What does Champagne taste like?
Champagne tastes crisp and dry, with lemon, green apple and a toasty, bready edge like brioche, all carried on fine, steady bubbles at about 12% alcohol.
Champagne
crisp, toasty, fine bubbles
Champagne only comes from the Champagne region of France, made mostly from chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. The bubbles form inside each bottle, and the wine rests on its spent yeast for at least a year, which is where that toasty, brioche smell comes from. The first sip is sharp and lemony, then apple, then something like toast or a little nuttiness as it warms up. Most of what you'll see is Brut, meaning dry. Rosé Champagne adds a little red berry, and blanc de blancs (all chardonnay) is the leanest and zestiest.
Where you’ll see it
By the glass or bottle at nicer restaurants and wine bars, often near the top of the list and priced to match. It's also the classic top-up in a French 75, a Kir Royale and a Champagne cocktail.
Order it if you're celebrating, or you just want the crispest, toastiest bubbles on the list.
Quick questions
- Is Champagne sweeter than prosecco?
- Usually not. Most Champagne is Brut, which is dry, while a lot of prosecco is a touch sweeter. Champagne also tastes toastier because it ages on yeast in the bottle.
- What does Brut mean?
- Brut means dry, with very little sugar added. Extra Brut and Brut Nature are even drier. Demi-sec is noticeably sweet and usually comes out with dessert.