/ck/ - Food & Cooking

>>11213620
>planning a new years party in September

Incidentally, I too am interested in a suggestion for champagne

pour sparkling water in jug wine, trust me

if you don't need an official Champagne, then consider a good Cremant. Same method, different regions. Usually half the price. Hubert Clavelin makes a great Cremant du Jura from Chardonnay grapes, you can find for 25-30 bucks.

>>11213636
Halloween! Bam! Christmas! Bam! New Year's Eve! Bam! It goes by so quickly and then finally, death comes.. Bam!

champagne is awful

>>11213620
Save up for 2.5 months and buy like 4 or 5 bottles in the middle/cheaper range for a couple hundred bucks if you're having friends over

>>11213682
Hmmm.. Thanks. will browse these later online and feel soignee while doing so

>>11213699
It is one bottle for me and my love (who hates champagne) to drink while eating 2 lbs. of shrimp cocktail + tapenade on water crackers.

>>11213703
I'm quoting Pennsylvania prices at you too since that's what I'm used to. Cut those in half if you're not in a state that taxes alcohol to hell in back before making you buy it from a government subsidized monopoly.

>>11213620
>>11213636
Get Prosecco. This brand is pretty common, it's nothing too astounding but it's not bad and is very easy to find and inexpensive to buy. Other inexpensive Proseccos will usually be more enjoyable than cheap champagnes, too.

Champagne refers to sparkling wine made according to the champagne process in the Champagne region of north-east France. You're unlikely to find many bottles of true champagne for $20. However, there are many other types of sparkling wine that you can enjoy while spending under $20/bottle. Cava and prosecco are good starting points.

>>11213756
Thanks, mate! Cheers!

>>11213794
>>11213800
What does prosecco taste like? Is it made from grapes? Is it like grappa

>>11213813
assume you mean that I should mix this with peppermint schnapps.

>>11213820
It's sparkling white wine made mostly from glera grapes, but can also be made from the varieties used to make champagne (Pino Noir and Chardonnay specifically). Think of it as the Italian equivalent of champagne, it's usually a little sweeter than champagne though and maybe a little less acidic.

>>11213854
Most cheap sparkling wines are going to be sweet, since adding sugar makes it easier to mask off-tastes.

>>11213875
I agree, but if we're going the poorfag route like OP wants Prosecco is more reliable than getting cheap Champagne.

>>11213854
Thank-you. If I like pinot noir should i try that type of prosecco or glera prosecco.

>>11213794
I'll probably just look for thus one.

>>11213682
Read the flavor profile and it sounds like a good wine to have with seafood.

>>11213894
I'm not enough of a wine snob to really notice, just get something with a rating above 85% at a beer and wine store or go with my cheap recommendation.
>>11213794
If you don't like the first one you get, try a different brand the next time but at least you won't be breaking the bank.

>>11213620

I'd unironically recommend checking Aldi. No idea, if they sell it in the US but the one they sold in Germany was actually pretty decent for the price.

>>11213920
I may just start chugging this every day, it sounds great. With a little pastry and sliced ham at lunch.

>>11213921

that's for real Champagne btw, their sparkling wine isn't bad either but nothing special

>>11213934
I will repair to a nearby Aldis immediately.

>>11213934
US Aldi does get European imports for their wine, but I think Champagne will be very seasonal here.

freixenet is fantastic for $12

>>11213794
This or cava. Champagne isn't really worth it if you have budget. I would argue that many proseccos and cavas are way superior to champagnes. They're just all sparkling wines, but champagne comes from Champagne in France. It's all name and that's why it's expensive. Same with cognac, it's just brandy from certain area.
Just make sure to get a dry one, one with less than 5g/l leftover sugar.

>>11213620
>>11213713
Then the best is not 'champaigne' but a sparkling wine, see
>>11214497
>>11213794

Champagne is just a brand for what is essentially sparkling white wine

I don't think it's physically possible to get champagne under $20, at least not in the US
>>11213682
This is pretty good advice. Or cremant d'alsace
>>11213694
your mouth is broken
>>11213794
>charmat garbage
Yuck
>>11214505
WIDF please go

>>11214497
i don't think i've ever seen an ingredient list on any bottle of alcohol

>>11213620
>champagne
It's a bitch drink. Have a whiskey.

