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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 Franciacorta 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.
Italy's answer to Champagne, a little riper.
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
Franciacorta: Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco
| Champagne | Franciacorta | |
|---|---|---|
| Grapes | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier | Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco |
| Climate | Cool continental, at the northern limit of ripening | Moderate, tempered by Lake Iseo |
| Soil | Chalk | Glacial moraine |
| Classification | AOC; grand cru and premier cru villages | DOCG; 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 | Aperitif, fried food |
| Producers to know | Krug, Bollinger, Pol Roger | Ca' del Bosco, Bellavista, Berlucchi |