{"id":452950,"date":"2025-09-26T14:01:17","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T14:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/452950\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T14:01:17","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T14:01:17","slug":"champagne-france-belongs-on-every-wine-lovers-bucket-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/452950\/","title":{"rendered":"Champagne, France Belongs on Every Wine Lover\u2019s Bucket List"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m not afraid to admit that I\u2019m a certified wine nerd who loves a cold glass of bubbly. So when I found out that Champagne, France<\/strong>\u2014the legendary birthplace of the world\u2019s most iconic sparkling wine\u2014was just a trip away, I knew I had to pack my bags and sip it straight from the source.<\/p>\n

Only 90 minutes from Paris (hello, perfect day trip!), Champagne is where all the big-name houses make their bottles (if the bubbly wasn’t produced here, technically, it\u2019s not champagne, it’s just sparkling wine, which we also love)<\/strong>. With its rich history and limited production, I set my sights on touring the home of Rare Champagne<\/a>. This isn\u2019t just any champagne\u2014its roots go back to 1785, and fun fact: Queen Marie Antoinette herself sipped its very first cuv\u00e9e<\/a>. Talk about drinking like royalty!<\/p>\n

But before channeling my inner queen, I made a stop to drop my bags and freshen up at the Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa<\/a>. Chic doesn\u2019t even begin to cover it\u2014this place redefines luxury. The rooms strike the perfect balance of modern elegance, with sweeping vineyard views that instantly put you at ease. And the best part? The warm, welcoming staff greets you with a glass of bubbly the moment you arrive. Now that\u2019s my kind of check-in. <\/p>\n

\"champagne,<\/p>\n

There was no shortage of things to do on-site. I strolled through the picturesque grounds, but guests can also rent bikes, go horseback riding, or even take a buggy excursion. The hotel offers everything from tennis and hot-air balloon rides to picnics, tea parties, and boat trips. I split my time between the gym and the poolside jacuzzis, but the real highlight was a visit to their state-of-the-art spa. The MyBlend Essential facial had my skin glowing for weeks. The hotel has two restaurants, including Le Royal, which has a Michelin star, but the American in me couldn\u2019t get enough of that all-you-can-eat breakfast bar stacked with all the morning time delights, eggs, meats, cheeses, pastries, and fruit, and of course, champagne. Hey, what’s a little bubbly at 10 am when you’re in Champagne!<\/p>\n

\"champagne,<\/p>\n

After feeling well rested and fed, I headed to the Rare Champagne factory and learned how the wine is made, visited the wine cellars, and had enjoyed a lunch paired with the perfect glasses of bubbly. <\/p>\n

I\u2019d be remiss not to acknowledge Champagne\u2019s reputation for being a little hoity-toity. But as the experts at Rare reminded me, true champagne is less about prestige and more about celebrating life, bringing people together, and savoring special moments \u2014 joys we all deserve. Still, I get it: choosing a bottle and figuring out how to serve it can feel intimidating, especially if you\u2019re not sure what you\u2019re looking for. That\u2019s why I turned to Maud Rabin, Director of Rare Champagne<\/a>, for a quick Champagne 101, filled with simple hacks to help you confidently pick and pour the perfect bottle for you.<\/p>\n

\"champagne,<\/p>\n

Champagne 101 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: What\u2019s the difference between Champagne and sparkling wine?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Champagne is unique because it must be made in the Champagne region of France under strict production methods. Sparkling wines can be made in Italy, the U.S., Australia, and other regions of France \u2014 but only wines made in Champagne can legally be called Champagne.<\/p>\n

Q: What does Brut mean?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: “Brut” refers to the dryness of the champagne \u2014 it means the wine is very low in sugar, making it crisp and refreshing.<\/p>\n

Q: How should I store Champagne at home?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Ideally in a cool, dark place such as a cellar, or in the bottom of your fridge. Serve it chilled \u2014 around 10\u00b0C (50\u00b0F) \u2014 by placing it in an ice bucket filled halfway with water and ice for 20\u201330 minutes before serving.<\/p>\n

Q: Does Champagne go bad?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: It can, especially older bottles. Champagne is a living wine that evolves in the bottle. If not stored properly, it can deteriorate over time.<\/p>\n

Q: Should Champagne be served cold?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Yes, Champagne is typically served chilled. However, some connoisseurs prefer older vintages, like Rare Mill\u00e9sime 1988, served closer to room temperature to fully appreciate its complexity.<\/p>\n

Q: What foods pair well with Champagne?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Champagne is incredibly versatile. With Rare Champagne, we recommend caviar, oysters, ceviche \u2014 and even barbecue. Pairing is a matter of personal taste, but Rare shines with both elegance and bold flavours.<\/p>\n

Q: What kind of glass should I use to drink Champagne?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: A red wine glass, such as a Riedel Veritas, is ideal. It allows the aromas and complexity of the Champagne to open up more than a traditional flute.<\/p>\n

Q: Why is Champagne associated with celebrations?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A: Bubbles bring joy \u2014 they feel festive and elevate any occasion! Historically, Champagne became linked to celebration in the 18th century when it was favored by French royalty and aristocracy as a symbol of luxury and exclusivity.<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Keydra is a digital editor at Good Housekeeping. She loves all things lifestyle, culture, entertainment and Beyonc\u00e9. Keydra has a Master\u2019s degree from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY and a Bachelor\u2019s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She is a proud Buffalo, New York native (Go Bills!) who now calls Harlem home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I\u2019m not afraid to admit that I\u2019m a certified wine nerd who loves a cold glass of bubbly.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":452951,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5309],"tags":[1329,152226,1331,2000,299,36,1381,152225],"class_list":{"0":"post-452950","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-france","8":"tag-content-type-feature","9":"tag-contentid-d06abc09-358d-4205-b45f-102cc025c0c9","10":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","11":"tag-eu","12":"tag-europe","13":"tag-france","14":"tag-locale-us","15":"tag-shorttitle-a-trip-to-champagne"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115270968445357376","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=452950"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/452950\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/452951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=452950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=452950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=452950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}