Champagne: behind the bubbles

Champagne tours are perhaps the easiest way to begin to understand the French joie de vivre. One could be quite happy eating at the Michelin-starred restaurants, tasting Champagne and following the Tourist Route through vine covered hills and charming wine-producing villages. Go to: Baccarat Champagne Flutes, Waterford Crystal Champagne Flutes, Coup and Stemless Champagne Glasses, Champagne Coolers, Champagne Production, Champagne Dictionary, Champagne labels, Champagne France, Serving and Tasting Champagne

Champagne Flutes and Coupes

The perfect toasting flutes and Champagne coolers for that special celebration.

Vera Wang Wedgwood Bande Flute, Set of 2	Vera Wang Wedgwood Love Always Toasting Flute Pair	Vera Wang Wedgwood Duchesse Flutes, Set of 2
Celebrating simplicity and effortless elegance, Vera Wang's Bande collection brings modern appeal to your home. 5 oz. capacity. 9.1"H	Set includes: two champagne flutes. Folded heart motif. Design inspired by a favorite pair of earrings belonging to one of Vera's daughters. Dimensions: 10.6"H x 2.7" DIAM. 5.5 oz. capacity	Delicately cut fine crystal stemware adds a graceful note to your formal dining. Coordinates with the Duchesse Stemware and china.

Purple Waterfall Flutes, Set of 4	Lsa Lulu Assorted Champagne Flutes, Set of 4
Handpainted crystalline	10.25"H; 6 oz. Mouth-blown; handmade. Elegantly gift-boxed. Glass

Swarovski Crystalline Champagne Flutes, Set of 2	Orrefors More Champagne Glass, Set of 4	Orrefors Premier Champagne Flute, Set of 2
Delicate, elegant and very festive, this is a set of two flutes for very special occasions. The clear crystal that fills the stems and the faceted clear crystal base of each of these adds an element of romance to any evening - making it a touch more special.	Designed by Erika Lagerbielke. Made in Sweden. Glass. Dishwasher safe	Set includes two handmade Champagne flutes. Lead-free crystal. Dishwasher-safe

Michael Wainwright Truro Toasting Flute Set of 2	Vera Wang Wedgwood Duchesse Encore Champagne Flute	Olivia Riegel Gold Windsor Flute, Set of 2
Michael created The Truro Collection to capture the timeless shifting of ocean, wind and sand. This crystalline glass collection features carved details on a polished background, hand decorated	Building on her best-selling Duchesse collection, Vera Wang introduces Duchess Encore, a contemporary update to the original. Sophisticated and elegant, it sparkles and shines with timeless allure.	Raise a toast in glittering style with this glass and pewter cast flute, highlighted by a lustrous array of hand set Swarovski® crystals.

Lsa Groove Champagne Flute, Set of 2	Lsa Bar Hollow Stem Flute, Set of 2	William Yeoward American Bar Lillian Champagne Flutes, Set of 2
Tactile, grooved design with a subtle tapered silhouette. Comes in a decorative box	6.7 oz. capacity. Glass	William Yeoward's Lillian Champagne Flutes evoke the style and glamour of the 1920s and 1930s when the new experience of cocktails and jazz was all the rage. 12"H / 7 oz. capacity

Waterford Crystal Champagne Flutes

Waterford Wedding Vows Flute, Set of 2	Waterford Times Square Flute Pair	Waterford Lismore Toasting Flute, Pair
Raise a toast to true love with Waterford toasting flutes featuring an elegant interlocking ring pattern.	Intricately adorned with the stunning Gifts of Happiness design featured on the Times Square Ball	A contemporary take on the world-famous Lismore pattern, the Lismore Diamond Medium Hurricane features signature diamond and wedge cuts intricately rendered on modern cylindrical shapes.

