Champagne grand cru is a Sparkling white wine produced in the vineyards of the Champagne region of northeastern France and more specifically in the wine regions of the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne, the Côte des Blancs, the Côte des Bar, the Côte de Sézanne and Vitry-le-François. Administratively, the Champagne grand cru can be produced in the departments of Marne, Aisne, Aube, Seine-et-Marne and Haute-Marne. Its vineyards benefit from a temperate-oceanic Climate with a continental influence and a Terroir made of limestone and marl soils. The Champagne Grand Cru wine can be made with the following main Grape varieties: Chardonnay B, Meunier N, Pinot N, Arbane B, Petit Meslier B, Pinot B.
(See all the grape varieties) The Champagne Grand Cru has the French label AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) and the European label AOP (Appellation d'Origine Protégée). It also has the "grand cru" label.
Mainly cultivated in the Languedoc region, carignan originates from Spain. Because of its very resistant branches, it is often called hardwood. Its bunches are quite large. They are compact and winged with a lignified stalk. The berries are spherical in shape and take on a bluish-black colour. Carignan has a total of 25 approved clones, the best known of which are 274, 65 and 9. The carignan buds at the beginning of June and is protected from spring frosts. It does not reach maturity until the third period. Also, this grape variety needs warmth and sunshine. It appreciates dry and not very fertile soils. Carignan vines can live for more than 100 years. Those that are more than 30 years old produce a better wine. This wine is well coloured. It is generous and powerful at the same time. Pepper, cherry, blackberry, banana, raspberry, almond, prune and violet are some of the aromas that this grape variety gives off.
wines from the region of Champagne Grand Cru go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or shellfish such as recipes of green lentils strasbourg style, baked mackerel or parillade of fish and seafood.
On the nose in the region of Champagne Grand Cru often reveals types of flavors of non oak, earth or microbio and sometimes also flavors of cream, grapefruit or citrus. In the mouth in the region of Champagne Grand Cru is a powerful with a nice vivacity and a fine and pleasant bubble.
