Champagne vs Sparkling Wine - How are they Different?

Sparkling wine and champagne are often terms used interchangeably, however wine drinkers who fancy a good glass of bubbles will know that these two aren’t the same. 

While all Champagnes are sparkling wines, not all sparkling wines are Champagnes. Let's look at the major differences between Champagne and sparkling wine.

The main difference between Champagne and any other sparkling wine is the region in which it is produced. A producer can only label their sparkling wine as “Champagne” if it is produced in the Champagne region of France.

Sparkling wine can be produced in any part of the world. For example, Prosecco hails from the Veneto region of Northern Italy, while Cava, a Spanish sparkling wine, hails from the Penedès area in Spain.

There are three main grape varieties used to make Champagne:

 - Pinot Noir grapes
 - Meunier grapes
 - Chardonnay grapes

Other approved grape varieties include Pinot Blanc, Arbane, Petit Meslier, and Pinot Gris. These are however rarely used.

As for sparkling wine, it can be produced as a varietal wine or as a blend of various local or international grape varieties. Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) is produced using the Glera grape variety. Sekt (German sparkling wine) is a blend of Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir grapes. 

The Champagne wine is produced from Méthode Champenoise, known as Méthode Traditionnelle outside the Champagne region. Some other sparkling wines are produced using this method. 

The Méthode Traditionnelle entails:

1. Harvesting
2. First fermentation
3. Second fermentation
4. Aging on lees
5. Riddling
6. Disgorging
7. Dosage

For Champagne, the second fermentation and the aging on lees both take at least 15 months for non-vintage and 3 years for vintage.

As Champagne ages, it develops a more complex nutty or toasty flavor. A finer vintage Champagne can have aromas like toast, brioche or biscuit.

Champagne can also range from dry (brut) to sweet (doux) depending on the sugar dosage. The ones with more residual sugar are sweeter and fruitier. The longer aging process for Champagne’s gives it a more refined and elegant texture.

Sparkling wines are more fresh and fruity, and their bubble consistency varies from coarse to fine. Prosecco, for example, has more dominant flavours of apple, honeysuckle, peach, melon, and pear. In contrast, Cava has dominant citrus and orchard fruit aromas: quince, yellow apple, lime, and Meyer lemon. 

Champagne is made with the traditional method, which is quite labour-intensive. The traditional method involves a primary fermentation for base wine, followed by a second fermentation inside the bottle. It’s no wonder why it’s produced in limited quantities as compared to other sparkling wines. A non-vintage Champagne can cost around $60, while a vintage one can cost up to $4,000 (Krug - Clos D'Ambonnay Blanc des Noirs 2000). 

However, a good bottle of sparkling wine like Prosecco can range from $5 to $40.

If your recipient appreciates the finer things in life, they'll adore our Veuve & Nibbles Corporate Gift Hamper. The Pinot Noir in this champagne provides the core structure of Clicquot, while a touch of Meunier rounds out the blend and Chardonnay adds the elegance and finesse essential to a perfectly balanced wine. 

You could select from our range of gift baskets showcasing Australia’s most loved sparkling wine. The non-vintage sparkling wine by Chandon brings life to any occasion. The vibrant, sparkling freshness of this Australian gem is perfect for sharing and celebrating. 

You'll also find hampers with Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne, world renowned for their perfect balance of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. as well as their luscious Rosé Champagne. 

Our sparkling wine and champagne hampers offer the perfect wine and food pairing for a sweet or savoury tooth. Sip a glass of vibrant bubbles while enjoying the delights of dukkah seasoned mixed nuts, fine locally produced olives, delicious artisan crackers and pastes. 

Our luxury sparkling wine gift baskets have plenty of treats to satisfy any palate and are perfect for office birthday parties and other celebrations. Aside from birthdays, champagne and wine hampers also make impressive corporate gifts. For the savoury lover, our Australian sparkling wine gift hampers include gourmet artisan crackers and delicous, gourmet olives and tapenades, nuts and fruit pastes, an excellent combination! 

For the lover of designer luxury, we have a range of Georg Jensen sparkling wines. These premium wines are locally produced and come with an elegantly crafted bottle stopper, enabling the Sparkling Wine to be resealed, refrigerated and savoured for up to two days. Being reusable, this bottle stopper is the perfect addition to every sparkling wine lover’s home. 

For a foodie who loves whipping up some gourmet food, our Bill Granger Australian Food and Veuve includes the hotly anticipated new book from Bill Granger celebrating today's bright picture of Australian food. They will be planning the next dinner party whilst sipping on one of Champagnes finest.

Moet & Chandon is a special luxury and wine drinkers around the world recognise it as an elegant symbol of indulgence. We’ve included it in a number of our pamper hampers and new baby celebratory hampers. 

Sparkling wine and champagne gifts are classic and traditional gift baskets. They make the perfect gift for any type of celebration, gathering with friends, family, or even business clients. Our gift boxes contain award-winning Australian sparkling wines, French champagnes and award-winning locally produced artisan nibbles. We have celebration gift hampers that are sized just right for smaller, more intimate occasions, as well as larger parties. 

Champagne Christmas hampers are always our most popular, it speaks for itself when it comes to wishing family, friends and business clients a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

Our Christmas wine hampers make wonderful Christmas gifts whether you are celebrating with your recipient or from afar. Your loved ones will feel truly appreciated with one of our hampers under their Christmas tree.

It has been said you can’t go wrong with champagne. It is renowned around the world as a luxury celebratory gift or as something special to mark a milestone or achievement. It is also one of the best additions to an at home pamper day!

Whether it’s an affordable bottle of bubbles like Chandon NV Sparkling Wine or you are wanting to go all out with a bottle of Dom Perignon, champagne and sparkling wines always make a great impression!

If you’re looking for some champagne or sparkling wine gift ideas, look no further. At Pamper Hamper Gifts we have a selection of top shelf champagne and sparkling gift baskets and hampers guaranteed to bring joy. 

We specialise in curating luxurious hampers for all occasions.   Our French champagne and Australian sparkling wines are the centre piece of our range. We take champagne gifting to the next level by offering gifts that include elegant Waterford Crystal Champagne flutes or pairing the wine with some delicious award-winning chocolates.   

All of our hampers are beautifully and stylishly presented in our signature Pamper Hamper Gifts gift boxes with grosgrain ribbon, delicate tissue, and personalised gift message printed on a beautiful greeting card. We deliver luxury gift hampers Australia wide.

Our range of champagne gifts and hampers features some of France's finest labels - Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon, Bollinger and Piper-Heidsieck. So if you're looking for a hamper for a special event, you should give only the best. Our hampers not only contain champagnes from the world's most famous champagne houses, but also the best sparkling wines from Australia's finest wineries like Domaine Chandon. So if your recipient deserves the finest bottle of wine or Champagne, you'll find the perfect hamper for every occasion at Pamper Hamper Gifts.