Ayala Blanc de Blancs 2004 / 750 ml.

Bring on the bubbly! Perhaps no other wine region in the world has the name recognition of Champagne, to the point where people often mistakenly use the word "Champagne" to describe any sparkling wine. Yet only wines produced within the region can legally be called "Champagne," and to this day it produces some of the finest sparkling wines known to earth.

The French did not invent winemaking. They simply perfected it. For centuries, France has been producing wines that inspire poetry, awe, and wonder; wines that blur the lines between nature, craftsmanship, cuisine and art. These are the wines that inspired cultures around the globe to follow in France’s footsteps, planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Grenache, Merlot, Semillon and more.

Yet as often as they are emulated, the magic of their terroirs can never be duplicated. You may taste Cabernet from around the world, but perhaps none as elegant and regal as Bordeaux. You may try Pinot Noir or Chardonnay from various climates, but none with the earth-bound soul and ethereal reach of Burgundy.