Champagne
German: Champagner Pronunciation: sham-pan-ier Also known as: Champagne
Protected designation of origin for sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France, made by traditional bottle fermentation.
Champagne may only be the name of sparkling wine that comes from the French region of Champagne and is made according to its rules. Main varieties are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The second fermentation takes place in the bottle, after which the wine matures on the yeast for an extended time.
The name is protected as a designation of origin, so not every sparkling wine may use it. The style is achieved by blending many wines, often from several vintages. Variants range from dry to sweet, brut being the most common. The region lies around Reims and Épernay.