How to Choose and Serve Champagne: Expert Tips and What To buy

No other beverage is more associated with special occasions than champagne. Viewed by many as the pinnacle of sparkling wines, the art of champagne making has been perfected in the eponymous French region for centuries.

Considering the vast array of labels, selecting the right bottle for the most sparkling night of the year can be a daunting task. These expert tips and suggested producers will help guide you on how to choose and serve the best champagne, whether you’re celebrating in Paris or elsewhere in the world.

I’ve often been confronted with this dilemma, so I sought out some expert advice from Paris-based wine expert Preston Mohr. The Franco-American has given food tours and wine tastings in Paris. Preston has a WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 4 Diploma and a range of other prestigious wine trainings. In addition to introductory wine lessons, he has given champagne-focused tastings in Paris and excursions to the Champagne region. His background and experiences have provided him with impressive, specialist knowledge on this divine bubbly. Here are his invaluable pointers on buying the right champagne for any special occasion.

Avoid more specialty champagne styles like blanc de blancs (made only from Chardonnay) or extra brut (very little sugar added). These can be enjoyable, but are often more situational wines and may not suit all palates.

Buy lots so you don’t run out!

Your guests may bring bottles with them, but you shouldn’t count on this. Make sure you have enough of your own champagne properly chilled to last the entire party. Your guests’ bottles should be considered a host/hostess gift. It is not required to drink them.

Your fridge is sure to be jammed with other goodies at this time of the year, so chances are the lukewarm bottle your friend brought will never get cold enough to enjoy that evening anyhow. Place these bottles elsewhere and enjoy them in the post-party weeks to come.

Serve foods that flatter champagne

Foods that are rich, creamy, and slightly salty all typically compliment sparkling wines. The acidity of champagne and other sparkling wines offsets the richness and keeps you going back for more.

Canapés made with puff pastry, mushroom and cream appetizers, seafood snacks with their salty ocean tinge, and rich and silky cheeses all go marvelously with champagne. If you want some inspiration for your holiday menu, check out our tips for how to have a French holiday meal at home.

With the above advice in mind, here is our selection of excellent champagnes to suit different styles and desires, including several hand picked by Preston.

The Best Champagne For the Refined Wine Palate: Bollinger Special Cuvée

You’re bound to get nods of approval after your wine-loving friends take their first sip of this outstanding champagne, Bollinger Special Cuvée, chosen by Preston and sold all over the globe. “It has an elegant yeasty and biscuity richness that comes from the 5-15-year-old reserve wine (older wines blended in) that’s added to increase complexity,” explains Preston.

The Best Overall Crowd Pleaser Champagne: Pommery Brut Royal

If you’re having a large celebration with a diverse range of guests, Pommery Brut Royal is a reasonably priced favorite that’s guaranteed to delight all and keep the festive ambiance flowing throughout the night. A well-loved classic champagne, the light golden bubbly has mild notes of citrus and a creamy finish.

The Best Boutique Champagne Brand: AR Lenoble Extra Brut

If you would like to serve a more unique and lesser-known brand, Preston recommends AR Lenoble Extra Brut, now more widely available on the export market. “This is the fruit of a truly family-owned-and-operated champagne house,” he says. “It’s also excellent value for money and extremely balanced and pleasurable to drink, from the beginning to the end of an evening.”

The Best Rosé: Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé

Add a little color to your New Year’s Eve celebration with some beautiful rosé from Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé. Preston’s favorite rosé champagne, this label comes from a lesser-known major champagne house, yet is still widely available. “The pink hue comes from a small percentage of still red Pinot Noir that is added to the blend, adding luscious berry aromas and flavors,” details Preston.

The Best Chamapagne for a Glamorous Choice: William Deutz Meurtet Parcelle d’Ay 2015

If you’re looking to impress stylish guests, then splurge on William Deutz Meurtet Parcelle d’Ay 2015— a classy champagne in a sleek bottle, cut like a diamond and a favorite of ours. The sublime, light-colored bubbly maintains the perfect balance between powerful and refinement.

As indicated above, most of these champagnes are available outside France. However, if you are in Paris, you should be able to find them at your local cave à vin. You could also make a trip to Dilettante, a champagne-focused wine shop found in the 6^th arrondissement.