It should be noted that not all sparkling wine is Champagne. To be considered true Champagne, the sparkling wine must be made with grapes from that growing region in France. This distinction is an important one to make when you think you're purchasing Champagne worth its price tag. Champagne must adhere to specific vineyard practices, be made from specific grapes and pass sets of restrictions to be deserving of the label. The wine undergoes a second fermentation process in the bottles to get the carbonation and is then aged under high pressure.

The different types of Champagne can make your selection process tricky, so let's review the four types. These four types are differentiated based on the grapes and processes used during production. Blanc de noir is a white wine produced from black or red grapes – Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier. Blanc de blancs is made from white grapes, almost always Chardonnay grapes. Cuvee is your top of the range Champagne produced with the highest set of standards, but keep in mind it usually has the highest price tag to go along with it. Finally, rosé, or pink Champagne, is made with a bit of red wine added to tint the coloring.

Champagne is typically dry with a high acidity. Your Champagne label will also include the sweetness. The sweetness spectrum depends on the amount of sugar in the wine. From driest to sweetest, Champagne may be described as extra brut, brut, extra dry, sec, demi-sec or doux with brut being the most common. Always serve your Champagne cold and tilt the glass, pouring gently to preserve the bubbles. We recommend a flute to preserve even more of the bubbly quality. As you sip your Champagne, take note of the flavors. The flavor profile may include peach, white cherry or citrus notes as well as some nuttiness or toast-like flavors.

Champagne is notoriously expensive, so we make an extra effort at Wine Chateau to bring you Champagne deals and discounts on the best brands. Buy Champagne by the case to make sure you have a bottle on hand for any special occasion. Browse our selection of the top brands of Champagne.