Every post ever
My Top 5 Fantasy Valentine’s Day Dates And The Champagnes We’d Pop
My ode to St Valentine’s Day and my top 5 hot (fantasy) dates for Valentine’s Day and the champagne I would serve them.
My Top Five Special Occasion Champagnes
“Always keep a bottle of champagne in the fridge for special occasions. Sometimes, the special occasion is that you have a bottle of champagne in the fridge.”
(Hestor Browne)
An introduction to low and no-alcohol bubbly
Low- or no-alcohol wines – more accurately called de-alcoholised wine – was the second-fastest-growing wine category in 2021.
Top Five Summer Champagnes
My top five champagnes for a long weekend is my annual ode to our last long weekend of the summer in Australia.
Champagne Ayala Blanc De Blancs 2010
Champagne Ayala Blancs De Blancs 2010 is produced in small quantities only in exceptional years, with Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs.
My Top Five Champagne Predictions for 2022
I have pulled out my crystal ball and gazed deeply into it to come up with my top champagne predictions for 2022.
G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge
The Mumm Cordon Rouge is an enjoyable champs that everyone likes. Its simplicity, cleanness, freshness and easy drinking are its hallmarks.
Piper-Heidsieck Brut NV
The Piper-Heidsieck style marries the structure of pinot noir, with the fruits of meunier, and the elegance of chardonnay.
Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial NV
There is little doubt in my mind that Moët & Chandon is the most recognised champagne brand on the planet.
Jacquart Brut Mosaïque
I regularly used the Champagne Jacquart Brut Mosaïque in my tasting events because it is so approachable and enjoyable.
Louis Roederer Collection 242
The Louis Roederer Collection 242 is a new multi-vintage cuvée based on the 2017 vintage, the 242nd since Roederer was founded in 1776.
Pol Roger Brut Réserve
The Pol Roger Brut Réserve is my Audrey Hepburn champagne. Classically elegant, distinctive, refined, and sophisticated.
My Top Five Everyday Champagnes
These champs here are five fave “go to” everyday champagnes… the ones I’d crack at home any day I feel like a champs.
Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé
Perrier-Jouët Blason Rose is one of my favourite go to rosé champagnes that embraces beauty and art and a touch of whimsy in the champagne.
Veuve Clicquot Yelow Label
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label is a sentimental favourite. Every time I look at the vibrant yellow label I think summer, sunshine and joy.
Laherte Frères Blanc De Blancs Brut Nature
Laherte Frères champagnes are crackers and the Laherte Freres Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature is just about my fave
New Year, New You?
But did you know that only about 20% of people keep their New Year’s Resolutions? I did some research to find out what actually works!
My Top Five Beach Champagnes
The inspo for my top five beach champagnes is clear – I live at Burleigh Heads (Gold Coast, Australia) with the best beaches in the world!
My stand out champagnes from the last five years
After five years and tasting 521 different champagnes, these are the five champagnes that have stood out most for me.
My Top Five Party Champagnes
My top party champagnes are ones I take to parties knowing it will be a share-fest and nothing will be very expensive. The point is to have fun more than worry too much about what you’re drinking or how much you spent.
My top five winter champagnes
My top five winter champagnes because in some parts of the world it’s cold for months and no one wants to give up champagne for that long!
Christmas Champagne Gift Guide For The Champagne Obsessed
Champagne Gift Guide For The Champagne Obsessed is Part I of The Official Bubble & Flute Champagne Guide To The Festive Season
Taittinger Brut Réserve
The Taittinger Brut Réserve is a is very lively, fresh, citrus rich but delicate champagne – perfect for warmer months as a party aperitif.
Bollinger Special Cuvée
Perrier-Jouët Blason Rose is one of my favourite go to rosé champagnes that embraces beauty and art and a touch of whimsy in the champagne.
Re-launching Bubble & Flute after a virus shut me down
Re-launching Bubble & Flute after a virus shut me down I had a good long think and here’s what I uncovered or re-discovered in the process…
About Me… Beyond The Bubbles.
More about Marnie Nichols, founder of Bubble & Flute and self-appointed Chief Champagne Fan, Champagne Coach and Writer at Bubble and Flute.
