Champagne is a very popular drink, and is enjoyed by many people. It is a strong alcoholic drink, and also a lifestyle.
It is considered to be a special occasion drink, and is usually served at parties, or when celebrating something special. A lot of people are choosing to down a glass or two of champagne on any holiday as a way to celebrate it on a good note.
Champagne is known for having such a unique taste, it can truly be called a delicacy. However, not everyone knows that some foods can pair perfectly with champagne.
Pairing food with champagne depends on the type and quality of the champagne. Champagne can be paired with sweet or savory foods and should be consumed alongside foods that complement its flavor and aromas.
Enjoying champagne with a selection of the following foods will help you get the most out of your champagne. Champagne is made from grapes and is best paired with those that can stand up to the fruitiness of the wine.
Enjoying champagne with a selection of the following foods will help you get the most out of your champagne.
Strawberries
Strawberries and champagne is a popular dessert that combines the sweetness of strawberries with the fizziness of champagne. It’s also best to add a spritz of orange juice to give the strawberries a sweet and sour flavor.
You can also enjoy champagne with strawberries topped with whipped cream or mixed with fresh cream and some sugar. Strawberries really go well with champagne, or you can make a strawberry champagne cocktail.
Other fresh fruits
Pairing fresh fruits with champagne will present a mixture of flavors that will brighten up your mouth. Fruits that goes well with Champagne are:
- Cranberries (to add flavor to the drink)
- Peach (for its rich flavors)
- Pear (for its crisp flavor)
- Apple (contributes a fruity flavor)
- Pear (contributes a fruity flavor)
- Blueberry (contributes a fruity flavor)
Cheese
Cheese plus champagne is a match made in heaven. The luxurious combination has been enjoyed since ancient times by kings and queens, and more recently has been embraced by our celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Nigella Lawson.
Champagne is a bubbly, effervescent, and lively drink, and it goes wonderfully with a cheese that’s light, creamy, and mild. The combination of rich flavors and textures has made cheese with champagne a favorite of almost everyone who have tasted it.
Salmon
Salmon and champagne are great together. Salmon is rich in omega-3s, which is great for your heart. The champagne is rich in antioxidants, which is great for your body.
Champagne is good when paired with savory dishes. This is why champagne and salmon taste good together.
Oyster
Oysters and champagne are a match made in heaven, together they create an explosive yet balanced taste sensation. Oysters pair well with champagne since the two are both salty and sweet.
Oysters (and their meat) are a bit of an acquired taste for the average person, but for those who like them, oysters are a wonderful snack to pair with champagne. Oysters are the perfect food to pair with champagne because they are both salty, and most champagne is sweeter than oysters.
Sausages
Sausages and champagne are a delicious pairing that go well together as part of a festive meal. Sausages and champagne are know to be paired when you are in a celebration mood.
You can also pair them with other foods like salad greens, baguette bread, and any other kinds of bread.
Caviar
Champagne pairs well with Caviar. Caviar is a fish roe; roe is the egg of a fish, usually small fish such as sardines, herring, and anchovies. Roes are usually salty, and the salty taste is why caviar is usually served with something like champagne.
Nuts
Nuts pair well with champagne. Since champagne is a sparkling wine, it goes well with a variety of snacks and finger foods.
Pistachios are commonly paired with champagne due to its buttery taste. You can also opt to pair champagne with nuts with a hint of sweetness such as walnuts.
The combination of sweet and salty makes for a great snack that can be eaten anytime and anywhere, and can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Desserts
Champagne is a sparkling wine and is often served with desserts. Therefore, to pair with your champagne, you can select from a wide variety of desserts.
The best desserts paired with champagne are:
- Brownies
- Lemon meringue pie
- Apple crisp
- Bavarian cream
- Carrot cake
- Chocolate cake and chocolate lava cakes
- Lemon pie
Cooking with champagne
Champagne adds a unique flavor to foods. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of ways in the kitchen.
It can be used in sweet and savory recipes. It is especially popular in dishes that combine with seafood.
The most notable dishes that use champagne in this manner are oysters, shrimps, and caviar. In addition to seafood, champagne may be used in a wide variety of dishes. This includes chicken and cheese dishes.
Here is a recipe of champagne grilled shrimp skewers that you can try and will definitely enjoy:
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup dry white wine
- 1/4 cup champagne
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Directions:
- Marinade shrimp in oil, wine, champagne, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl for at least 30 mins.
- Heat an outdoor grill to medium-high heat.
- Thread each shrimp onto a skewer.
- Grill for 5 to 7 minutes, turning once, or until the shrimp is opaque.
Where did champagne come from?
Champagne is a sparkling wine produced from grapes. It is produced in the region surrounding the city of Reims in France. The region is named for the city of Reims, where the most prestigious Champagnes are produced.
Champagne is one of the most expensive sparkling wines in the world, produced by grapes grown in the Champagne region and in some of the most productive vineyards of France.
The grapes are harvested in October and November, and then undergo a fermentation process. After the fermentation process, the wine is “unstuck” from the bottle (this is called fine-tuning) and then a second fermentation takes place. This results in a sparkling wine.
The second fermentation also takes place in the bottle, and is the reason why champagne is so light, and why it doesn’t foam up like other sparkling wines.
Originally, champagne was invented as a way to preserve wine during warm months. However, it quickly became a celebration beverage for many occasions.
What are the health benefits of champagne?
There are a surprising number of health benefits associated with champagne, but the ones that are most commonly touted are the ones that you won’t find in the nutritional information on the bottle: the bubbles. They have been shown to help prevent a number of diseases.
The benefits of champagne has also the same health benefits as red wine. Champagne contains flavonoids, which are good for the heart and can also help you fight heart disease.
Studies have found that consuming champagne is associated with the following benefits:
- Increased longevity by reducing the risk of heart disease
- Reduce blood pressure
- Normalize cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- Promote blood circulation
- Improved brain function
- Reducing the risk of certain cancers
- It may also reduce your risk of heart attack by improving blood flow
What are the different types of champagne?
There are many different types of champagne. Some have a sweeter taste, while others are drier and crisper. Some are more elegant, while others are more full bodied.
Champagne is one of the most popular wines in the world, and there are plenty of different types to choose from. With that being said, certain champagne varieties are very popular, and some are quite exotic.
There are two main types of Champagne and a few other types that are derived from the Champagne method.
The two main types of Champagne are:
- Brut- this does not contain a sweetener.
- Extra Brut- this contains even less sugar than Brut.
Types of Champagne derived from the Champagne method include:
- Blanc de Blancs– this is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes.
- Blanc de Noirs- this is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes.
- Cuvée- this is made from a blend.
- Méthode Traditionnelle- this is made from a blend and usually contains a higher percentage of Chardonnay.
What can you not pair with champagne?
There are certain things you can’t pair with champagne. They may taste great, but they never work.
To start with, you can’t pair champagne with food that’s too spicy, like habanero peppers, or anything too sharp or acidic, like strong white vinegar. You can’t pair champagne with coffee, since both coffee and champagne are acidic.
You can’t pair champagne with milk, since both are acidic (this is why milk and champagne go so well in a martini). You can’t pair champagne with alcohol, since they’re both acidic.
You can’t pair champagne with certain fruits and vegetables, like onions, because both are very strong in a way that still doesn’t mesh with champagne.