Waterford Icon Flutes, Set of 2	Waterford Happy Celebrations Flute, Set of 2	Waterford Araglin Encore Flutes, Set of 6
Designed by renowned floral artist Jeff Leatham. Presented in classic Waterford packaging with a decorative Jeff Leatham sleeve perfect for gifting	Enhance each toast you make at every special occasion. With cuts designed to represent the bubbles in champagne, these flutes are perfect for any celebratory occasion. Birthdays, weddings or everyday, you will enjoy toasting the happy celebrants with the brilliance and refinement reflected in your Waterford Crystal toasting flutes. Set of 2; 5 oz.	Set includes: 6 champagne flutes. Features upright wedge cuts with bands of open cross cuts

Waterford Lismore Diamond Toasting Flute, Set of 2	Waterford Mara Flutes, Set of 6	Waterford Connoisseur Heritage Champagne Flutes, Set of 6
Bring classic elegance to the table with these striking toasting flutes from Waterford. The Lismore Diamond pattern is a strikingly modern reinvention of the Waterford classic, characterized by intricate diamond cuts rendered in radiant fine crystal.	Inspired by the Atlantic Ocean, design showcases both long and short deep vertical cuts	Features mixed patterns from the Waterford archives

Waterford Lismore Diamond Essence Flute	Waterford Elegance Champagne Classic Flute, Pair	Waterford Lismore Essence Monogram Script Toasting Flute, Set of 2
Waterford's brilliant crystal collection merges the elegant Lismore Essence stem with the contemporary cuts of Lismore Diamond. The result is a striking, of-the-moment design that's at home on any table.	This striking assortment of Waterford stemware is carefully crafted by hand with delicate bowls, striking V-shaped plunges and crisp rims that create a flawlessly modern profile.	Waterford's signature cut crystal pairs with a script monogram in this striking set of touting flutes.

Waterford Icon Amethyst Flutes, Set of 2

Set includes: two flute glasses. Designed by renowned floral artist Jeff Leatham. Presented in classic Waterford packaging with a decorative Jeff Leatham sleeve perfect for gifting

Coup and Stemless Champagne Glasses

Estelle Colored Glass Champagne Coupe Stemware, Blush Pink	Estelle Colored Glass Champagne Coupe Stemware, Mint Green
This 6 piece set is hand-blown colored glass made by glass artisans in Poland. The founder of Estelle Colored Glass named the collection in honor of her grandmother, Estelle, who she describes as "a jewel of a person that instilled in me an appreciation of the pastime of treasure hunting for beautiful finds - especially for the kitchen which was the heart of her home."	This 6 piece set is hand-blown colored glass made by glass artisans in Poland. The founder of Estelle Colored Glass named the collection in honor of her grandmother, Estelle, who she describes as "a jewel of a person that instilled in me an appreciation of the pastime of treasure hunting for beautiful finds - especially for the kitchen which was the heart of her home."

kate spade new york Pearl Place Stemless Champagne Flute, Set 2	Villeroy & Boch Purismo Champagne Coup, Set of 2	Waterford Elegance Optic Belle Coupe, Set of 2
Raise a toast to festive style with this cheerful set of stemless flutes from kate spade new york, highlighted by an array of lustrous polka dots.	Lead-free crystal. Dishwasher safe	Featuring a subtle optic design, this striking Waterford set is highlighted by an eye-catching modern silhouette paired with classic styling. It's versatile enough for everyday use while still making a statement on special occasions.

Baccarat Champagne Flutes

Founded in 1764, Baccarat is renowned the world over for its magnificent and innovative works of crystal. Baccarat has become a national symbol of France's art de vivre, and the company's heritage of excellence in design is matched only by its continuing efforts to cultivate creativity in the next generation of great artists. The Baccarat collection is full of timeless masterpieces, from jewelry to sculptures for the home, which translate beautifully in any language

Baccarat Mille Nuits Flutissimo, Set of 4	Baccarat 6-Piece Bubbles In a Box Set	Baccarat Harcourt Eve Flute with Black Knob, Set of 2
Set includes: four flutissimo champagne flutes in blue, moss, red and amber. Slightly curved lines and flared optic glass enhance the reflection of light and give the flutes a charming style	Baccarat's iconic Milles Nuits Flutissimo, Vega Flutissimo, Harcourt Eve, Diamant, Chateau Baccarat and Massella champagne flutes come together to create a lustrous gift set for your favorite lover of bubbly	Made in France. Crystal