My Top Five Autumn Champagnes (2021)
Autumn champagnes are some of my favourites. As it gets cooler it’s time to bring out the pinot-heavy champagnes and let reserve wines rule!
Bollinger La Grande Année 2004
Bollinger La Grande Année is technically a vintage champagne it really sits a cut above most vintage champagnes for me.
Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut
Instantly recognisable for the stunning and spiralling spray of Japanese anemones painted on its bottles and glasses, Perrier-Jouët embraces beauty and art and a touch of whimsy in champagne.
My Top Five Spring Rosé Champagnes
I love spring almost as much as I love rosé champagne so I am very excited to bring them together with my top five spring
Five Reasons Why You Have To Taste Champagne Lallier From Constance Delaire… The Actual Winemaker!
Champagne Lallier…. Five reasons to taste Champagne Lallier from Constance Delaire… winemaker and brand ambassador.
Champagnes Under $50 That I Drink And Rate For The Price
I know we all get it… when you love champagne it’s not about going low on price so why write a list of champagnes for
How To Open A Bottle Of Champagne… The Fancy Way
How to open a bottle of champagne…, In this video you can watch how to open a bottle of champagne the fancy way and the fun way!
My Top Tips For Self-Guided One-Day Driving Tour In Champagne
I get a lot of emails from people travelling to Champagne and want to know what to do in just one day – here’s what I recommend.
My Top Five Man-Champs
My Top Five Man-Champs is a list of champs the man in your life is likely to want to share (or keep all for himself)
A Visit To… Piper-Heidsieck
On my visit to Piper-Heidsieck I learned the house was founded on great love stories and a dash of seduction.
Did Dom Pérignon invent champagne?
Did Dom Pérignon invent champagne? Not quite fake news, but definitely an alternative fact about champagne
Champagne Villages And The Cru System
Under the historic system, the 318 villages in the Champagne region are rated as Cru, Premier Cru or Grand Cru.
Regions Within Champagne
Within the Champagne region, there are actually five main sub-regions which are responsible for bringing both diversity and consistency to champagne.
What Grapes Are Used To Make Champagne?
There are just three main grapes used to make champagne. And what may totally surprise you is that two out of the three of the champagne grapes are RED grapes!
Does Size Matter? A Guide To Champagne Bottle Sizes (Just To Be Clear!)
Hell yes, size matters in the definitive Bubble & Flute guide to champagne bottle sizes because magnums rock!
How To Taste Champagne In Three SIMPLE Steps
Thee most important lesson you can ever learn when it comes to tasting champagne… and that is how to taste champagne.
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame… A Strong Champagne For Kick-Arse Chicks Making Their Mark In A Man’s World
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame is a strong champagne for kick-arse chicks wanting to make their mark in a man’s world.
After The Harvest… The Process For Champagne Pressing
Champagne pressing kicks off hot on the heels of the harvest… the grapes are picked and transported straight to the pressing houses.
Champagne Magic From 10 Champagne Brands You (Probably) Know And (Hopefully!) Love
Champagne brands have so much history! Here I share some ‘champagne magic’ about 10 houses I love dearly and see if it sways you!
Best Champagnes Under $50 – I road-tested them all
No one wants to waste their hard earned cash and be disappointed with an ordinary wine so I And I bought every untried champagne I could find for $50 or less to share my top picks.
A Visit To… Charles Heidsieck
Charles Heidsieck cellars are not open to the public (sorry guys and gals!) and they are simply exquisite.
Champagne Gastronomy Tips I Stole Directly From The Champagne Maker!
Champagne gastronomy is a big fancy word for ‘the practice or art of choosing, cooking, and eating good food’. (
Piper Heidsieck Essentiel Blanc De Blancs
In the glass, the Piper Heidsieck Essentiel Blanc de Blancs was a really pale colour – less golden, more a hint of light green.
A Visit to Champagne Bollinger
When I visited the Champagne region in 2018, I was lucky enough to visit Champagne Bollinger twice in a week! Read about both my visits here
The Top Five Things I Love About Bollinger Champagnes
Based on about a decade of ‘research’ here are The Top Five Things I Love About Bollinger Champagnes.
