“I drink champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company, I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it – unless I’m thirsty.”  – Madame Lily Bollinger of the famed Bollinger champagne house

As Madame Lilly Bollinger noted, there are plenty of occasions to drink champagne, but when the sun is out, and the heat is up, it seems like all the more reason to pop the bubbly. And, with the array of options out there, there’s a type for everyone’s palette, no matter if you are hosting a summer gathering, sitting under the stars, laying by the pool, or bringing a gift to someones home.

Pleasantly versatile, there is no better season to break out this sparkling beverage to impress your neighbor, cool you down, pair with food, or of course, celebrate.

 Champagne Facts

• Champagne can only be called champagne if it comes from the Champagne region of France, although if you are in a pinch, there are great varietals from California, Spain, Italy, South Africa, and other smaller regions of France.
• The French will never tell you to swirl Champagne. They call it “Champagne battering” because in 30 seconds you’ll “kill” the bubbles that took at least three years to make.
• There are approximately 134 calories in a seven-ounce glass of champagne.
• Some studies suggest that sipping champagne improves your mood because it has magnesium, potassium, zinc, and traces of lithium.
• To really taste the champagne, it should be drunk out of a wine glass rather than a flute or coup.
• Champagne starts to degrade in quality once it is exposed to sunlight. When purchasing an expensive bottle of champagne, ask if you can have a bottle from the restocking room.
• Champagne shouldn’t be saved. It is made to drink right away.
• You shouldn’t store champagne in the refrigerator as it dries out the cork, which makes it shrink, allowing precious carbonation to escape.
• To keep the cork from flying, hold the cork firmly and twist the bottle, not the cork
• The French enjoy champagne after their meal, unlike Americans who drink it as an aperitif.

Here are our six favorite champagnes for every occasion this summer!

1. Best Every Day Champagne Rosé

90 LeLarge0Pugeot NV Premier Cru Brut Rosé, $45

An excellently priced champagne, you will want to keep this rosé stocked in the fridge for those unexpected visits, lazy days by the pool, or movie nights with popcorn. A forward and fruity varietal made from Pinot Noir, it has a distinct strawberry flavor while also offering citrusy notes.

2. Best Every Day Champagne

90 Charles Ellner NV Grande Réserve Brut, $50

What’s great about this champagne is that it tastes great on its own with a light and crisp flavor featuring citrus and apple characteristics. That being said, if you plan on holding a Sunday brunch, it also tastes excellent with bacon and eggs.

3. Best Champagne for a Barbecue or Dinner Party

91 Ayala NV Brut Nature, $75

Modest in price, Ayala offers an excellent addition to your summer gatherings. Because of its crisp acidity and dry flavor, it pairs exceptionally well with food, having the ability to cut through even the richest fare.

4. Best Champagne To Bring Your Host

94 Lanson NV Extra Age Brut Rosé, $124

Resting for five years in the seller before it is released, this champagne offers a wonderful “toasty” flavor with a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from the grand cru vineyards in the Cote de Blancs and the Montagne de Reims. This wine tastes great with food, shared with a special someone, or in good old celebratory fashion. Because this is a lesser known wine, it offers a stunning gift for a host who will surely be impressed by its pale pink color, elegant labeling, and balanced flavor.

5. Best Champagne to Sip Under the Stars

Krug Grande Cuvee, $180

When spending time with that special someone on a warm summer night, splurging on a nice bottle is always in season. Krug is one of the world’s top-rated champagnes with the Grande Cuvee being a sommelier’s favorite. The flavor profile ranges from gingerbread and citrus fruit to hazelnut and honey. It’s bound to impress your date and offer a little more romance to the evening.

6. Best Champagne to Celebrate a Special Occasion

Taittinger Brut Champagne Prestige Rosé, $80

Boasting red summer fruit flavors, this is a great bubbly to pop when you are in celebratory mode. Open this up when celebrating an engagement or meeting the girls for an elegant garden party. It will wow guests with wild strawberry and raspberry flavors, not to mention its gorgeous sparkling salmon pink color.

Photo Credit: My Major Company