Wine and Champagne

Bordeaux

The Bordeaux region of France is the largest fine wine-growing area in the world and produces everything from large quantities of everyday wine, to the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world. In 1855, a classification system, was produced which, ranked the wines into five categories according to price. The first growth red wines (four from Medoc and one, Château Haut-Brion, from Graves), are among the most expensive wines in the world. These wines are of such exceptional quality that even a wine novice can tell they are drinking something very special.

Champagne

Champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France. The five designated districts contain 34,000 hectares of vineyards and around 300 villages that are home to 5,000 growers who make their own wine and 14,000 growers who only sell grapes. Méthode Champenoise is the traditional method by which Champagne (and some sparkling wine) is produced. After primary fermentation and bottling, a second alcoholic fermentation occurs in the bottle. This second fermentation is induced by adding several grams of yeast and sugar.