The only one of its kind best February New Year’s Resolutions for Wine

It is definitely time for Champagne!

February New Year’s Resolution is drink more Champagne!

Champagne? Now?

YES! Now. Here’s why:

February can be tough. In the United States, the weather can be wonky. Or should I say wonkier. January has certainly not been a joy with the weather.

Some people are discouraged that their “do better, weigh less, be more fit or whatever” resolutions have already gone by the wayside.  If, however, you followed my fun best new year’s resolution for wine you are energized and ready for a new opportunity to have fun with wine.

Yep! These resolutions are going to be monthly! No more of that arbitrary only at the beginning of the year.

Now is definitely the time for champagne. Resolve to drink more champagne.

Now is the time to toast small achievements! Celebrate them!

Any achievements at all really. What’s the downside?

I’m not talking about sparkling wine here. If you’ve read my posts on when to use sparkling wine and not champagne for starting the party off right, and what to use for a mimosa that is not champagne you would know that I said that there were certain times that champagne was not the drink of choice.

WELL, now it is! Let’s get through the dark days of February (figuratively if not literally.) Let’s reward ourselves. If you are in the southern hemisphere celebrate that you are not having our bad weather.

Come up with anything to celebrate!

Let’s take a step back and see what you may want to know to make this champagne resolution the best it can be.

The basics:

Just in case you didn’t know, in order to be called Champagne it must be made in the Champagne region in Burgundy, France. France does not fool around with rules about their wine. At all.

There is the California Loophole that does allow some California sparkling wine to be called Champagne. Good story. Worth reading.

I am not recommending California champagne for this though.

 February deserves the real stuff.

More basics:

Champagne is made in the traditional method or what is referred to as Méthode Champenoise. I had originally planned to do a detailed discussion here, but I think we would go down a rabbit hole with too much info. Just know that both fermentations are in the same bottle it started in. (Warning: if you see bottle fermented on a sparkling wine, it does not mean fermented in THIS bottle.)

Champagne is made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes. You may notice that two of these grapes are red. The color of the wine is determined by using the skins. Basically, when you don’t keep the skins on, it won’t look red.  

The percentages of each grape can vary based on the style of the champagne.

More stuff to know:

Champagne comes in 4 different styles:

1.    Standard:

Unless otherwise noted, assume the style uses a blend of the three grapes listed above. It will look white, but based on percentages can have different flavor profiles.

2.    Blanc de Blanc:

This is usually 100% Chardonnay. It may be more citrus in its flavors.

3.    Blanc de Noir:

This is a white style made with 100% Pinot Noir with or without Pinot Meunier. This style may be more fruit forward.

4.    Rosé:

Rosé champagne is made by either adding a small percentage of red still wine or by keeping the red grapes on the skins a little longer.

Rosé Veuve Clicquot is delicious!

It will always cost more than the Brut version .

Veuve Clicqot yellow label is a reliable favorite of mine.

Brut is clearly noted on the label. It will cost less than the rosé.

Champagne vocabulary you may want to know:

Lees or sur lie (en français): Lees are dead yeast cells which is not disgusting at all.  Trust me. Sometimes it can add warm brioche flavors which sounds delicious.

Dosage ( not pronounced like dosage of a medicine. More like doe then sage as in massage) This is the last step in champagne production. It is a mixture of sugar and base wine added back to the bottle to balance acidity and sweetness. Without it the taste would be way too acidic. This is another way that the winemaker can adjust the style of champagne. The dosage will determine the sweetness.

Ok. This is really a must know:

Brut and the other sweetness identifiers:

The dosage mentioned above can determine this.

Most Champagne is Brut. ( See picture above.)There is very little sugar added and it will taste dry. Then there are extra brut (less sugar) and brut nature (no sugar added.)

For maximum confusion extra dry has more sugar than brut, and dry has even more.

Brut can vary in sweetness but it is not sweet!

Demi-sec or doux on the label, you have ventured into SWEET.

Not necessary to know but research if you are intrigued:

• Words like yeast autolysis and disgorgement and riddling

• Producer Classifications and Regional Classifications

• Types of producers could be worth knowing if you are so inclined. 

Now what?

How do I make my Champagne resolution the best Champagne resolution ever?!?! (If you have done this type of resolution before, WOW!! You are awesome.)

I would say, just go out and try different champagnes.

And you would rightly say:

“Well that doesn’t help much. How about a little advice?”

Advice:

There is vintage and non-vintage champagne. For this resolution, buy non-vintage champagne. Vintage champagne is only made in certain years, is aged longer and is significantly more expensive.

Vintage and non vintage Champagne from Ruinart.

The vintage Champagne is $100 more!

You are far more likely to make an expensive mistake with vintage champagne, unless you are very familiar with the different styles of the different wine houses. Even then, why?

Let’s keep the price point out of the stratosphere!

If you have enjoyed any specific champagnes in the past, odds are they will still be enjoyable. The advantage of a Champagne House having a style, is that you can count on it.

If you want to explore with smaller Champagne wine makers, have at it. You may want to ask for advice where you are buying it. Let them know other champagnes you have had and enjoyed.

Blanc de blancs champagnes will not be similar to rosé champagne or blanc de noirs. Explore wisely.

The point of this resolution is not as much what champagne you choose to celebrate with, but finding something to celebrate with champagne.

Have fun with this resolution!

Celebrate this view! It’s better with champagne. Cheers!