What to enjoy with Champagne?

Let's Talk About Champagne!

Often associated with luxury, celebrations, and special events (weddings, art openings, New Year's Eve), Champagne is not just a ceremonial wine. Like other wines, it can perfectly complement everyday meals. Here’s a suggested menu paired with three exceptional Champagnes.

1) Starter: Salmon-Avocado Tartare

We begin with a salmon-avocado tartare, an ideal starter to pair with Champagne. On one side, there’s the smoked salmon: tender and fatty. On the other, there’s the avocado: creamy and smooth. Together, these ingredients create a delicious, though somewhat rich, combination. To balance this richness, a crisp, dry white wine is ideal. That’s why Champagne is a perfect match for this dish, provided it’s not too sweet or too acidic. For this specific pairing, a Brut Champagne (meaning it has less than 12 grams of sugar per liter) is ideal.

Perfect Pairing:

Champagne Duménil - Cuvée Brut Prestige

2) Main Course: Braised Veal Sweetbreads

Whether braised, grilled, or poached, veal sweetbreads are a refined dish with a tender and flavorful texture. Typically served with rice, vegetables, or a creamy mushroom sauce, this meat also has a rich taste. Braised sweetbreads will contrast elegantly with the finesse of a Champagne, whose bubbles will resonate with the crispness of the crust. We recommend choosing an aged vintage Champagne, which tends to have a more robust and complex character than a young Champagne.

Perfect Pairing:

Lepreux-Penet - Champagne Bulles de Millésime

3) Dessert: Strawberry Carpaccio with Balsamic Vinegar

It's probably no surprise that the combination of strawberries and Champagne is one of the most refined and well-known pairings! Strawberries, very fruity and low in acidity, are a springtime favorite and benefit from a touch of sugar. Balsamic vinegar also works wonders with strawberries. We suggest a strawberry carpaccio with balsamic vinegar, which will pair beautifully with the fresh and fruity character of a Rosé Champagne.

Perfect Pairing:

Champagne Xavier Loriot - Collision Rosé Assemblage

FAQ - Champagne pairings

Which Champagne pairs with a strawberry dessert?

For a strawberry carpaccio or a fruity dessert, a Rosé Champagne works beautifully. Its fruit and freshness match the acidity of the strawberries, especially with a dash of balsamic vinegar. Serve it around 8 to 10 °C to keep it lively.

What exactly is a Brut Champagne?

A Brut Champagne holds less than 12 grams of sugar per litre. That low dosage gives it a dry, crisp palate, perfect for rich dishes like a salmon tartare without weighing them down. It is the most common style for pairing at the table.

Can you drink Champagne throughout a whole meal?

Yes, Champagne is not only for the aperitif. A crisp Brut opens the meal with a starter, a more complex vintage stands up to a main course, and a rosé rounds things off at dessert. You simply match the style to each course.

Which Champagne suits a refined meat dish?

For a worked dish such as braised veal sweetbreads, reach for an aged vintage Champagne. More robust and complex than a young one, it holds up to the richness of the meat, and its bubbles answer the crispness of the crust.

What temperature should Champagne be served at?

Serve Champagne between 8 and 10 °C. Too cold and it hides its aromas; too warm and it loses its edge as the bubbles fade. About twenty minutes in a bucket of water and ice brings it to the right temperature.