Baccarat Massena Champagne Coupe, Set of 2

5.7 oz. capacity. 5.5"H. Made in France. Lead crystal. Hand wash

Champagne Coolers

Lalique Bacchantes Champagne Cooler	Michael Aram Wisteria Gold Champagne Bucket
Adorned with the iconic Bacchantes motif, this striking champagne cooler features a removable stainless steel insert for easy clean up.	Inspired by the beauty of twisted and curving vines. Stainless steel/natural brass

Champagne France

Champagne is one of the most enjoyable travel destinations in France. Troyes, the capital, has something for everyone. A Medieval city, the cobblestone streets take you past 9 churches dating from the 12th-19th centuries featuring stained glass and Gothic art, and half-timbered buildings. At the other extreme, The Museum of Modern Art with Fauvist paintings. The route from Épernay to Reims takes you through the Regional Nature Park. Start in Épernay with a visit to Champagne de Castellane. There is an interesting museum of the entire process, plus 6 miles of caves. The view from the tower puts Épernay and the area vineyards at your feet. Reims is not only an important Champagne producing center but also the location of the Gothic Notre-Dame Cathedral, site for the coronation of over 30 kings of France.

Champagne Dictionary

The law of July 22, 1927, determined the limits of the Champagne appellation, 3 grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay) and requirements for pruning, harvesting, pressing and fermentation. Here are a few terms you may encounter:

• Brut Absolut, Brut, Extra-Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux Designations from dry to sweet:

• Blanc de Blanc from Chardonnay is lighter in flavor, Blanc de Noirs from Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier and are fuller bodied, Rosé gets its pink color and flavor from juice contact with the skins.

• Cremant or Mousseux: sparkling wines from outside Champagne

• Landing: time Champagne has been in the country.

• Petillant: gentle effervescence.

• Caves: underground cellar for aging.

• Cuvée: blend.

• Domaine: ownership.

• Methode Champenoise/Methode Traditionelle: fermented in the bottle (vs. less expensive tank fermented charmat).

• Millésime: vintage date

Champagne Production

• Pressing: Several, gradual pressings achieve different characteristics as soon as grapes are harvested.

• First fermentation: Juice becomes wine.

• Blending: NV (nonvintage) Champagnes result from the art of combining grape varieties and years. Vintage Champagnes (all from one harvest) are only made in the best years

• The wine is then cold stabilized, filtered and bottled. Liqueur de tirage/Dosage (wine sweetened with yeast) is added.

• Second Fermentation: sugars produce tiny bubbles. Remuage: "riddling"--bottles are held at a sharp angle and periodically shaken. Sediment settles to the cork.

• Dégorgement: removes sediment while keeping the wine in the bottle.

• Dosing: Liqueur d'expédition (sugar and Champagne) added at time of disgorging to increase sweetness until the desired type of wine is achieved. Wine is then corked.

Serving and Tasting Champagne

• Serve cool. Place in bucket with water and ice for 15 to 20 minutes (the younger, the cooler).

• To open, loosen the wire, hold the cork, incline the bottle, twist holding by the base.

• Champagne flutes gather the flavors and allow the bubbles to rise smoothly.

• Enjoy the color and dancing bubbles, the "necklace of pearls" at the surface.

• Breathe the bouquet

• Taste it. Roll it in your mouth to enjoy all the sensations.

• Champagne enhances almost any food. Try mild cheeses, oysters, caviar and foie gras

Champagne labels

The law of July 22, 1927, determined the limits of the Champagne appellation, 3 grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay) and requirements for pruning, harvesting, pressing and fermentation. Here are a few terms you may encounter:

• Brut Absolut, Brut, Extra-Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec, Doux Designations from dry to sweet:

• Blanc de Blanc from Chardonnay is lighter in flavor, Blanc de Noirs from Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier and are fuller bodied, Rosé gets its pink color and flavor from juice contact with the skins.

• Cremant or Mousseux: sparkling wines from outside Champagne

• Landing: time Champagne has been in the country.

• Petillant: gentle effervescence.

• Caves: underground cellar for aging.

• Cuvée: blend.

• Domaine: ownership.

• Methode Champenoise/Methode Traditionelle: fermented in the bottle (vs. less expensive tank fermented charmat).

• Millésime: vintage date

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