Do you know anything about champagne?

So this weekend I wanted to pick up some champagne for celebrating  (and I was all out of champagne at home that we had been given over the years).
I know that the champagne that I've liked most over the years was a champagne from Germany.  It was almost like sparkling apple cider without the apple.  But when I go to the liquor store, or even the grocery store, nearly all the champagnes are "California Champagne."  I gathered from the clerk at the liquor store that Brut's are the driest of the bunch, while Asti's are the sweetest.

Help me understand more about champagne - and where the hell does one get some decent champagne anyway?

I know you can remove the cork with a knife.

Champagne is pretty good. 

I know that you're only allowed to call it champagne if it's from the Champagne region in France.

It's time to kick ass and drink champagne

and I'm all outta champagne

I think you are mixing up Champagne and sparkling wine.  Was the German one sweet?  They do a sparkling Hock which sounds similar to what you describe.

distant cousins of  mine own a vineyard and i'm from the champagne region so maybe I can help you ;)

Hmm.  Looks like @Paulus: is partially right and so is @alternate:.   Apparently champagne is a sparkling wine, it just comes from the Champagne area of France.  Asti is the Italian version of champagne.  Sekt is the German version of champagne.  Though that doesn't explain why there's such a thing as "California Champagne."  I'm also not sure where to get most of these other kinds of champagne.  Also still doesn't really explain the varying tastes.  I understand there's a dry to sweet scale.  But dry isn't normally a word I'd use to describe a taste.  Is it bitter?

I know nothing about alcohol. This thread might be educational.

The only thing I know about champagne is that there is no sex in the champagne room. That is all.

" @Contro: Admittedly, I am. I've only had champagne a handful of times.  I don't like wines but I've come to like some champagnes.  I'm just trying to figure out how I know which I like. "

Drink Santana champ cos its so crisp.

" @melcene said:

" @Contro: Admittedly, I am. I've only had champagne a handful of times.  I don't like wines but I've come to like some champagnes.  I'm just trying to figure out how I know which I like. "

I don't really like Champers that much tbh, but it is a celebratory drink which gets you drunk fast, I much prefer Italian & French wines you can drink with food. The only German wines I like are Reislings, those are great to drink in the summer, especially with fresh fruit inside your glass. The same goes with Champagne, you should try sticking Strawberries in your glass next time.

Try and buy a moderately priced bottle of the real deal (I have no idea how much that costs in the US), a Moet or a bottle of Bollinger. I would also suggest trying a Rose Champagne if your'e out on a date, but only then, unless your looking for sailors.

If there's a wine bar where you live, try glasses before buying bottles.

"

All I know is that it's just a drink.

After wine there's Champagne & Brandy, both being wine variants. That being as much as I know & you get more info from other ppl in this post, as I tend to rarely drink red wines like port they don't tend to go into the champagne over the white wines. I don't believe that the champagne compared to wine or brandy lasts all that long so if you do get some, be sure to get just what you need as you might end up tossing what's left over that doesn't get drunk where wine & brandy can be kept for later.

" @Contro said:

" @melcene said:

" @Contro: Admittedly, I am. I've only had champagne a handful of times.  I don't like wines but I've come to like some champagnes.  I'm just trying to figure out how I know which I like. "

I don't really like Champers that much tbh, but it is a celebratory drink which gets you drunk fast, I much prefer Italian & French wines you can drink with food. The only German wines I like are Reislings, those are great to drink in the summer, especially with fresh fruit inside your glass. The same goes with Champagne, you should try sticking Strawberries in your glass next time.

Try and buy a moderately priced bottle of the real deal (I have no idea how much that costs in the US), a Moet or a bottle of Bollinger. I would also suggest trying a Rose Champagne if your'e out on a date, but only then, unless your looking for sailors.

If there's a wine bar where you live, try glasses before buying bottles.

"

German Reislings are pretty awesome, I didn't like white wines until I tried one. My favourite so far is Dienhardt, have you ever tried that one? "

I know it gets the bitches, at least that's what rap "culture" has taught me.

I think it taste better than wine.  That is where my knowledge on it stops and starts.  I'm more of a beer and hard liquor guy.  Wine and Champagne are things I only drink if I'm with my female cousins and they bust some out.

Champagne is overrated junk.  For most people they wouldn't know the difference between it and £1 a litre white cider (Trampagne as I call it).  One of the worst champagnes I ever had was a Harrods own.  My girlfriend loves champagne but I'm not sure how much is occasion and how much is genuine love of the taste.  German wines are regarded quite badly because they tend to be a bit sweet.  It's off topic but for me red wines are where it's at.  I had a £30 bottle of Chateau Neuf for my birthday and it was amazing.  I drank it while playing co-op Gears of War and it was wow.  The wine was amazing, like somebody pushing warm pieces of dark chocolate into the corner of your mouth and then later a taste almost like lolly-sticks.  I drink wine a few times a week but really expensive ones can transcend the norm.  If you're buying in a restaurant then a £30 bottle won't be anywhere near as good as something you'd get from a supermarket.  If you're just doing it to get drunk, though, I can find two bottles for a fiver that are very, very drinkable.  Merlot is always a good starting point because it's basically gluggable with a low tannin level.  You could move from that to shiraz.  Actually I'm apologising for saying that because it's assuming you'll be like my mother and a lot of other people who find their experiences of wine a bit overpowering and you might jump on the horse right away.  I genuinely apologise.

Aaaaanyway - back on course you can get Champagne that's not Champagne by name (yup, the region thing) that are as good or better for a fraction of the price.  Cava is getting really popular as well as any number of sparkling wines or perrys.  If you have to get real Champagne then go for Veuve Clicquot over Moet, most people who like say it's better.

Rambling and yes, a little drunk.

" @melcene said:

" @Contro: Admittedly, I am. I've only had champagne a handful of times.  I don't like wines but I've come to like some champagnes.  I'm just trying to figure out how I know which I like. "

I don't really like Champers that much tbh, but it is a celebratory drink which gets you drunk fast, I much prefer Italian & French wines you can drink with food. The only German wines I like are Reislings, those are great to drink in the summer, especially with fresh fruit inside your glass. The same goes with Champagne, you should try sticking Strawberries in your glass next time.

Try and buy a moderately priced bottle of the real deal (I have no idea how much that costs in the US), a Moet or a bottle of Bollinger. I would also suggest trying a Rose Champagne if your'e out on a date, but only then, unless your looking for sailors.

If there's a wine bar where you live, try glasses before buying bottles.

"

" @Contro said:

" @melcene said:

" @Contro: Admittedly, I am. I've only had champagne a handful of times.  I don't like wines but I've come to like some champagnes.  I'm just trying to figure out how I know which I like. "

I don't really like Champers that much tbh, but it is a celebratory drink which gets you drunk fast, I much prefer Italian & French wines you can drink with food. The only German wines I like are Reislings, those are great to drink in the summer, especially with fresh fruit inside your glass. The same goes with Champagne, you should try sticking Strawberries in your glass next time.

Try and buy a moderately priced bottle of the real deal (I have no idea how much that costs in the US), a Moet or a bottle of Bollinger. I would also suggest trying a Rose Champagne if your'e out on a date, but only then, unless your looking for sailors.

If there's a wine bar where you live, try glasses before buying bottles.

"

You are a blasphemer. Who could ever think of ruining a good champagne with strawberries?

Everything I know about champagne, I learned from The Continental. So naturally, a lot.

Tastes disgusting.

I appreciate the tips and advice.

I know that the champagne that I've liked most over the years was a champagne from Germany. "