ASK CHARLIE A QUESTION
Did you know?...
- Harry of Southampton asks - what are the main areas of champagne production - Harry, there are three areas and they are the Montagne de Reims producing mainly Pinot Noir grapes; the Cote des Blancs producing Chardonnay grapes and the Vallee de la Marne with is predominantly Pinot Meunier grapes. These are the three grape varieties that make the majority of all champagnes.
- Susan of Reading asks - how is a vintage decided? It is entirely up to the producer as to when they declare a vintage. By law the wine must lay in barrel for 4 years at least; most make it 5 years. The grapes can come only from one harvest as defined by the Napoleonic Code of 1789. Recent top class vintage years are 1950,1990,1996, 1998, 1999 and 2002. Some of these are still available to buy. Champagne-Charlie has some stocks of them for sale.
