We arrived in Côte des Bar, Champagne’s southernmost sub region, on August 25 and assumed the harvest would be in full swing. (Read more on Côte des Bar and Champagne Vaucelle in this BKWine Magazine
Do you care more about the name on the label or the taste of the contents? I’m sure it’s the latter. Sometimes it is difficult to rid oneself of “received wisdom”, though, which gets in
A sparkling wine should ideally have a fresh acidity. The whole idea of drinking bubbles is that it should be refreshing, right? The bubbles themselves help, but in Champagne they have always claimed that it
Global consumption of sparkling wine has increased since 2020. In 2024, it fell slightly for the first time, reaching 3.32 billion bottles. Despite the decline, sparkling wine is performing much better than still wine at
Are you letting outdated myths dictate your choice of sparkling wine? While Champagne boasts a legendary reputation, much of what we believe about it is shaped by marketing mystique, and old, outdated misconceptions. To fully
Often, people talk about new trends every year, but trends in the wine world develop slowly and last for many years. For instance, we met him Alexandre Penet of Champagne Penet-Chardonnet in Verzy on our
The Côte des Bar, the southernmost part of Champagne, is a gold mine for those looking for exciting grower champagnes. The district is a bit isolated from the rest of Champagne. The city of Troyes
The 2025 harvest in Champagne was record‑early. It began on August 20 and ended on September 10. “We had never seen such high potential alcohol levels so early in August,” says Sébastien Debuisson, technical director
In 2022, Voltis became the first fungus-resistant grape in France to be integrated (with restrictions) into the regulations for an appellation wine. The appellation was Champagne. Now, in 2025, three years later, the first real
Verallia, a major glass manufacturer, has a factory strategically located in Champagne outside the village of Oiry, a grand cru village in the Côte des Blancs. Aware that the champagne bottle weighs heavily on the
Divine, a Swedish importer, held a tasting with many of the wines from their range. I have followed Divine’s journey for many years, and like so many others, am very grateful that they offer us
Champagne group Vranken Pommery Monopole, the second largest champagne conglomerate, has recently announced that it will sell one of its champagne houses – Heidsieck & Co – to rival group Lanson-BCC, fourth in the list
The foil on the neck of a champagne bottle no longer compulsory The Comité Champagne has just decided to make it optional for producers to have the familiar foil around the neck of the bottle.
The 2025 wine-growing season looks promising in Champagne. The vineyards are relatively homogeneous thanks to generally mild weather conditions that have limited fungal diseases. While the vineyards offer promising prospects, the global economy is still
In Champagne, you often classify producers as either “houses”, or “independent growers”. The houses are big and often rather anonymous companies owning little or no vineyards, buying grapes from small growers. The “independent producers” are
Champagne goes with everything, it is sometimes said. But does it match well with a cuisine based solely on vegetables and plants? To explore this wine and food pairing, BKWine Magazine contributor Jeanne Peixian Qiao,
Does the state of the world discourage people from opening a bottle of champagne? That is what Maxime Toubart, one of the two presidents of the Comité Champagne, thinks when he comments on the decline
When you visit Champagne nowadays, the question of the acidity in the wines often comes up. It is generally accepted that a good quality sparkling wine should have a high acidity. But with warmer summers,
In Champagne, the permitted harvest for 2024 has now been determined. It is estimated that the harvest will begin around September 12. The determined harvest output has been set at 10,000 kilos per hectare (ca
Champagne has houses, independent growers, and cooperatives, some very big and some much smaller. One of the smaller co-operatives is one that I find quite interesting, Champagne Beaumont des Crayères. The main grape here is
Sweden’s love for champagne is evident, with the nation securing a notable tenth place in the global import ranking by volume. In 2023, Sweden imported just over 3 million litres of champagne. The three largest
After three peculiar years, sales of champagne are now returning to the level they had before the pandemic. Sales in 2023 amounted to 299 million bottles, a decrease of 8.2% compared to 2022. Champagne sales
Champagne Bollinger’s flagship Vieilles Vignes Françaises (VVF) is made in ever smaller quantities. The grapes come from vines planted franc de pied, a French expression for planted on its own roots. Thus, these vines are
It is hard to believe that it is true. And maybe it is not. But Decanter is our source and it is a serious wine magazine so it is probably true. According to them, Champagne
Heat, drought, moisture, downy mildew, powdery mildew, grey rot, hail… The winegrowers in France have not lacked challenges in 2023. Now the harvest is finished and despite difficulties the result is excellent. In Burgundy, everyone
Can you help Ukraine and democracy by drinking champagne? Maybe — with the project Victoire de la dignité. It’s been a week of ups and downs for world politics and the progress of democracy. Unusual
Champagne growers on a visit to Stockholm with the Franska Vinlistan serve Nobel Prize wine It has almost become a tradition. At the end of the autumn, a small gathering of wine producers from Champagne
I have just returned from Champagne – late August 2023 – where the producers are confidently looking forward to the harvest, which will start around September 12. But, as they say, nothing is certain until
You’ve probably heard it before. “How do you make a small fortune in wine? You start with a big fortune.” Looking at the list of France’s riches people, this seems to be only partially true.