>>11214584
Anyone saying "it's all just a lizard hoax, all food is the same" is a moron, same as people telling you only dry wines are good

That having been said, you do occasionally get winemakers putting all kinds of fun details on their bottles these days, as consumers have gotten more savvy to the kinds of nonsense that goes on, mostly in new world regions where the rules are "there are no rules". Bonny Doon was one of the first pioneers in this area, recognizing that california wines are scorned by people who care, because too much crap goes in, too much ruined wine.

We're never going to see champagne producers doing this because first of all, it's not traditional, but more importantly, because they already came up with a solution generations ago, and that's the classifications (brut, doux, etc). That's adequate unless you're one of those PICKLE RICK I LOVE SCIENCE neckbeards.

Unfortunately WIDF has taught today's zoomer youths that classifications are a chinese hoax to make us feel uncultured, so it's important to reinvent the wheel, I guess.

>>11214580
I see the french have awoken.

>>11214607
>here in the US
>french
Are you that WIDF who thinks that anyone who cares about food must be a scary foreigner who hates America?

>>11214614
The alternative is someone who woke up on the east coast and immediately decided to post to /ck/, so yes that is of great concern.

>>11214619
Well, ok. I woke up at 6:15. I already had coffee (aeropress of gasoline alley house blend by intelligentsia), and now I'm having a sheep's milk yogurt (plain, unsweetened of course) and thinking about whether to book a hair appointment at the place near work over lunch break, or just do it after work and go to the good hair place. Sometimes the only good guy at the spot near work double books and then I have to either cancel, or go with the shit-for-brains who only knows how to do "hitler youth" circa 2008, or the "undercut". And usually follows it up with an entire can of hair product to cover up his shoddy barbering.

Is there anything else you're concerned about? I can take a photo of my next bowel movement and post it in this thread, if that would alleviate your anxiety.

>>11213620
>I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to wines

Buy something you do like instead

>>11214584
What? If you're talking about the leftover sugar, at least the chain that sells alcohol clearly marks the amounts of trace sugars, allergens and such. They also have recommendations what which wine goes well with.

>>11213620
Get a prosecco. It's an italian effervescent that's pretty much the same as champagne.

>>11213620
>under $20
lol no.
actual Champagne, G.H. Mumm NV is best bang for buck, Veuve Clicquot is by far the worst of the brands that people are prepared to spend good coin on, horrific acidic shite. Not sure there you live by local Australian trash is often better, Jansz being pleasant enough

>>11214701
it is in no way similar, you are underage

>>11214591
>not enjoying all types of liquor except for wine and malt coolers
Pleb

>>11213620
get a handle of vodka for 14.99 and put it through a soda stream

>>11213620

COMMENT 1:

Anon, using reddit spacing here for better presentation of the points, though I'm not a redditor. Also would go through, a little bit, the history of Champagne. Wrote much of it earlier for a friend of mine.

>20 USD might be a bit low for a decent champagne, as you know, people's hunger for Champagne nowadays put its price to a high point.

>As others have said, you may want to look for Crémant (French sparkling wine from regions other than Champagne), Prosecco (Italian) and Cava (Spanish).

https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-12-21/bubbly-secret-burgundy-wine-rivals-its-fancier-cousin-champagne

>The myth (and yes it's not true) that a monk named Dom Pérignon invented Champagne was peddled by Champagne associations during the Belle Époque period of France. (from late 1800 to before the World War I). And the expensive Dom Pérignon champagne? That is just a fairly recent creation, with virtually no connection to Dom Pérignon, the monk.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dom_P%C3%A9rignon_(monk)#Misconceptions%20with%20myths

