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Champagne is a first choice for New Year's parties, weddings or any special occasion. But not just any bubbly is really Champagne. The Champagne district in France has given its name to one of the most coveted of wines.

The bubbly, sparkling wines that are grown in this area are allowed to use the name "Champagne" and no other sparkling wine can claim that prestigious designation. Cava, Sekt, Spumanti and others may be from the same grapes as Champagne, but unless they grow in the vineyards of Champagne they cannot use the name.

Deciding which bottle or bottles of Champagne to buy for your party or special event is much easier if you know a little about the grapes, the wine and the history. Choosing the Champagne that is right for you and your guests makes any party elegant. The best way to decide which Champagne label to choose is to check with the experts, and you'll find a few of them offering their opinions here.

Whether you pick Mumm, Moët & Chandon, Roederer, Taittinger or any of the well known French Champagne House labels...or go with a sparkling wine from England or one bottled by the famous champagne houses but grown in California, New York or another new world vineyard, the bubbly you select will make your party sparkle. Good sparkling wines can be only a few dollars or several hundred dollars for a bottle.

Use these sites to help you choose the champagne that's right for your taste and your budget. Toast in the New Year, a new Bride and Groom, a new graduate or a new picnic spot with your favorite Champagne to make the moment sparkle in your memories. If you're wondering when it is appropriate to serve Champagne - take a clue from Napoleon and Churchill...

"In success you deserve Champagne and in defeat, you need it!"

What is the difference between a sparkling wine and Champagne? - The title here is Bubbly 101 and it covers the main question as well as how to uncork a Champagne bottle, what glasses to use when serving Champagne and the neat little glossary is a big help. Top marks go to the buying guide which offers prices of both champagne and sparkling wines that are worth spending some money on - and with the range starting at $10 to $15, you should find one that fits what you want to spend!

Break out the bubbly: A buying guide to some of the best sparkling wines for $20 or less - The Detroit News reviews seven of the top US sparkling wines - many produced by Champagne's most famous labels in the traditional Champagne method...

The Champagne Growers of France - All you need to know about Champagne from the vines through the last tasting note is covered here. Download the tasting sheet to print out and use to make notes on the champagnes you taste. That way the next time you want to buy champagne for a party you can remember which one you really liked. Have an informal tasting at your New Year's Eve party to get your guests talking to each other. Besides being a fun game for your party...you can collect the sheets and have a handy reference to their favorites the next time you celebrate together. Make extra copies so everyone can take a reminder home with them.

Champagne Worth Cellaring - This archived article from the Wine Enthusiast asks the question if wines selling for up to $200 a bottle are worth it... and answers with a very clear yes...with qualifications. Also includes a list of age-worthy champagnes...

Bubble Lounge - The Bubble lounge has two live spaces, in New York and San Francisco where you can enjoy the Champagne experience live with music and occasionally with experts at scheduled Champagne tasting events. The online lounge offers a good selection of reviews, quotes, history and other facts about Champagne plus a virtual shop for those who don't live on either coast of the USA to buy your Champagne online.

The Webtender - If you are searching for drinks that use Champagne as an ingredient...this page is what you are looking for. With 88 different recipes that use Champagne, you should find the one that you have in mind and several others to experiment with.

The Allure of Aged Champagne - You may have heard that aging does not improve Champagne... and while this may be true in some cases, after you've read this article you may have a very different perspective on aged Champagnes.

also see feature stories --> How to Open a Champagne Bottle

Festive Meals Call For Champagne

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