How can a small champagne producer get into a new market? En excellent our outstanding product, such as Champagne Pascale Lejeune, is not enough. It is not easy for a small wine producer to break
We arrived in Côte des Bar, Champagne’s southernmost sub region, on August 25 and assumed the harvest would be in full swing. (Read more on
Do you care more about the name on the label or the taste of the contents? I’m sure it’s the latter. Sometimes it is difficult
A sparkling wine should ideally have a fresh acidity. The whole idea of drinking bubbles is that it should be refreshing, right? The bubbles themselves
Global consumption of sparkling wine has increased since 2020. In 2024, it fell slightly for the first time, reaching 3.32 billion bottles. Despite the decline,
Are you letting outdated myths dictate your choice of sparkling wine? While Champagne boasts a legendary reputation, much of what we believe about it is
Often, people talk about new trends every year, but trends in the wine world develop slowly and last for many years. For instance, we met
The Côte des Bar, the southernmost part of Champagne, is a gold mine for those looking for exciting grower champagnes. The district is a bit
The 2025 harvest in Champagne was record‑early. It began on August 20 and ended on September 10. “We had never seen such high potential alcohol
In 2022, Voltis became the first fungus-resistant grape in France to be integrated (with restrictions) into the regulations for an appellation wine. The appellation was
Verallia, a major glass manufacturer, has a factory strategically located in Champagne outside the village of Oiry, a grand cru village in the Côte des
Divine, a Swedish importer, held a tasting with many of the wines from their range. I have followed Divine’s journey for many years, and like
Champagne group Vranken Pommery Monopole, the second largest champagne conglomerate, has recently announced that it will sell one of its champagne houses – Heidsieck &
The foil on the neck of a champagne bottle no longer compulsory The Comité Champagne has just decided to make it optional for producers to
The 2025 wine-growing season looks promising in Champagne. The vineyards are relatively homogeneous thanks to generally mild weather conditions that have limited fungal diseases. While
In Champagne, you often classify producers as either “houses”, or “independent growers”. The houses are big and often rather anonymous companies owning little or no
Champagne goes with everything, it is sometimes said. But does it match well with a cuisine based solely on vegetables and plants? To explore this
Does the state of the world discourage people from opening a bottle of champagne? That is what Maxime Toubart, one of the two presidents of
When you visit Champagne nowadays, the question of the acidity in the wines often comes up. It is generally accepted that a good quality sparkling
In Champagne, the permitted harvest for 2024 has now been determined. It is estimated that the harvest will begin around September 12. The determined harvest
Champagne has houses, independent growers, and cooperatives, some very big and some much smaller. One of the smaller co-operatives is one that I find quite
Sweden’s love for champagne is evident, with the nation securing a notable tenth place in the global import ranking by volume. In 2023, Sweden imported
After three peculiar years, sales of champagne are now returning to the level they had before the pandemic. Sales in 2023 amounted to 299 million
Champagne Bollinger’s flagship Vieilles Vignes Françaises (VVF) is made in ever smaller quantities. The grapes come from vines planted franc de pied, a French expression
It is hard to believe that it is true. And maybe it is not. But Decanter is our source and it is a serious wine
Heat, drought, moisture, downy mildew, powdery mildew, grey rot, hail… The winegrowers in France have not lacked challenges in 2023. Now the harvest is finished
Can you help Ukraine and democracy by drinking champagne? Maybe — with the project Victoire de la dignité. It’s been a week of ups and
Champagne growers on a visit to Stockholm with the Franska Vinlistan serve Nobel Prize wine It has almost become a tradition. At the end of
I have just returned from Champagne – late August 2023 – where the producers are confidently looking forward to the harvest, which will start around
You’ve probably heard it before. “How do you make a small fortune in wine? You start with a big fortune.” Looking at the list of
How can a small champagne producer get into a new market? En excellent our outstanding product, such as Champagne Pascale Lejeune, is not enough. It
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