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A Guide to Champagne: Best Champagne Under $100
- Last Updated - 2/28/23
Quick Answer: My favorite champagne is Ruinart. But there are a few reasons I like this Champagne, the most important of which is that it is delicious! However, the main reason is because it was the Champagne we drank at my wedding!
Champagne and celebrations pair very well together!
In this blog post, we will discuss the best champagne under $100. And we will explore what makes champagne so special, and why it costs more than other types of wine.
Most importantly, let’s find some good choices for you to create and cherish experiences that will last forever. So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Best Champagne Under $100
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Blanc de Blancs means “white of white” in French, and this Champagne is made entirely from Chardonnay grapes. And the result is a crisp and delicate tasting Champagne with beautiful citrus and white flower aromas.
Another amazing Champagne, this is a beautiful Brut rosé made from of 100% Pinot Noir grapes. And this gives it a delicate flavor profile with aromas of fresh red fruits.
Moet & Chandon is one of the most popular Champagne brands, and their Brut Imperial is a great entry-level Champagne. And it’s made from a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes, and it has an elegant flavor profile with apple, nutty, and citrus fruits.
Veuve Clicquot is one of the most popular Champagne brands, and you can find their signature yellow/orange-ish label almost anywhere.
And it’s made from a blend with a majority of Pinot Noir grapes to maintain a good structured wine. Then comes the Chardonnay grapes to add the finesse. And lastly, the Pinot Meunier grapes give it a well-rounded balance.
Pol Roger was the preferred Champagne house of Winston Churchill.
And it has an elegant flavor profile with citrus fruits, toasted brioche, and apples with wonderful aromas of white flowers.
Jean Pernet Brut may not come in the most exciting bottle or color, but its an affordable Blanc de Blanc Champagne that has great value.
Even though it comes from a lesser known Champagne house, the flavor will beat out some of the more popular Champagnes. Overall a good choice!
Another famous Champagne house from France, this Tattinger Brut is one of their most affordable Champagnes. And it has nice fine bubbles with a bready, citrus, and apple flavors.
Bollinger Special Cuvée 007 is a special limited edition Champagne created for the release of the latest James Bond movie. Also said to be the preferred Champagne house of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
And it’s made from a blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Meunier grapes, with a velvety texture and a flavor profile of ripe citrus fruits, brioche, with a hint of spice, and a mineral driven finish.
This well-textured Champagne is made with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes from the Marne Valley. Therefore, the wine is fresh and with refreshing white fruit flavors with good structure.
75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. And there are grapefruit aromas at the forefront, with a hint of ginger, peach, and apples as supporting scents. Plus the palate is pleasing with crisp freshness and red fruits from the Pinot Noir grapes will mature nicely.
You’ll detect fresh citrus fruit, yeast and bread when you drink this “classic” Champagne. And it has lots of lemon and pear flavors accompanied by some fresh ginger. Additionally, it has a lean and zesty finish.
Yet another well-known Champagne house, this wine boasts fresh aromas with notes of lemon peel, fresh ginger, brioche, and white flowers. Then comes the toasty palate that is opulent and well-rounded. And it has a nice light nutty finish with a perfect amount of crisp acidity.
What is Champagne? How is it Made?
Champagne is a sparkling wine that is made from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France.
Also, Champagne is made using a special process called the Methode Champenoise (aka Traditional Method or Champagne Method), which involves fermenting the wine in two stages.
The first stage of fermentation takes place in barrels, and the second stage takes place in the Champagne bottles. And this process gives champagne its characteristic fine bubbles. Also by aging on the lees, it gives the toasty and nutty aromas of a classic Champagne.
Furthermore, as part of their winemaking procedure, Champagne makers include a modest amount of grape must or sugar in what is called “liqueur d’expedition” to lessen the sharp flavors within the wine. And this procedure decides the different level of sweetness of that Champagne.
Champagne Facts
- All Champagne must come from the Champagne region in France.
- Although many people confuse sparkling wine as Champagne, NOT all sparkling wines are Champagne
- Champagne is produced from three (3) wine grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and/or Pinot Meunier grapes.
Why Does Champagne Cost So Much?
There are several reasons why Champagne is more expensive than other types of wine.
- Methode Champenoise is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.
- Plus, Champagne is made from high-quality grapes that are grown in a unique terroir. And the climate of the Champagne region is cool and the soil is chalky, which produces grapes with a distinctive flavor profile.
- Another factor is that Champagne is aged on their lees for a minimum of 15 months in the bottle, and sometimes up to several years. And this aging process adds to the cost of Champagne.
- High Demand & Low Supply – Champagne is a small region in France (only 132 square miles).
- Also, Champagne is a high-end, prestigious brand.
- Finally, Vintage Champagnes can typically age well, which make for a great investment!
Different Types of Champagne Wines
- Prestige Cuvée – The best of the best. A Champagne house’s flagship wines. And the best Champagne made with only the best grapes from the best vineyards.
- Blanc de Blancs – Made with 100% Chardonnay grapes. And typically you will find citrus and apple flavors.
- Blanc de Noirs – Blanc de Noirs Champagne is made with 100% Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier grapes. And these Champagnes tend to have more body and more fuller red fruit flavors.
- Rosé Champagne – Rosé Champagne is made with a blend of red and white grapes. And these Champagnes tend to be very fruity with flavors of strawberries and raspberries
- Sweet Champagne – Finally, a sweet Champagne has a high residual sugar content (32 to 50+ grams per liter.) And some examples of they types are Demi-sec and Doux Champagnes.
What is the Difference Between Vintage vs Non-Vintage Champagne?
- Vintage Champagne is made from grapes that were all harvested in the same year, and it must be aged for at least three (3) years. And typically they are more expensive than Non-vintage and have a better aging life.
- Non-Vintage Champagne is made from a blend of grapes from different years, and it is normally aged for 15 months.
Different Sweetness Levels
- Brut Nature (Zero) – 0-3 g/L residual sugar (RS)
- Extra Brut – 0-6 g/L RS
- Brut – 0-12 g/L RS
- Extra Dry – 12-17 g/L RS
- Dry – 17-32 g/L RS
- Demi-Sec – 32-50 g/L RS
- Doux – 50+ g/L RS
Other Sparkling Wine Articles
- A Guide to Rose Champagne for Every Occasion
- Brut vs Extra Dry: What’s the Difference?
- Most Expensive Champagne Brands
- Our Guide to Sweet Champagne
- Prosecco vs Champagne
- Best Guide to Chardonnay: 25 Best
- A Guide to Sparkling Rose Wines: From Affordable to Expensive
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