What to Pair With Champagne

Champagne, a sparkling wine from the Champagne region of northern France, is exceptionally versatile. What started as an attempt to make a Burgundy equivalent resulted in this wine thanks to the cold winters of the Champagne region. This accidental wine is thought to have been first created around the late 1600s, although no specific date is known.

Once referred to as “the devil’s wine” due to the popping of the cork upon opening caused by pressure in the bottle, Champagne has continued to grow in popularity. Today sales are well over 200 million bottles each year. From wedding toasts to ringing in the new year and everything in between, bubbly is the go-to wine for celebrations.

How Does Champagne Taste?

Champagne has a range of flavors from dry to sweet depending on the amount of sugar added and which grapes are used in the blend. Champagne will generally present hints of cherry, almond, toast, citrus, and cream. This wine should have a velvety mouthfeel no matter the grapes used.

What Pairs Well With Champagne

Here’s how to pair up your glass of Champagne for the best experience while “tasting the stars”.

Best With Brut: Steak

Brut Champagne is best when paired with steak due to the acidity of the wine. This acidity helps to cleanse the palate when eating a heavy dish such as steak. Brut Champagne goes especially well with steak cuts that are higher in fat content.

We recommend pairing Brut Champagne with our USDA Prime steak.

Best With Demi-Sec: Strawberries Romanoff

Demi-Sec Champagne is best paired with light, fruity desserts. We recommend pairing Demi-Sec Champagne with Strawberries Romanoff. This light dessert is sweet but not entirely overpowering, making it a complementary match to a Demi-Sec Champagne which is one of the sweeter varieties of Champagne.

Best With Dry: Lobster

Dry Champagne pairs nicely with lobster. The light, delicate flavor of lobster needs a wine that won’t take the spotlight for itself. A dry Champagne is light, crisp, and fresh, making it a good companion to lobster that will complement the dish rather than overshadow it.

We recommend pairing dry Champagnes with our cold-water lobster and lobster macaroni and cheese.

Best With Blanc de Blancs: Light Fish

Blanc de Blancs, a Champagne made entirely with Chardonnay grapes, is elegant and austere. This Champagne, whose name translates to “White from Whites”, has tasting notes of green apple, savory cream, and toast.

Blanc de Blancs is best paired with a light fish such as grouper. This is because Blanc de Blancs is a light and crisp Champagne. By pairing it with a light dish neither the food nor the wine is overshadowed.

We recommend pairing Blanc de Blancs with our grouper, served broiled, blackened, or fried.

Best With Rosé Champagne: Crab Cakes

Rosé Champagne is best paired with crab cakes. The sweet and delicate flavor of crab pairs nicely with crisp Champagne. These opposites combine for a complementary pairing that makes the most of balance between salty and sweet.

We recommend pairing a glass of Rosé Champagne with our crab cakes, available as an appetizer or main dish and served with Cajun lobster sauce.

For informational purposes only.