Champagne Bureau Offers Tips for a Sparkling Valentine's Day!

Business and Food Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 4, 2000

With Valentine's Day around the corner, here's a little reminder from Cupid: Champagne comes only from the region of La Champagne, France. So be sure to celebrate your sweetheart with the real thing.

American wine lovers have access to an increasingly broad range of Champagne wines from producers large and small. Choices include: Brut Champagnes (Brut is the driest style with less than 1.5% sugar):

- Classic NV: Champagnes blended with wines from several years.

They best display each producer's house style.

- Vintage: Special Champagnes made only in the best years from the

grapes of a single harvest.

- Prestige Cuvee: The Champagne maker's top of the line--made only

from the best grapes and usually aged longer in the bottle.

- Rose: Dry yet fruity Champagnes with a lively color ranging from

coppery to rose petal pink.

- Blanc de Blancs: Champagnes made only from Chardonnay grapes--

the only white grape used in making Champagnes.

Sweeter Champagnes:

- From Extra-Dry (slightly sweet) to Demi-Sec (sweeter), these

wines are sweeter than Brut Champagnes.

Champagnes are a terrific complement to many cuisines, so the true romantic may want to consider a special dinner for his or her Valentine, pairing a different Champagne with each course.

And while each Champagne house has its own unique style, the wines fall into four families:

- Champagnes with Body are full bodied with a rich, golden

color. Dominated by the Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grape

varieties, they may be Vintage or Classic Brut. Try pairing

them with foie gras on toast, aromatic cheeses such as Swiss

Comte, or a roasted chicken.

- Champagnes with Spirit are light, elegant and dry. Dominated

by Chardonnay grapes, try these refreshing wines with oysters

on the half-shell or steamed dim sum. Among these, Blanc de

Blancs are often served as an aperitif.

- Champagnes with Heart are the perfect expression of love with

their creamy, rounded flavors. Also dominated by Pinot Noir

and Pinot Meunier, these Champagnes are often vintage dated.

Pair them with lightly smoked salmon with blinis and creme

fraiche. Try pairing a Rose Champagne or a Demi-Sec with a

fruit tart for dessert.

- Champagnes with Soul are exceptional Champagnes of rare

richness and complexity. These are mature wines that have

been aged at least five years and include special or prestige

cuvees. Pair them with romantic delicacies like caviar or

duck stuffed with truffles.

For further information on how to serve and enjoy Champagnes--and for tips on pairing Champagnes with food, please visit our website at www.Champagnes.com or call us at 800-64-CHAMPagnes.

The Champagne Wines Information Bureau is the United States representative of the Champagne Trade Organization (CIVC) based in Epernay, France. Its programs are executed on behalf of Champagne houses and growers to educate the media, trade and consumers on the wines of La Champagne, France.