Is Champagne a Good Christmas Gift (+ Best Recommendations!)

Champagne might be a good option if you’re looking for a gift to give someone on holiday. Champagne is traditionally given as a holiday gift and is often passed out at weddings, New Year’s Eve parties, and other celebrations.

The only option when this is not the best gift is if the person does not drink at all, or perhaps prefers strong drinks. Next, we will briefly talk about how to choose it and whether is champagne a good gift.

What is Champagne

Champagne is a type of sparkling white wine made from grapes. Its name comes from the French word “Champagne,” which refers to the Champagne region in France. The area is known for its “méthode champenoise,” – a traditional way of making sparkling wine.

The grapes are fermented after harvest and bottled with added sugar and yeast. During this second fermentation process (also called “bottle fermentation”), carbon dioxide forms bubbles that give champagne its characteristic “pop” when opened.

You can read more about champagne and its types in the article on the best champagnes.

Not every sparkling wine is champagne.

When is it appropriate to give Сhampagne as a gift?

Champagne is given on special occasions or parties such as New Year’s, birthday or graduations, and the like. It is given because it is associated with holidays, especially when toasting. Champagne is also drunk during the presentation of awards and for the success of military or sports teams. In some countries, champagne is used as a celebratory drink for other special occasions, such as when a business deal is completed.

Is Champagne a Good Housewarming Gift?

Yes, champagne is a good housewarming gift. It is a celebratory and luxurious gift that can add a touch of elegance to the new home. Champagne is often given as a gift for special occasions, such as a wedding or New Year’s Eve, and a housewarming is a special occasion worthy of celebration.

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Is Champagne a Good Valentine’s Day Gift?

Champagne is a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day because it adds a touch of sophistication and indulgence to the romantic occasion. Its sparkling bubbles and luxurious taste make it a symbol of celebration and joy, perfectly fitting for a day dedicated to love.

Additionally, sharing a bottle of champagne with your loved one can create a memorable and intimate moment, strengthening your bond and deepening your connection.

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Is Champagne a Good Graduation Gift

Yes, Champagne is a good gift for graduation, even more, it is an integral part of it. Champagne is often served at graduation ceremonies as a celebratory drink.

Graduation is a significant achievement, and champagne is a traditional way to mark the occasion with a toast to the graduate’s success. It is also a way for people to celebrate and congratulate one another on reaching this milestone.

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How to Choose the Right Champagne for Christmas Gift

Before proceeding to the choice of champagne for a gift, take a look at the basic classification of champagne.

The most common grapes are:

• Chardonnay – white;
• Pinot Noir – dark;
• Pinot Meunier – dark.

The sugar content can also classify champagne in its composition (grams per liter):

• Brut Nature – contains almost no sweetener in its composition. Only 0-3 g/l.
• Extra Brut – up to 6 g/l;
• Brut (dry) – less than 12 g/l;
• Extra-Sec (extra dry) – from 12 to 20 g/l;
• Sec (dry) – from 17 to 35 g/l;
• Demi-sec (semi-sweet) – from 33 to 50 g/l;
• Doux (sweet) – more than 50 g/l.

The most popular type of champagne in the world is brut. Firstly, the low sugar content allows you to fully feel the wine bouquet in the drink’s taste. Secondly, brut is rarely faked, because it is a pleasure that allows you to hide the flaws in taste that appear due to unnatural components or violations of technology.

In addition, there are other factors to pay attention to:

Bottle. It should be made of dark glass (green, brown, etc.), as a light bottle transmits light, which can spoil the drink’s taste.

The cork should be cork, not plastic. The fact is that the latter allows air to pass through and can make champagne sour.

Foam and bubbles are needed to check the quality. If the champagne is good, the foam should occupy all the free space under the cork after you shake the bottle a little. But the bubbles should be of the same size and evenly distributed throughout the champagne.

What else should you pay attention to when choosing champagne as a gift for Christmas?

Grape Variety

There are good sparkling wines made from one grape, but it is the combination of several varieties that gives the most interesting taste. Elite drinks can have up to seven varieties.

White wine from white grapes usually has pronounced fruity, primarily citrus and mineral notes in the taste. White wine from black varieties is denser. Pink champagne is distinguished by a berry hue in the bouquet.

Wines containing a large proportion of Pinot Noir are characterized by the hardness and aroma of red fruits. Chardonnay in the composition gives champagne freshness, a long aftertaste, and a floral aroma. Pinot Meunier makes the wine soft with a fruity aftertaste.

Vintage

The vintage year may not be indicated on the bottle of champagne. This means that the raw materials were collected in different years. The most exquisite wines are vintage or mille-feuille, made from the harvest of one year. Usually, they are aged for at least 3 years. Prestigious cuvée is aged from 6-7 years, ordinary specimens – 1.5 years.

Appetizer

It is worth starting to choose champagne, having already made an idea of the dishes that will be served to the table. Any alcohol should correspond to the snack.

