Champagne
The grapes Pinot noir, Pinot meunier, and Chardonnay are used to produce almost all Champagne. Small amounts of Pinot blanc, Pinot gris (called Fromenteau in Champagne), Arbane, and Petit Meslier are used as well.
Champagne became correlated with royalty in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The leading manufacturers made endeavors to associate their Champagnes with nobility through advertising, which led to its popularity among the emerging middle class.
Still, wines from the Champagne region were known before medieval times. The Romans were the first to plant vineyards in this area of northeast France, starting by the 5th century. Cultivation was initially slow due to the unpopular edict by Emperor Domitian that all colonial vines must be uprooted.
Sparkling wines are made worldwide, but many legal structures reserve the word Champagne exclusively for sparkling wines from the Champagne region, made by Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne regulations.
Champagne is also great with
Champagne Cocktail
A champagne cocktail is an alcoholic cocktail made with sugar, Angostura bitters, Champagne, brandy and a maraschino cherry as a garnish. A recipe for the cocktail appears as early as "Professor" Jerry Thomas' Bon Vivant's Companion (1862), which omits the brandy or cognac and is considered to be the "classic" American version. It is also one of the IBA official cocktails.
Savoy Affair
Savoy Affair is a cocktail made with champagne, peach brandy/brandy, strawberry liqueur, passionfruit juice, and lime juice. The cocktail was invented by Joe Gilmore at the Atlantic Hotel, in Hamburg, Germany.
French 75
French 75 is a cocktail made from gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. It is also called a 75 Cocktail, or in French simply a Soixante Quinze. The drink dates to World War I, and an early form was created in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris—later Harry's New York Bar—by barman Harry MacElhone. The combination was said to have such a kick that it felt like being shelled with the powerful French 75mm field gun.
Chicago Cocktail
The Chicago Cocktail is a brandy-based mixed drink named after the city of Chicago, Illinois. It appeared in multiple cocktail manuals dating back to the 19th century. The main ingredients are brandy, triple sec, and bitters. Some versions do call for the Champagne to be added.
Russian Spring Punch
The Russian Spring Punch is a highball cocktail made with vodka, Crème de cassis, sugar syrup, and lemon juice. The cocktail was created in the 1980s by Dick Bradsell. Basically a spiked Kir Royale over ice. It is named for the russian vodka, and the Tom Collins, which is a spring drink.
Death in the Afternoon
Death in the Afternoon, also named the Hemingway or the Hemingway Champagne, is a cocktail made up of absinthe and Champagne. The cocktail shares a name with Hemingway's 1932 book Death in the Afternoon. Supposedly, the drink was created by the author after enjoying absinthe during his time in France.
Old Cuban
The Old Cuban is an IBA official cocktail and is made with aged rum, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, Angostura bitters, mint leaves, and topped with champagne brut. The cocktail takes inspiration from the Mojito, but it features a few important tweaks that result in a unique flavor experience. The Old Cuban was created in 2001 by famed mixologist Audrey Saunders.
Hangman's Blood
Hangman's Blood is a beer cocktail made of gin, whisky, rum, port, brandy, stout, and champagne. It was first described by Richard Hughes in his 1929 novel, A High Wind in Jamaica.