We hope you are having something bubbly in a long fluted glass but do you really know if you are drinking champagne or sparkling wine to ring in The New Year? Did you realize there was a difference?


Recently a Facebook friend of mine (initials R.A.) kept updating that he was drinking champagne. He mentioned it so often in fact that it seemed like he drank it nearly everyday for two weeks! Through his postings I figured that he actually was not drinking champagne, his posts suggested more to me that he was purchasing and drinking sparkling wine from California. My dear radio station listeners, PLEASE don't let this happen to you!

In 1891 (Treaty of Madrid) and at the end of World War I (Treaty of Versailles) countries agreed and documents were signed to protect the Champagne region of France and its yummy sparkling product. Granted the USA did not participate and up till 2006 certain sparkling wine makers in California used the word "champagne."

Yes champagne has a much prettier sound to it and it sure does make a person sound like a fancy pants. But if it's actually NOT champagne and you're calling it champagne well then that just makes you seem like a silly pants.

The moral of the story is to "read labels." That label will tell you exactly what you need to call the delightful carbonated juice you will consume. Though I must also add to the confusion that certain California bottles will say "California Champagne" and that's due to a long story about unsigned treaties and grandfathering.

So it looks like we have a choice for this New Year's Eve:

A. Champagne
B. Sparkling Wine
C. California Champagne

There's a bottle in each category for any budget. You can get sweet, dry or gross. You can throw up and have a hangover for days equally, and most any could be paired well with strawberries. Just check your terminology, ok?

Happy New Year to all and thank you for reading my rants! Remember to join us on Monday evening (with your glass of A, B, or C though Emmi is choosing to drink bourbon) from 9pm to 11pm for our live broadcast before the ball drops. You don't want to miss the laughter, drinks and great music!

Yours truly (and thank you for an awesome 2012!),

Your executive producer, Jennifer Kim