From: grob@chorus.fr (Lori S. Grob)
Newsgroups: rec.food.drink
Subject: Re: Champagne codes
Date: 6 Jan 93 11:00:56 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.185748.7498@nntpd2.cxo.dec.com>, winalski@adserv.enet.dec.com (Paul S. Winalski) writes:
% 
% In article <1iaogiINNl33@agate.berkeley.edu>,
% spp@zabriskie.berkeley.edu (Steve Pope) writes:
% |>
% |>iott@rtsg.mot.com (Joel K. Iott) writes:
% |>
% |>>So what does "Blanc de Noir" mean, anyway?  Champagne seems to be full of
% |>>mis-labels (marketing genius?)
% |>
% |>Actually, although there may be some fraud, Champagne labeling
% |>is pretty strict -- there is no LEGAL mis-labeling.
% |>
% |>Blanc de Noir means the wine is made entirely from
% |>Pinot Noir (one of the allowed grape varieties for
% |>Champagne -- the others being Chardonnay and Pinot
% |>Menieure (sp?) )
% 
% "Blanc de noir" means "white from black" and refers to a white wine made
% exclusive from dark grapes, which in Champagne means pinot noir or pinot
% meunier (sp?).
% 
% There's also "blanc de blancs", which is Champagne made exclusively from
% white grapes (which in practice means chardonnay, although there are a couple
% of other very minor and rare white grape varieties legally allowed in
% Champagne).
% 
% |>Of course if the sparkling wine in question is not Champagne,
% |>then "Blanc de Noir" might be used more fancifully.
% |>But if the sparkling wine in question is not Champagne,
% |>I generally don't drink it in the first place so why should I
% |>care.
% 
% You're missing out on some good stuff at reasonable prices, then.  Michel
% Tribaut's sparkling Brut (a methode champanoise sparkling wine from Monterey,
% CA) can hold its own against any of the nonvintage bruts from the Champagne
% houses, at about 1/2 the price.
% 
% |>
% |>>Champagne Translations I know 
% |>>
% |>>Asti Spumante      Italian sparkling wine, very sweet
% |>
% |>   "Asti Spumante" is not Champagne.
% 
% Asti Spumante is a sparkling wine made in the Asti DOC in Italy, from muscat
% grapes.
% 
% --PSW

Champagne labelling is VERY strictly controlled.
First to be called Champagne it must be from a certain
region in France. Next it must be made by method champenoise.

Then the grapes used and degree of sweetness is described
on the label and finally the vintage or lack thereof.

Of course this holds only for wines made in France or
countries that have signed a treaty about the labelling
of wines. While that includes France, Italy, Spain ...
it doesn't include the US. This was why you used to see 
such things as California Burgandies and Chablis, which according my 
friends in the wine business in California are totally unregulated
and can be based on any grape and there is nothing
but custom stopping there from being a red California Chablis.

Many of the big California sparkling wine houses are now owned
or  at least linked with wineries from Champagne in France which
is why you see more and more selling sparkling wine and not
California Champagne.

If you are interested in a nice extremely dry low priced sparkling
wine that is rather light (usually 10.5-11% alcohol) try and get a good
italian prosecco. This is NOT an Asti Spumanti. The good prosecchi come
from northern Italy. Look for on labelled brut or secco. Some of
them are brut without being labelled that way but I can imagine
that trying one and finding it sweet instead of brut would be disconcerting.

They are not so easy to find, but can be really delicious and
inexpensive. They are a  great wine to serve right before
a meal of grilled garlicky fish or vegetables.

They are not really a  substitute for champagne being a lot
more light bodied and less complex. But they are a terrific
brunch or summer wine.

If you have ever had a good sparkling wine in Venice or Milan
chances are it was a prosecco.

Finally not all the best champagnes are the vintages.
Krug makes a non-vintage champagne that many people
prefer to other champagne maker vintage champagnes.

I have never actually bought a bottle of Krug but I happened to
be in Fauchons (fancy food store on the right bank)
showing some houseguests around right before New Year's
Eve and they were pouring tastes of Krug. Even my mother
who professes not to like Champagne much liked it.


Blanc de Noir as has been said already means that the wine is made from
Pinot Noir (a red wine grape). 


--
L.S. Grob
Chorus syste`mes			phone +33-1-30-64-82-17
6 avenue Gustave Eiffel			fax   +33-1-30-57-00-66	
F78182 Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines	email grob@chorus.fr	
FRANCE
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