Shopping & Food

A Guide To: Champagne — ft. Giovanni’s Ristorante

When it comes to champagne, and choosing the perfect bottle for the special occasion, we always ask ourselves the same question ‘How can you identify a good champagne?’.

There are good champagnes, and there are great champagnes, but it’s not always easy to differentiate the two. Little Italy’s Giovanni’s Restorante, voted Ottawa’s Best Fine Dining Restaurant, has one of Ottawa’s most extensive champagne menus, and manager Lisa Jr. guides us through the list.

The most common question we get is “why is the champagne so expensive?”.

But what people fail to realize is the amount of work that goes into cultivating the perfect batch of champagne. It has a much more thorough process than wine does. I was lucky enough to visit the Dom Perignon Vineyard in France, so I was able to see first hand the amount of effort that goes into keeping the grapes on the vine, the harvesting, the fermenting, and so much more.”

At Giovanni’s, we offer a wide variety of champagne for our customers to choose from whether you are coming in for a birthday, anniversary, or any other special occasion.

Veuve Clicquot, France

Veuve Clicquot is one of the most famous houses in Champagne Culture, and the most popular at our restaurant. Known for its exclusive yellow label, it consists of both richness and sweetness without feeling heavy or distasteful. The champagne is released about 5 years on the lees (the process during fermentation and aging).

The champagne pairs perfectly with white fish, white meat, and oysters. We recommend pairing it with our signature Chilean Sea Bass dish or the Lucky Lime Oysters or PEI Oysters.

 

Dom Perignon, France

Dom Perignon is the prestige Champagne produced by Moet & Chandon. As previously mentioned, my family and I were lucky enough to visit the Champagne Region in France and do the Dom Perignon Tour. I visited the cellars in Epernay where all the bottles are made and aged. The reason Dom Perignon is so prestigious is because they only use the finest grapes from the best vineyards in Champagne, France. Its vintages are aged for a minimum of seven years.

It is the most legendary champagnes on the market; known for its taste of fresh acidity and minerality. When it comes to pairing Dom Perignon with a signature Giovanni’s dish, I would recommend the Fresh Atlantic Salmon with Zucchini Cream Sauce or the Grilled Tuna Steak on a Bed of Zucchini and Eggplant Compote.

 

 

Armand De Brignac Ace of Spades, France

A staple at Giovanni’s, Ace of Spades is now rated the best champagne in the world. Now owned by artist Jay-Z, It has become a staple at restaurants, clubs, and bars all over the world. When it comes to Armand De Brignac, quality is the key. The grapes are sourced from the family’s 30+ hectares of vines across the Montagne de Reims Region of Champagne. The champagne is aged for about 3 years, in the deepest part of the Cattier Cellar (30 feet deep), which results in extremely precise, high-quality final product.

It is known for its iconic gold plated bottle, and its perfect combination of citrus and crisp pairs perfectly with our Roasted Jumbo Sea Scallops in Fresh Pesto Trapanese.

 

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