How Does Someone Become A Champagne Blogger?
I get asked this question… a lot.
The simple answer is actually ridiculously simple … you build a website and start writing! There’s a bit more to it than that, so here’s my story and my why…
A Visit To Billecart-Salmon
A visit to Billecart-Salmon… from the start in the vineyards, through the cellars and into the tasting room!
Five Things You May Not Know About Billecart-Salmon
One of the things I love about Billecart-Salmon is that for a big(gish) name/brand, they have the heart of a family business.
My Top Tips For Booking Tastings And Tours In Champagne
I have been asked so many times how to book tours and tastings in Champagne and where I recommended that I decided to write a post.
My Top Five Tips For Travelling In Champagne
I have written my tips for travelling in Champagne to make it EASY for anyone who wants to travel in Champagne to plan a cracking itinerary.
Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Rosé
The Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Rosé in two words… sensual and juicy. It’s a bolder attack on the senses than I was expecting.
My Afternoon With The Champagne Tour Company
Champagne tours are the best way to enjoy the spectacular champagnes and the stunning scenery in the region
Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Régence
My first reaction to trying the Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Régence was BOLD. Summery and fresh, like the Hilltop Hoods at a music festival.
My Top 5 Places To Stay In Champagne
The hardest thing about writing about my top 5 places to stay in Champagne was narrowing it down to just 5 places.
My Stay At… Domaine Du Chalet
Domaine du Chalet is in Chigny-les-Roses, Montagne de Reims, about a 20 minute drive south of Reims and a 25 minute drive from Epernay. Domaine du
Champagne Brimoncourt Extra Brut
Champagne Brimoncourt Extra Brut is my favourite from the Brimoncourt range and is like fireworks with an explosion of flavours.
Champagne Brimoncourt Blanc De Blancs
The Champagne Brimoncourt Blanc De Blancs is fresh and floral and would pair well with prawns, scallops, bugs or lobster.
Laherte Frères Ultradition NV
The Laherte Frères Ultradition NV is 60% meunier, 30% chardonnay, and 10% pinot noir with 40% reserve wines and 4.5g/l dosage.
How I Met Three Of My New Fave Blanc De Blancs At Champagne De Sousa
I met Charlotte De Sousa from Champagne De Sousa at her family winery in Avize in the heart of the Côte des Blancs in late June 2018.
Top 5 Grower Champagne Producers I Met In 2018
Here’s the top 5 grower champagne producers I met on my trip to Champagne in 2018 – all small family producers you may never have heard of.
Top Five Tips For Dealing With Cheap-Arses And Champagne Freeloaders
We all have at least one friend who somehow manages to drink a lot of good champagne, but they NEVER actually buy any! Here’s how to sort them out this silly season!
5 Reasons To Drink Mumm Champagne This Melbourne Cup
There is only ONE champagne you can drink on Cup Day… the one champagne brand in Australia that is synonymous with The Spring Racing Carnival… GH Mumm.
The Three Main Types Of Champagne Producers
The three main types of champagne producers are houses, growers and cooperative and here I explain these types of producers and more.
Insiders’ Guide To Champagne Part III – Rachel And Alexis From Champagne Wafflart-Briet
My Insider’s Guide to Champagne Part III is from Rachel and Alexis from Champagne Wafflart-Briet in Sacy in the region’s north.
Meunier Is Moving Up In The World
The pinot meunier grape (one of three used to make champagne) has traditionally been used as a blending grape, but more and more 100% pinot meunier champagnes are emerging.
Insider’s Guide To Champagne Part II – Isabélle Rousseaux From Aÿ-Champagne Experience
Insider’s Guide To Champagne Part II thanks to my dear friend Isabélle Rousseaux from Aÿ-Champagne Experience
Five Boozy Drinks They Make In Champagne You’ve (Probably) Never Heard Of
Are there really five different boozy drinks they make in Champagne you’ve (probably) never heard of? Yes!
A visit to Champagne Ayala
Here are my top 5 reasons I am glad I visited Champagne Ayala.
Australia’s 2017 Champagne Report Card Is In
Australia’s 2017 Champagne Report Card Is In… And We’ve Got A New Champagne Record And Under 55s Officially Dominate!