Dry champagne is suitable as an aperitif to exquisite seafood – oysters, crabs, and white fish in sauce. As an appetizer for dry, semi-dry, extra-semi-dry wine you can serve game, poultry, cheese of non-spicy varieties, and fruits. This champagne can be combined with desserts and sweet fruits.

Brut is recommended to be matched with veal, shrimp, red caviar, poultry, lean fish, and pates. This wine is usually drunk with light snacks before main courses. It can be low-calorie salads, seafood, and cheeses. Brut perfectly emphasizes the taste of Parmesan and mozzarella.

Sweet champagne is combined with desserts and fruits, including sour ones. The sweetest wine should be drunk with ice cream. You can offer semi-sweet fish in sweet sauces, fat duck, or goose.

Best Champagne for Christmas Gift

Laurent-Perrier Brut Cuvée Champagne Rosé N.V. – Best Champagne Under $100

If you’re looking for the perfect holiday gift with a price tag that won’t leave your wallet bare, look no further than Laurent-Perrier Brut Cuvée Champagne. This simple sparkling wine is a great alternative to more expensive bottles and makes an excellent gift at any time of the year.

The nose begins with red fruit such as strawberry and raspberry followed by more subdued citrus peel notes on the finish. It smells light, with hints of brioche and some vanilla flavors which seem to come out as it warms up in the glass.

Moët & Chandon Limited Edition Impérial Rosé Champagne – Best Decorated Bottle for Christmas

Yes! This Champagne is delicious. The Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial “End of Year” Limited Edition Rose Champagne, from Moet & Chandon, would be a great choice for a gift for any occasion. It has 12% alcohol content and is a good value for money.

The wine has a lot of Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes, 40-50%, 30-40%, and 10-20% respectively. If you have been looking for a great Champagne, this is the one.

Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial Rosé is a perfect gift to give to someone on Christmas, or any other special day of the year. You can also serve this champagne at your own party at home.

Gardet Brut Reserve Champagne Premier Cru N.V. – Best Cheap Champagne

Gardet Brut Reserve Champagne is a delicious, rich-tasting, and well-balanced Champagne. It has a Shining honey-yellow color due to the rich Chardonnay grapes that are used in its production.

The Champagne has pastry and brioche notes, yellow fruits (apricot), a hint of caramel and spices. One positive factor of the wine is its price — similar wines usually cost 6 times as much. For this reason, Gardet Brut Reserve Champagne is great for any wine lover on the anniversary who doesn’t have the cash to spend on more expensive wines.

Dom Pérignon Brut Rosé Champagne

The Dom Pérignon Brut Rosé Champagne is a dry wine with an alcohol content of 12.5%. It’s made from Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes. This would be a perfect gift for your friends or someone special.

Dom Pérignon is one of the most prestigious champagne brands in the world and their wines are famous for not only their elegance but also the superior quality they offer. The Dom Pérignon Brut Rosé Champagne is no exception.

This particular bottle is made up of Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes which gives it its light pink color. This wine has concentrated, has a silky texture, and deep notes of spices, and minerals.

Dom Pérignon Brut Rosé Champagne is the perfect gift when you want to treat your loved ones to something special and elegant. This wine will improve many different types of cuisine and will be a great addition to any party. If you’re looking for an impressive gift for someone special, give them the Dom Pérignon Brut Rosé Champagne.

Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs Champagne – Champagne with Flowers on Bottle

Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs Champagne is a 12.5% ABV champagne from Perrier-Jouët winery in France. This champagne is a Blanc de Blancs variety which means that it is made using only white grapes, Chardonnay. This champagne has a light yellow color with hints of gold and green.

This champagne has aromas of white flowers: rose & white-fleshed fruit. This champagne has layers in its complex flavor and finish. This is not too sweet and is dry with very mild sweetness on the finish.

This champagne can be paired with a variety of foods such as noble seafood, cheeses, and even some Asian foods. This champagne can also be enjoyed simply on its own as an aperitif or drinking it as an accompaniment to a meal.

Dom Pérignon Brut Champagne

Dom Pérignon is one of the most famous champagne brands in the world. Created in France by 17th-century Benedictine monk Dom Pierre Pérignon, it was then gifted to French royalty and it has been enjoyed ever since.

Dom Pérignon Champagne is made from Chardonnay grapes, which gives a deliciously buttery and brioche notes, with great fruit acidity to cut through – well balanced with a very fine mousse. As for sweetness, this champagne sits on 8 g/L of sugar content – quite dry, but not as dry as many other champagnes.

Dom Pérignon Champagne is a good gift for any special day. It is a luxurious brand and the recipient will definitely remember you. 

Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne (Millésimé)

Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne can be a great gift as well as delicious champagne. It is made from chardonnay grapes and contains 12% alcohol. One bottle of Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Champagne will contain 8 grams of sugar and has a taste of vanilla, candied fruits, white flowers, and spicy notes.

This delicious champagne is best served chilled at 8-10 degrees Celsius, accompanied by fish(salmon, tuna, etc) and cheeses. It can also be used for Oysters, lobsters, Scallops, and Caviar.