We are getting away together this weekend just to be together. I want to have some flowers and Champagne ready for our check in. Does anyone have any idea's on a good/decent champagne that does not cost a weeks paycheck? I am pretty ignorant on these things,(not a big drinker) W likes champagne and has not had any in long time. would like to surprise her, so do not want to ask her. Any Ideas?

Korbel is very nice. It doesn't cost a whole lot. The extra dry is sweeter. Brut is a little less sweet or dry. The driest is the natural. (My favorite) You can get it for about $9-$13 a bottle.

For very cheap but still quite decent, try Cooks Brut. You can get it for as little as $4/bottle and it comes with a real cork.

Since it's been V-day, there maybe be some really good and expensive champagnes on sale for a lot less than normal. Ironhorse is good. Piper Sonoma. It just depends how much you want to spend. Actually, real champagne is French. That's good, too!

Sorry, it occurs to me that I'm assuming you are in North America. In the US, I stick to the California stuff.

Depending on her tastes and the reason l would stick to proper champagne.....a bottle of Lanson black label or best of all Mumm........nice and cold.....yum
Sue

Susanbythesea, what did you mean by the reason? and is Mumm a brand or are you just thinking of a glass right now?

I am a champagne lover!! As cheap as it is, my absolute favorite is Martini & Rossi Austi Spumante, should only be about $9 a bottle. It is a little sweet, but so good going down, try adding a strawberry.

Enjoy!!

-Christine

Moet & Chandon Imperial is around $35. It is very good. I have had several bottles and everyone enjoys it. Not to dry it is perfect. My W does not care much for Champagne, but she will drink this. Good luck! Don't forget the chocolate covered stawberries For the Champagne. It is a must. Also if you really want to do it up. If you have Wine, get some cheese and grapes. Perfecto! She should be impressed with how much effort you put into making it a special weekend.

what is the difference between brut, spimonte, sparkeling wine, and the different labels. I have not seen any Moet and Chandon imperial, just white star. is there a difference?

Hi...Mumm is a "label"...... as is Moet &Chandon,Lanson,Cordon Rouge,Tattinger and Bollinger etc...true champagne will be labeled as such and is only made in france and is Brut meaning dry altho some labels also do other levels .......all others are champagne style depending on the manufacturng methode they may be called ...methode traditional,methode champenoise, spumante,moussant etc...most "imitation" champagnes use different grape varieties and grown on a different "terroir" so altho some are good they taste different to french champagne, the reason l asked the "reason" was mainly down to cost...really good champagne is pretty expensive and maybe not what is required,find out what type she likes,real or champagne type,brut or demi sec,biscuity or citrus and follow those pointers
enjoy......
Sue

Do you have the right type of crystal or stemware to serve the champagne? Also if you are serving other treats, how or on what are you planning to serve them? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

Call ahead and ask the hotel what they can provide. This way you will know what else to bring. If you are having a hard time, ask a friend or relative to help you out.

Women tend to notice detail. So get a POV from a family friendly female so you can have a checkoff list.

BTW, don't forget to get her something fun to wear & 4 u 2! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

L.

I cannot tell you the enjoyment that can be had with a few mouthfuls of cold champagne and a lovely wife * blush * <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> . She's a big fan, lets leave it there <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

As folks have said the word " champagne" is used in the states as a description of any sparkling wine, but in truth is an official name ( or appellation controlee) of sparkling wine made in Champagne in France.

HOWEVER ! Much is overrated and overpriced !

A GREAT bottle of Cava ( made the sam eway but in Spain) is around half the price and is unmatched in quality !

Freixenet is LOVELY for under ten dollars. Serve ICY cold.There are lots of lovely californian sparkling wines too but they're pretty expensive !

Good luck !

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I went with the Korbell, I will try others later. W said it was the best she has had.
Our night out was very nice. just private time together, not alot of talk. Just sitting on the couch, looking out over the water, and holding each other.
I got her a big floral arrangement, and champagne. We went to a quiet dinner, and just sat and enjoyed each other. It has been a long time since we have done that. We are going to start doing something special together once a month. Next month is a dress up dinner. Very positive weekend.

Thanks to all.

YEH! I'm glad it was a successful weekend. I love Korbel champagne. I celebrated myself this weekend with a bottle of very cheap champagne. With a special champagne bottle closer you can keep it bubbly for sometime. When I was opening and thought, "I should have reminded hurtnheart to twist the bottle not the cork!"

If you keep doing things like this, I'm sure you'll have a successful and wonderful recovery. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Glad you had a good weekend <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

grapegirl, explain why you twist the bottle not the cork? I believe I just pried the cork with my thumb.

Well, hurtnheart, there's a lot of ways to open champagne bottles. There use to be a guy in at a hotel, maybe in San Francisco, who cut the cork off with a sword to open it. Very showy. You can hold the bottle angled against your chest and use both thumbs to leverage it out. That's probably what you did? That can get messy because often the champagne will shoot out. What a waste of good champagne.

The best way is to remove the wire basket. Put your hand over the cork and cover your hand with a towel. Grasp the cork tightly and with your other hand, rotate the bottle. Keep the cork hand stationary. The twisting motion gently "unscrews" the cork from the bottle. The cork generally comes out with the little pop and there is no foaming. When you get good at it, you don't need the towel anymore.

I don't know exactly why it works. Some physics of the mass of the bottle and the stationary-ness of the cork? I just know that you can open the bottle perfectly every time this way.

I hope you get more chances to practice.