>Champagne is just sparkling wine, only produced in the Champagne region of France, and it's a recent creation if you compare it with the venerable Bourgogne (Burgundy) wines. Champagne region wine growers actually produced still white and red wines before 1800s. And it was just the long war with Bourgogne wines for market dominance which motivated Champagne producers to join forces and declare that only the sparkling wine produced by their region would be called "Champagne".

http://gargantuanwine.com/2016/02/burgundy-vs-champagne-highlights-from-an-18th-century-flame-war/

>By the way, the majority of Champagnes are a blend of different grapes (generally white Chardonnay and black Pinot Noir or Pinor Meunier) of different harvest periods. Thus, Champagnes are actually sparkling wines made to a specification, unlike the great Pinot Noir vintage wines of Burgundy.

https://winefolly.com/review/how-to-choose-champagne/

>>11213620

COMMENT 2:

>There are two "pure" Champagne styles:

Blanc de Blancs means White from White: Only white Chardonnay grapes are used. These Champagnes are light golden in color.

Blanc de Noirs means White from Black: Only black Pinor Noir or black Pinot Meunier grapes are used. But the Champagnes are golden in color as the grapes are pressed lightly and the "grape must" is removed quickly.

>About 200 years ago, Madame Clicquot Ponsardin (the widow boss of Veuve Clicquot Champagne house) invented the REMUAGE technique (the gradual rotation of "Champagne Lees" during fermentation) and gave birth to Champagne as we know it. Then a few decades later the Perrier-Jouët couple introduced BRUT champagne (from the word Brutal). Champagnes were too sweet before their invention. This couple also introduced the idea of "Vintage" in Champagne making.

http://www.cinellicolombini.it/blog-en/forum/perrier-jouet-those-who-transform-brutal-into-brut

>In 1905 a man named Eugène Aimé Salon bought a small parcel of East Facing plot of Chardonnay vines in the village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Marne department of the Champagne region. He was determined to produce champagne from a SINGLE grape variety: the white Chardonnay, from a SINGLE year's harvest, and from a SINGLE area/ range of East Facing plots (to get the maximum sunlight) of Chardonnay vines.

>His sheer lunacy was laughed at by other Champagne growers, as Champagne made from only Chardonnay grapes would be too acidic. But he didn't care. After all, he was going to produce his particular type of Champagne all for his consumption!

>He created his first vintage of Champagne in 1905.

>And that was the FIRST BLANC DE BLANCS vintage Champagne in the world.

>After keeping the treasure all for himself for several vintages, at the encouragement of his family and friends, he started marketing the 1921 vintage.

>>11213620

COMMENT 3:

>This changed the style of Champagne forever. Blanc de Blancs are the most sought-after Champagnes by connoisseurs.

http://www.rjonwine.com/champagne/salon/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne_Salon

https://www.glassofbubbly.com/blanc-de-blancs-the-best-champagne-style/

>Vineyards of that village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger got mythical status among Connoisseurs. Apart from his principal Chardonnay plot, Monsieur Salon had 20 Chardonnay plots owned by himself or contracted to him. Among them, one of the plots was sold by its owners to the luxury Champagne maker KRUG. KRUG now markets its own Le Mesnil Vintage named "Clos du Mesnil" and sticks a hefty price-tag of over 750 USD a bottle.

https://www.winemag.com/2017/12/01/le-mesnil-blanc-de-blancs-champagne/

>>11213620

COMMENT 4:

>As SALON has only one Champagne (unlike everybody else), and that is a vintage, which means it is only produced during the best years; which means, they can not make SALON Champagnes every year. In fact During the 20th century, only 37 vintages were produced. And during the last two decades, only 4 vintages were released, and one is maturing in the cellar. SALON champagnes are released after at least 10 years of maturing in the cellar.

https://www.salondelamotte.com/index.php?page=salon

>Then where do the SALON grapes go during a non-vintage year? Some of those grapes are sold to other Champagne houses. As SALON has the most exclusive plots in Champagne region, even during a non-vintage year, SALON's grapes are better than almost everyone.

