“Come quickly, I am tasting stars,” Dom Perignon’s famous quote after his first taste of Champagne, and a fairly apt description of what a good Champagne or sparkling wine experience should offer.
Over the next few weeks, we will be giving you the basics about Champagne and Sparkling wine….

What’s the difference between Champagne and Sparkling Wine?
“Champagne” comes exclusively from the Champagne region of France, and claims the honor of being the most famous of the sparkling wines. The French are really, really prickly about misuse of the word champagne. Only sparkling white wine that comes from the Champagne region of France, in the northeastern part of the country, can be called champagne. And that’s not a suggestion; in Europe, it’s the law. It has been illegal for non-Champaignois vineyards to call their booze champagne since 1891. In fact, so important is French ownership of the word champagnethat it was reaffirmed in no less important a document than 1919’s Treaty of Versailles—the one that ended World War I.

It has been reported that there is a loophole: The United States never ratified the Treaty of Versailles—not because of the champagne clause, but because the Republican-controlled Congress didn’t want to see the formation of a League of Nations. However, state labeling laws prohibit labeling bubbles as champagne except in California. So don’t confuse calling your bubbles Champagne with labeling your bubbles Champagne..

NEXT: The bubbles – How do they get in there?

Domaine Meriwether will be closed on Dec.24th & 25th so our staff can spend the holidays with family and friends.  We will re-open on Dec.26th for normal visitation hours;  11-4 daily.  Cheers!

Join us Fri, Nov 25th – Sun Nov 27th from  11am-5pm   Domaine Meriwether winery with special guest winery Capitello. $10 admission includes complimentary souvenir glass, 4 free tastings, live music and more. Food will be available on site for purchase.  Families welcome.