Champagne is the world’s most famous sparkling wine region. Its name speaks to both the French region where it comes from and the appellation that it is sold under. Many other regions produce sparkling wine but none of them can legally be called Champagne.

Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay are the primary grape varieties used to make Champagne and are part of sparkling wine recipes around the world. They are well suited to the cool, Northern French climate of the Champagne region.

Most Champagne made is a blend of vintages, with a focus on maintaining a consistent house style by each producer—much like what is done in Cognac in Southern France and Porto in Northern Portugal. The bulk of what most Champagne houses make is non-vintage wine. Vintage wines are made in spectacular years that are generally declared by multiple Champagne houses.