BellaOnline Forums Food and Wine Wine Do you like Champagne?

I love champagne, although I think it still falls in the 'aspirational drink' category for me most of the time! I do have it once in a while though and I love it. Especially in mimosas.

Thanks Peter! I'll be off to buy some this evening! My celebration will be on 9/13/09- will that be enough time to "age"?

Mary Caliendo
Tea Editor

Better than nothing

How long usualy is it bottled before it is in the stores- would it not already be at the six month mark-perhaps?



Mary Caliendo

That is an excellent question to which there is no easy answer. Non Vintage (NV) doesn't have a vintage date and very few of them show when it was disgorged* on the back label.

If you buy from a store with a slow turnover of stock it may already be quite old, but from a shop that sells well it could have been released in the past month.

Technically, Champagne has to be aged before release and the Champagne houses will tell you its ready for drinking then, but I am convinced extra time in bottle noticeably improves the wine.


*final stage in making

Thak you so much for the great information, and of course I did not know any of that!

Thanks again.
Mary Caliendo

I do like champagne. And sparkling wine too, though what I've had of that variety is much sweeter so I only like it paired with the right foods.

I love champagne as an opener to a very nice dinner with friends. It makes even an ordinary Wednesday night seem special!

Nancy Welker
BellaOnline Yoga Editor