The "Wine of Kings" has
come to epitomize French sophistication throughout the world. There are
other sparkling wines but the only true Champagne is grown and made in the
Champagne region of France located 90 minutes northeast of Paris. Rolling
vineyards surround the main Champagne towns-- Reims and Epernay in the
Marne department and Troyes in the Aube district, Champagne is
grown in rich limestone soil and comes surprisingly from red grapes-- two
thirds Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with the remainder from white Chardonnay
grape. 
On a visit of the Champagne region you will most likely tour cellars
instead of the vineyards. Champagne houses' cellars are dug deep underground
carved into chalk quarries. The wine bottles are kept in kilometers long cool
and dark galleries. Whether visiting the cellars of Mumm, Taittinger,
Pommery or Veuve Cliquot in Reims or Moet and Chandon and
Mercier in Epernay you will learn about the "Method Champenoise"
of producing bubbles which consists of first fermentation, blending with other
wines, adding liqueur of triage (sugar, wine and yeast) followed with second
fermentation, daily remuage for a year and finally disgorgement. Did you know there
are 56 million bubbles in a bottle of champagne!! Finally at the end of the
tour you are rewarded with tasting of a cuvee. Sante!!
tags: champagne, Reims , Epernay
www.enchanted-france.com
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