Insiders’ Guide To Champagne Part I – with Valentin Musset, founder of Sparkling Tour.
Part One in a series of top things to do in Champagne features my new, good friend Valentin Musset, founder of Sparkling Tour.
Champagne Spirits – Marc De Champagne, Fine De La Marne, And Chardonnay Vodka
With Champagne spirits like Marc de Champagne, Fine de la Marne, and Chardonnay Vodka, the Champagne region getting right into hard liquor!
Ratafia De Champagne
Ratafia de Champagne is a grape based spirit they make in the Champagne region that tastes nothing like champagne.
Rosé Des Riceys… A Still Rosé Wine They Make In Champagne
Rosé des Riceys is a still rosé wine they make in Champagne… so it’s from Champagne and there are no bubbles.
Coteaux Champenois… Still Wines Made In Champagne
Coteaux Champenois are still wines that winemakers are allowed to make only using grapes grown in Champagne.
The Oeil De Perdrix… A Special Kind Of Rosé Champagne
Oeil de Perdrix is a special type of rosé champagne made when they DO let the red skins have contact with the juice.
Grower Champagnes… Just Hype Or Seriously Hot?
Grower champagnes are a hot topic amongst wine writers, bloggers and champagne buffs talking about the ‘rise of the grower champagne’.
It’s Time For A Proper Introduction To One Of My ‘BFF’ Champagnes, Champagne Brimoncourt
I was lucky enough to meet with Champagne Brimoncourt Australian Brand Ambassador, François Crémière, a tasting of the full range.
My Top Five Autumn Champagnes (2018)
Autumn champagnes match the weather… time to bring out more red wine and warmer champagnes with more pinot.
My Top 5 Super Summer Long Weekend Champs List
The last long weekend of the Aussie summer is nearly here and there will be BBQ’s, pool parties, picnics, cricket, and Foo Fighters concerts which all require champagne!
How Much Champagne Is There In The World?
Have you ever wondered how much champagne is there is the world? 1,478 million of bottles of champagne in the world (including individual reserve)… according to the Comité Champagne (as at 31 July 2016).
Rosé All Day! – Part III The Official Bubble & Flute Champagne Guide To The Silly Season
Look at Christmas through rosé-tinted glasses and rosé all day… family dramas, screaming kids, drunk uncles and mad aunties won’t even touch the sides if these festive rosé champagnes are on the table.
Champagne Bollinger… A House Firmly On My ‘Deserted Island’ List
If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only take 5 different champagnes (totally realistic scenario of course!), what would they be? Champagne Bollinger is on my list!
Three Reasons Champagne Is Good For Your Health… Science Says!
Champagne IS good for you! In the interest of your health and well-being I have found three reasons champs is good for you… you’re welcome!
Pol Roger Rosé 2006 Is Sexy, Seductive, And Full Of Flavour
I call Pol Roger the Audrey Hepburn of champagnes… because their champagnes are just so elegant, graceful, refined, and beautiful. What strikes me most about
Extra Brut Extra Old Is Extra New, Extra Exciting For Veuve Clicquot
The new release from Veuve Clicquot, Extra Brut, Extra Old, is a clever twist on a classic and was more than enough to bring some spark back to my first champagne love, the Yellow Label.
What Are Reserve Wines In Champagne?
Reserve wines are literally that… a wine that will sit on the “reserve bench” until it is needed to blend into an NV champagne.
Australian Champs-Fans Need To Lift Our Game!
Australian Champs-Fans – I have good news and bad news. The good news is we punch well above our weight in champagne consumption.
GH Mumm Cordon Rouge… I Always Bring An “Emergency Bottle Of Mumm” To Every Party!
My friends know to always take “an emergency bottle of Mumm” to every party. The policy started at a friend’s house party. I’d just had a particularly brutal
Champagne Duperrey Rosé Brut
Champagne Duperrey Rosé Brut is one of the most economical rosé options going around and I have 100 success rate with guests enjoying it.
Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésime 2005… Idris Elba In An Armani Suit
Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésime 2005… fit for dinner at a five-star restaurant with Idris Elba In An Armani Suit
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve… An Epic NV Champagne That You ARE Going To Want To Hide From Your Partner!
