Champagne is one of the greatest and strictly protected luxury brands around, though the brand has been abused by sparkling wine producers in the US and elswhere, the brand Champagne has been famed as a luxurious celebration wine since its introduction in the late 17th century.
Sparkling wines from Champagne must come from the designated region and only from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier or a blend of them.
The soils and climate of the region are the main reason the wines are so unique (along with the production style of making the wines sparkling). The climate is very cold and damp causing the grapes to struggle to ripeness and leaving very high acidity levels, the soils are chalk and limestone based which contribute to the elegance and complexity of the wines. Non-Vintage wines must be aged at least 15 months on their lees, while Vintage wines are aged a minimum of 3 years on the lees before release.
