Champagne of choice for the royal wedding of Lady Diana to Prince Charles. Pink or Rosé champagnes are produced by adding a small amount of Pinot Noir (traditional method) or by pressing the grape skins (maceration method). Vintage vs Non-Vintage Champagne

Festive and fancy, French Champagne has become the universal luxury drink of choice for celebrations and special occasions—anniversaries, birthdays, holidays—or just because. A good Champagne makes for a perfect sip thanks to its easy drinkability and food-friendly nature. What: Small and classy, this producer’s wines are expressive, elegant and aromatic, and well worth seeking out. Based amidst the Pinot Noir grapes of Urville, it is the gentle macerating of the Pinot Noir skins which gives this rosé its pretty salmon pink colour, while the winemaking is all about precision. This reveals itself in spicy minerality and a hint of brioche balanced by strawberry fruit. Dry and delightfully racy. To earn the right to call itself Champagne, a bottle of bubbly must also meet the Appellation d’Origine Controlée or AOC standards.Most champagnes are non-vintage (NV), meaning they are made from a blend of wines made from grapes from different years, as opposed to one year’s harvest for vintage (V) or millesimé Champagne (with the year indicated on the label). What: Moët Rosé Impérial sends a celebratory message like no other brand. But the wine’s upfront fruitiness and approachability, together with its moreish textured palate and hint of spice on the finish, deserves thoughtful consideration as well as easy drinking. Prestige Cuvée champagnes are often considered the Champagne house’s pinnacle of achievement. Prestige cuvées often have their own names. The best value Champagne for epicureans. Born from a wine lover’s fairy tale, Canard-Duchêne is a well-respected Champagne brand that is both affordable and delicious. What: This rosé Champagne from Dom Ruinart may have a hefty price tag, but it is a perfect choice for that extra special occasion. The 2004 vintage boasts a crystal clear coppery hue and is made up of a unique blend of 81% Chardonnay and 19% Pinot Noir, which results in a flavour profile which is complex, yet balanced. You’ll also find notes of guava, blood orange and citron, paired with floral aromas.

The primary types of Champagne are Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, and Rosé, indicating the varieties and the colors of the grapes used. Founded in 1833, Champagne house Louis Roederer is one of the best-regarded Champagne producers. Louis Roederer has a long and storied history, from tsars to hip-hop stars. Even French sparkling wines from other regions in France are not technically Champagne but are labeled as Cremant. Sparkling wines from other parts of the world are simply labeled sparkling wine. Prosecco from Italy, Cava from Spain, and Sekt from Austria and Germany are some of the most popular sparkling wines. Comtes de Champagne, Taittinger (‘ Probably the finest Champagne in the world’, according to James Bond in Casino Royale)Rose Champagne makes the perfect gift for special occasions, from anniversaries and Christenings through to Valentine's Day and Christmas

Playing a starring role in celebrating many of life’s triumphant moments, Champagne comes in a variety of price ranges and a variety of styles. When it comes to Champagne with the lowest sugar content, opt for Brut or Extra Brut, or better even Brut Nature / Brut Zero (no added sugar). Dosage Strictly speaking, if it’s a bubbly wine from another region (even though it can be made with the Méthode Champenoise), it’s a sparkling wine, not Champagne—the name Champagne is protected by EU law. Note that some American and British sparkling wines use the word champagne (with a lowercase “c”) to denote a sparkling wine that is similar to Champagne, but not from the Champagne region. What: This charming, quaffable salmon pink number comes from the village of Hautvillers, made famous by Dom Perignon. Notes of strawberry, blossom and toasted brioche make this adaptable and easy drinking, perfect for a summery celebration and an easy pair for all sorts of dishes. Created by Champagne GDD Chapuy, Taste of Diamonds is the most expensive bottle of champagne in the world, which was sold at 1.8 million Euros in 2013.A Champagne by a family-run champagne brand, that is the perfect balance between value and quality. Vintage Champagnes typically reflect the qualities of a single year. Each Champagne house decides whether it will produce a Vintage Champagne in any given year. Non-Vintage Champagnes, on the other hand, reflect a signature house style that tastes consistent year after year. Dosage: Sweetness levels in Champagne What:Aldi's exclusive Champagnes have caused a bit of a stir since they hit the shelves, mainly for offering pretty good quality and exceptional value. The Veuve Monsigny Rosé is no different - it's not especially nuanced, but if you want a rich, easy drinking rosé with plenty of red berry flavour, this is an excellent choice and it comes in considerably cheaper than most other options. The addition of sugar in Champagne is called dosage. Champagnes range from Zero Dosage or Brut Nature (no added sugar), through to Extra-Brut, Brut, Extra-Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, and Doux (containing 50 grams or more of sugar per liter). The most popular Champagne are Extra-Brut, Brut, and Demi-Sec. If you are looking for the best sweet champagnes, you should opt for champagnes labeled as Doux (the sweetest classification) like Veuve Clicquot Rich Blanc. Which Champagne has less sugar? Drinking Champagne at around 10-12°C will allow the aromas to be released. On the palate the often-delicate flavours will be ‘numbed’ if served too cold, while at warmer temperatures the flavours will be better absorbed into the palate.

A classic Champagne brand for sophisticated palates. Founded in 1729, Ruinart is the oldest Champagne house in the world; it is now owned by LVMH. You might be tempted by a regular bottle of expensive Champagne which is always a worthy choice as far as we’re concerned. However, the quality of rosé Champagne is better than ever at the moment, thanks to warmer summers and riper fruit, so we think it’s well worth mixing things up a little. Also, there’s no doubt that something a little bit special about glasses full of pink bubbly. Try serving Champagne chilled and then letting it warm up in the glass. You will see how the character changes and the flavours evolve.Blanc de Blancs means the champagne is made using 100% Chardonnay; its light and dry taste make this type of Champagne a popular choice for apértifs.