>But there's a catch: a Champagne house named DELAMOTTE, which is owned by SALON, gets the first right to take in the grapes during a non-vintage year. The rest are then bought by other Champagne houses. DELAMOTTE was founded more than 250 years ago by the way.

https://www.salondelamotte.com/index.php?page=delamotte

>Although SALON sells for at least 350+ USD a bottle, DELAMOTTE can be had at or around 30 USD.

i like that cheap 6 dollar stuff. so tart.

>>11213620

COMMENT 5:

>Despite the price difference due to SALON's exclusivity, the difference between SALON and DELAMOTTE is often rather minor, as these two are the brands of the same company and use grapes from the same vineyards.

>As both SALON and DELAMOTTE BLANC DE BLANCS are both made from 100% Chardonnay, they would likely be a bit acidic and refreshing. Apart from Blanc de Blancs, DELAMOTTE produces other types of Champagnes also. But the DELAMOTTE Blanc de Blancs are supposedly the best as the grapes are from the SALON vineyards.

>You can consult Le Figaro's (France's oldest and largest newspaper-of-record) excellent wine database. Besides DELAMOTTE, there are some decent Champagnes from top Champagne houses which would fit your budget. I've already selected the type Champagne and 15-30 Euros range for you:

http://avis-vin.lefigaro.fr/vins-champagne/champagne/champagne/d11478-salon-delamotte/v31191-delamotte-blanc-de-blancs/vin-blanc

http://avis-vin.lefigaro.fr/vins-champagne/explorer-les-vins/prix/2/regions/champagne#prix_min_desc

>If you pick DELAMOTTE BLANC DE BLANCS, then please note that there are also two types: Vintage (a single year) or non-Vintage (blend of different years of harvest). IF YOU PICK VINTAGE, THEN PLEASE PICK AN OLDER ONE, ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD, AS THE YOUNGER VINTAGES COULD BE MUCH ACIDIC. Or you can pick non-vintages to stay on the safe side. Also note that there are "Half Bottles" and "Full Bottles". Do not forget to search on wine price comparison websites and also at different brick-and-mortar wine stores to get the best deal:

https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/delamotte+brut+champagne+france/1/-/-/u

>Happy bubbles, monsieur!

>>11213620
Legitimate champagne won't go for $20 a bottle. You could probably sneak in some decent sparking wine for under that and your friends won't notice

>buy empty high class champagne bottle
>refill it with sparkling wine each time
it will probably cost more than 20usd but in the long run you'll profit

>>11213620

>Sorry, the previous link of Wine Searcher was for DELAMOTTE Brut. This is the one for the Blanc de Blanc ones:

https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/delamotte+blanc+de+brut+champagne+france/1/-/-/u

>There are 4 Delamotte versions: BRUT, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Blancs Millésimé (Vintage), Rosé.

>Among them Blanc de Blancs Millésimé (Vintage) and Blanc de Blancs might be the preferred ones. BRUT one might also be okay, but stay a bit clear of Rosé, as SALON-DELAMOTTE are not known for Rosé Champagnes.

>>11216167
You'd lose carbonation. Tricking wine/champagne drinkers is easy, but not that easy.

>>11213620
surprised this wasnt suggested yet: Asti spumante champagne

>>11213620
>it's september...

6 bucks a bottle and actually good when icy cold.

>>11213620
Here you go op. They sell for like $9 at any Total Wine if you have those, and a case is like a hundred. The wine-class guy at the local store highly recommended it and though its a cava, its at least as good as korbel but a good bit cheaper

>>11213894
Prosecco by law has to be majority Glera. And most of the time they won't even list the other grapes they used for blending. There's one brand called Zonin that made a "black edition" where they blended the Glera with Pinot Noir, it's slightly more full in flavor and body vs other ones.

If you want a bubbly made from Pinot Noir, look for ones labeled 'blanc de noirs'. Gruet makes one that's not half bad.

>>11216284
>Asti spumante
>champagne
Is that like Belgioso Wisconsin DOCG Parmigiano Reggiano?