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve… An Epic NV Champagne That You ARE Going To Want To Hide From Your Partner!
Krug… A Champagne That Is Simply Unforgettable
I still remember the first time I tried Krug…. February 25, 2009. Seriously. I kept the tasting notes.
Five Expensive Champagnes For A Really, Really Special Occasion
Expensive champagnes generally need a really, really special occasion to justify popping them and spending $300-$500 on a bottle of wine.
My Top Five Champagnes For A Really Special Occasion
My top five champagnes for a REALLY special occasion are a step-up from a special but still not quite the top shelf.
Blanc de Noirs champagne
The literal translation of blanc de noirs champagne is white wine made from black grapes.
Champagne Dosage
Champagne dosage refers to the amount of sugar (or sweetening) dosage in the liqueur d’expedition*, which is a blend of sugar and wine added to the wine just before bottling. Champagne dosage can vary the taste of the champagne dramatically.
Blanc De Blancs Champagne
Blanc de blancs champagnes are made from only chardonnay grapes. The translation from French is literally white wine made from white grapes.
Rosé Champagne
Rosé champagne is made one of two ways – by blending with still red wine or by allowing the juice to make contact with the red grape skins.
Champagne Grapes… Pinot Noir
Pinot noir grapes bring the vigour and complexity to champagne and impart flavours like strawberries, raspberries, cherries and blueberries.
Vintage Champagne
Vintage champagne is crafted from the grapes of just one single harvest or year so each vintages will possess a unique character.
Cuvée De Prestige Champagne
The easiest way to “explain” cuvée de prestige champagnes is to give a few examples and let the best of the best in champagnes speak for themselves.
Arguably the most famous examples of cuvee de prestige champagnes are Dom Perignon and Cristal.
Champagne Grapes… Chardonnay
30% of Champagne plantings are chardonnay, predominantly in the Cote des Blancs.
Champagne Grapes… Pinot Meunier
Pinot Meunier grapes are one of just three different grape varieties that can be used to make champagne.
Non-Vintage (NV) Champagne
Non-vintage champagne (or NV champagne) is known as the house style and is blended from the grapes of many years.
Why Champagne Can Smell Like Fresh Bread
Autolysis is the breakdown of yeast that imparts flavour and complexity to the wine and gives off the scent of fresh bread.
Making Champagne Part III … Cellar To Your Glass
We left our Making Champagne miniseries just after adding the liqueur de tirage (yeast and sugar) before we sent the bottles to the cellars.
In Part III, we’ll see more geeky science stuff and more fancy French words for ageing champagne. We’ll cover all the cool stuff that happens in the dark, musty underground cellars to turn still wine into beautiful, bubbly champagne!
Making Champagne Part II – Turning Juice Into Wine
We left our champagne saga just as our little grapes were crushed! Still very early on in its journey, our champagne isn’t technically a wine yet and it’s missing its all-important bubbles.
But before the end of this chapter in its story, our baby grape juice will blossom into wine and we’ll add the magic ingredient to give it its sparkle.
Making Champagne Part I …. Vine Time
Welcome to Part One of the bubble and flute Making Champagne three part miniseries… an epic journey from Grape to Glass.
It is a tale of romance… the Chef de Caves’ love for grapes and their wines. It has drama and suspense… what will the climate hold? Harsh heat or cold frosts? And how will the wine makers blend the wines to bring us the champagnes we know and love, year in, year out?
Bollinger… Bond’s Bolly
Forget the martini, James Bond ‘shakes and stirs’ me most when he orders a bottle of his champagne of choice, Champagne Bollinger.
Champagne Styles… An Overview
There are many different champagne styles – non-vintage, vintage, cuvée de prestige, blanc de blancs, blanc de noirs, rosé and varied dosage.
What Makes A Wine “French Champagne”?
Quite simply… French Champagne must come from the Champagne region of France. And you don’t need to say “French Champagne” because champagne is exclusively French.
Champagne Is A Place… I’m Moving!
Nestled in northern France about 165km north-east of Paris, the Champagne region is about 33,500 hectares (or 76,000 acres or 25,606 km²) in size and parts have been declared world-heritage listed.
