Moet & Chandon Champagne Cuvee Dom Perignon Luminous 2003 750ml

Winery: Moet & Chandon

Varietal: Champagne Blend

Whilst Champagne sparkling wines are most commonly made with a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grape varietals, there are actually seven fine grape varietals allowed by French wine law for inclusion in the wines of this region. These include Arbanne, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and and Petit Meslier alongside the others, although these four are being used less and less in the modern age. Champagnes are normally blended wines, although the popularity of single variety 'blanc de blanc' Champagnes made solely with Chardonnay grapes, and 'blanc de noir' wines made only with Pinot Noir varietal grapes are becoming more and more popular. The blending process found in most Champagnes aims to take the finest points of each grape varietal and bring them together to produce spectacular, strong yet balanced results in the bottle.

Region: Champagne

The north-easterly region of Champagne in France is amongst the most famous and well respected wine regions in the world. It's principle produce, the elegant sparkling white wines made with a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Petit Meunier grape varietals, have consistently grown in popularity for hundreds of years, and are still the sparkling wines of choice for most people across the globe. The region is quite an unusual one, in many ways. The high altitude and cool climate make it difficult for the grapes to ripen, but it is helped enormously by the mineral-rich, chalky soils which typify the region, and the heavily forested areas which help maintain moisture in the soil and an even temperature. The wineries of the region have generations of expertise, and know exactly how to make the most of their grape varietals, resulting in the distinctive and famous wines of Champagne we know and love.

Country: France

France is renowned across the globe for its quality wines and the careful expertise which goes into making them, but what is truly remarkable about this relatively small country is the vast range of wines it produces in such huge amounts each year. Not only are the finest red wines in the world said to come from the beautiful regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but elsewhere in the country we find the Champagne region, and areas such as the Rhone Valley and the Loire, whose white wines consistently receive awards and accolades by the plenty. This range is a result of the great variety of climatic conditions and terrain found in France, coupled with generations of wine makers working within single appellations. Their knowledge of specific terroirs and grape varieties has, over time, perfected the production of wines within their region, and the end results continue to impress the world to this day.