When it comes to gifting wine, few regions or styles can live up to Champagne.
More than a millennia before the esteemed French region gave birth to bubbles in the 17th century, the wines of Champagne were served to honor the coronation of kings. To this day, all across the world, these famous bottles are still opened or gifted to usher in important life events, from births and birthdays to weddings, anniversaries and more.
“Everything about Champagne says celebration, which can be big or small—even just an everyday celebration for getting through the day,” says Wine Enthusiast Tasting Director and resident Champagne sage Anna-Christina Cabrales.
From carefully removing the muselet (cage) and slowly removing the cork, there’s a special suspense that starts building the moment these special bottles get pulled out of the fridge or ice bucket.
“There’s something a little dangerous and there are more things to pull and twist and rip off of that adds to that vibe,” says Cabrales. “That pressure one feels under your thumb when opening a bottle, it’s exciting—you don’t get that from still wine. That moment, in itself, like no one got hurt while opening it, it’s like, hey, let’s celebrate.”
Though Cabrales is a fan of celebrating “getting through the day” by popping a bottle of bubbles, we decided to task her with picking out the best Champagne to give for a wide range of special occasions. Whether you’re looking for a birthday gift, an engagement present of the best Champagne
This Article was originally published on Wine Enthusiast
