When you’ve got something to really celebrate, few drinks trump Champagne. Made in the French region of the same name, Champagne has enjoyed protected geographical status since June 1936, one of the very first wine-growing regions in the world to do so. Producers wanted to preserve the superior status of their liquid gold, which many believe is superior to Italy’s Prosecco and Spanish cava despite all going through similar making processes.
While you may opt for the latter two for dinner parties and birthdays, when a big moment arrives, the only cork you’ll want to pop is the one on a bottle of Champagne. It may be an elite sparkling wine, but there are quite a few brands specialising in it. It can be tricky to know what to go for, even for those who’ve gulped down their fair share of flutes in the past, so we’re here with the ES Best guide to the finest Champagne brands.
An instantly recognised brand, Moët & Chandon is a bottle that you’ll find in luxury hotels and restaurants the world over. Its history can be traced back to 1743 and wine merchant Claude Moët who founded the legendary Champagne house. An affordable price point and crisp, fruity flavour profile are two of the reasons it has found widespread success.
Instantly recognisable thanks to its bright yellow label and packaging, the crisp, dry flavours of Veuve Clicquot keep it on must-drink lists around the world. Owned by LVMH, it’s one of the biggest Champagne houses around and is named for the widow of the company’s heir, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (Veuve Clicquot means ‘Widow Clicquot’). She helped shape the Champagne industry, creating the first single-vintage variety and coming up with a process called the riddling rack, which opened the door to production by the masses.
One of the Champagne region’s greatest wine-producing families, Taittinger rarely requires introduction. The name is synonymous with luxury and was name-checked by Britain’s famous fictional spy James Bond in Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale. Despite its opulent reputation, there are bottles on the affordable end of the scale, averaging from £30 - £60 at most supermarkets.
Founded in 1760, Champagne Lanson is a famous Champagne house based in Reims and is perhaps best regarded for its Black Label cuvee, its flagship sparkling wine. Hawk eyed drinkers will notice the Maltese cross on the label; it’s there because the founder’s son had ties to the Hospitaller’s Order of Malta, thought to be the oldest charity in the world, founded in 1048. For Lanson, the cross now represents openness, kindness and hospitality.
