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Champagne
Champagne, France
sparklingPale lemon, fine mousse
Traditional-method sparkling wine: high acid, yeasty depth from lees ageing.
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Line up two to four wines the way you'd say them. The guide covers 127 appellations and styles, and spelling doesn't need to be perfect.
Champagne and English Sparkling side by side: structure on the WSET scale, grapes, aromas, drinking window, typical UK price and what to eat with each.
Traditional-method sparkling wine: high acid, yeasty depth from lees ageing.
Crisp traditional-method fizz grown on the same chalk as Champagne.
The shape of each wine, then each measure on the WSET scale.
These are close in structure; the differences are mostly in grape, aroma and place.
Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
English Sparkling: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
| Champagne | English Sparkling | |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier |
| Climate | Cool continental, at the northern limit of ripening | Cool maritime |
| Soil | Chalk | Chalk and greensand |
| Classification | AOC; grand cru and premier cru villages | PDO Sussex; traditional method |
| Drinking window | Non-vintage 1–5 years; vintage 10–20+ | 2–10 years |
| Typical price | £30–£60 (prestige cuvées £150+) | £25–£50 |
| Food | Oysters, fried food, aperitif | Fish and chips, aperitif |
| Producers to know | Krug, Bollinger, Pol Roger | Nyetimber, Gusbourne, Ridgeview |