'tis The Season Of Champagne!

Champagne is the quintessential celebration wine. The Champagne appellation, located about 90 miles northeast of Paris, has a unique combination of land and weather that is perfectly suited for the production of this special wine. The handpicked grapes from the region's carefully delineated plots are the only grapes allowed to be used to produce world-famous Champagne, and whether it is served at a holiday party, alongside a dinner, as part of a New Year's celebration or given as a gift, your readers need to know that Champagne only comes from Champagne, France.

As you write for the upcoming holiday season, we encourage you to think of Champagne as not only the perfect accompaniment to a New Year's Eve toast, but also as an ideal match for a variety of holiday season events and gift-giving moments. Below are some examples of December events where Champagne can play a key role:

-Office and cocktail parties are a great time to uncork a couple bottles of Champagne. They will set a festive tone and help make the event special. These gatherings are perfect opportunities to serve a non-vintage Champagne or a Blanc de Blanc, which is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.

-Winter Solstice (December 22) is the shortest day of the year, and there is no better way to celebrate this official kickoff of winter than by serving Champagne. It makes any occasion a celebration.

-December 24 can be considered National Chocolate Day or Christmas Eve, but either way, it is a great opportunity for a ros� style of Champagne. It makes a wonderful evening truly special, pairs well with most foods and can be the perfect accompaniment to any last-minute wrapping that the elves missed. In addition, it makes a great gift to put under the tree for a loved one.

-Christmas dinner is made even more joyous when you pour Champagne with the meal. One suggestion is a Blanc de Noir Champagne made solely from the grape varieties of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, which makes a nice accompaniment to chicken and other meats.

-New Year's Eve is special occasion that calls for a unique drink. While many people associate Champagne with ringing in the New Year, Champagne has a place both at the New Year's Eve dinner and when the ball drops. This is a great time to try a cuv�e de prestige Champagne, which is a blended wine that is considered to be the top of a producer's Champagne range. Whatever variety of Champagne you drink on New Year's Eve, ensure that it is the real thing, since Champagne only comes from Champagne, France.

About Champagne Bureau

The Champagne Bureau is the official U.S. representative of the Comit� Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), a trade association which represents the grape growers and houses of Champagne, France. The Bureau works to educate U.S. consumers about the uniqueness of the wines of Champagne and expand their understanding of the need to protect the Champagne name. For more information, visit us online at www.champagne.us. Follow us on Twitter at ChampagneBureau.