Champagne and Cheese Pairing

Champagnes and the sparkling wines that are similarly produced include several styles:

• Brut
• Blanc de Blancs
• Blanc de Noirs
• Rosé
• Special Cuvée
• Demi-sec

Champagnes and similarly made sparkling wines are classified by their residual sugar:

Brut - the most popular on the market, has between 6 grams (.212 oz) and 15 grams (.528 oz) of sugar per liter.

Brut Nature - has less than 6 grams (.212 oz) of sugar per liter.

Demi-sec - has more than 15 grams (.528 oz) of sugar per liter (some sweeter types have as many as 30 grams (1.054 oz)).

Champagnes are also classified according to their grape components:

Blanc de Blancs - made from white grapes only (usually Chardonnay)

Blanc de Noirs - made from dark grapes (usually Pinot Noir, sometimes with Pinot Meunier added)

Champagne Rosé – one of the few French wine types that is authorized to mix red and white wine

Champagne Vintage – The best houses of champagne can give this title to their finest bottles.

Champagne Special Cuvée - these are usually produced from grapes that are harvested in terroir that is classified as either Grand Cru or Premier Cru and is then aged for a longer time on their lees.

With so many styles, terroirs and vintages that may be involved in the production of Champagnes and the sparkling wines, it would be difficult to list the all the possibilities. However, if you have a Blanc de Blancs, you can begin with the cheese selections that are paired with Chardonnay. This will help you find suitable matches for this type Champagne or sparkling wine. Or if you have a Blanc de Noirs, you might begin with the cheese selections that are paired with Pinot Noir. We aim to make the pairing of cheese with Champagnes and other wines easy for you. Use the drop down menu to select the type wine you plan on serving and we will recommend matching cheeses.