“Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it,” Napolean Bonaparte
To me, this glorious, frothingly festive beverage deserves more than a passing mention. Champagne in France (or sparkling wine, etc., elsewhere, as the term “Champagne” is legally reserved for the Champagne region in France) is a marvelous beverage that swims well with glittering social occasions and a panoply of foods, even caviar and sushi.
In France, 19,000 small producers slavishly and joyously ply their trade making bubbly. France’s collective annual production of over 20 million cases dwarfs California’s 2 million by 16 serious producers, including a smattering of marquis-types from France. In my slowly educated opinion, there is not a tremendous difference in quality betwixt them.
As we all know, Champagne or sparkling wine is made from wine that has already undergone a primary fermentation, after which it is bottled and tightly sealed to undergo a secondary fermentation. The consequent CO2 buildup giddily makes thousands of ebullient bubbles.
Even though Champagne production began in France, California has quickly established a dandy level of production, as well, from plucky Charmat Bulk Process wines (like Andre) to dainty, elegant sparklers owned by audacious and proactive French Champagne houses. One of the first, Korbel, was started in the 1890s by a trio of Czech brothers. Now, many other brands have joined their ranks.
Champagne prices can be distressingly, heart-stoppingly high. I recently spotted a “sale” offering of French Perrier Jouet at an online price of $119.99, and many French products are offered by local retailers at prices north of $30. Ouch!
What’s a frugal Milwaukeean to do to combat such stratospheric excesses? I recently stopped in at the Mequon Piggly Wiggly in order to ferret out sanely priced offerings. Here’s a sampling of some of my discoveries:
– Korbel @ $9.99 (regularly $10.49)
– Piper Sonoma @ $12.49
– Zonin Prosecco (a gloriously sweet and upbeat Italian) @ $9.99
Similarly, other retailers in town offer other temptingly-priced bubblies that are worth grabbing. In particular, Waterford Wine on Brady springs to mind.
My instinctive conclusion is that prudent shoppers should shun overpriced French offerings in favor of more realistic options that are available in the world, especially in the United States.
Cheers, and here’s to an upbeat, fizzily grand 2012!
