How to enjoy a beautiful experience when tasting champagne ?

Champagne is an elegant and refined drink, suitable for any festivity. The tasting of a champagne bottle represents a ritual, what are the necessary steps to follow in order to make the best of its flavors and aromas?

In this article, we will guide you through the best ways to enjoy champagne, from its preservation to the tasting itself.

Preserving your champagne properly before opening it

The first important step to enjoy a champagne bottle is its preservation before opening it, this step is essential in order to preserve the flavors and aromas. A champagne bottle can be kept upright or on its side, in a cool storage at a temperature between 10 and 15°C. We advise you to keep it in the bottom part of your refrigerator for at least 4 hours. However, make sure that your champagne bucket is not too cold since excessively cool conditions may obstruct some aromas and keep our taste buds from doing their job correctly. Equally, an overly high temperature might eliminate the champagne’s vivacity and give it an unsightly foam.

How to carefully remove a champagne cork ? 

Once you are ready to serve your champagne, you should take some precautions to avoid spilling and splashing. First of all, remove the cap and loosen the wire cap, then take hold of your bottle from the underside and tilt it slightly to remove the cork, while firmly holding the bottle. Use a towel to wrap the bottle when unscrewing the cork. To keep the cork from jumping out and spilling foam all over, proceed gradually while holding the cork with one hand and slowly turning the bottle with the other. Make sure you keep hold of the cork until the last moment !

How to properly taste champagne ? A matter of art and sens

A visual assessment : color of the robe and bubbles

Quality champagnes usually have a clear and bright color, from light yellow to gold. You may determine a champagne’s character with its robe : the lighter the color, the lighter the wine will be. Oppositely, an amber or golden color suggests a more complex and mature champagne.

The bubbles are an important element of a champagne tasting. Indeed, a quality champagne’s bubbles are fine and abundant. However, if they are too big or in too high a number, that can mean the champagne was overdosed on carbon dioxide and its taste and texture may be altered. If they are too little or in too low a number, that can mean the champagne was preserved in bad conditions.

An olfactory assessment : the nose

Good cuvées of champagne present a complex and enjoyable nose, composed of different aromatic notes which vary depending on the grape varieties. You might detect aromas of fruits (lemon, marshmallow, honey, white berries, etc.), nuts, honey, coffee or rose.

A gustatory assessment : the mouth

A quality champagne must present a well-balanced taste, with acidity notes which bring vivacity and freshness, as well as a remarkable length in the mouth. It must be pleasant to drink, with no excessive bitterness. All of this contributes to offer a sensation of lightness during the tasting.

What kind of glasses to enjoy your champagne ?

Properly serving your champagne is an important step to appreciate all of its qualities. First of all, it is important to choose the right kind of drinking glasses. Champagne glasses must be tall, slender and elegant, like tulip-shaped glasses which allow for a better circulation of the aromas. It is also important to only fill two thirds of the glass for optimal air flow. After uncorking the bottle, you should serve the champagne slowly, in two stages, to avoid unnecessary foaming. To achieve this, hold the bottle by the bottom and not the neck.

Champagne tasting, at the center of your celebrations.

Finally, the actual tasting of a champagne bottle is the most important step in order to appreciate all of its qualities. It is important to hold your glass by the stem to prevent warming the drink with the heat of your hand. It is also recommended to take a small sip and allow it to circulate all over your mouth to enjoy all the nuances of its flavors and aromas. 

A wide range of meals may accompany your champagne. It is in fact not limited to luxury products, so no need to open a caviar box. As a starter or with a main course, champagne can go alongside fish or seafood such as salmon, scallops or shrimps. It can also pair well with poultry, meat or ham.