Champagne

With an annual average temperature of 10.5°C (51°F), Champagne is a cool land. The vineyards of Champagne are located in the warmest microclimates of the region, which are those that are most sheltered from the northern winds. Over the centuries, winegrowers have learned how to tame these austere limestone soils to produce a product of great beauty. Champagne is made from vineyards located mainly on hillsides with excellent sun exposure near Reims and Epernay, the two cities that symbolise the Champagne industry. A thick layer of white chalk covers the region all the way into the city of Reims, where hundreds of kilometres of cellars were hollowed out over the centuries. This chalk provides conditions that allow the grapes to ripen more quickly, as it reflects the sunlight to warm the soils. All of the winemaking villages are ranked based on the crus that they contain. The best terroirs contain 100% crus and qualify for the Grand Cru designation. Only three grape varieties are allowed to be used for the production of champagne (chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier).