In the world of wine partnering with meals, most people earmark Champagne as the selective choice for illustrious events and celebrations. But renowned sommelier Victoria James extols Champagne as a multifaceted drink, fitting well with a variety of dishes. To be specific, she considers bubbly champagne as a perfect accompaniment to the savoury, crunchy flavours of fried chicken.

For the grand opening of Cocodaq, a high-end fried chicken eatery in the Big Apple, James thoughtfully amassed the most expansive selection of Champagne in the country. This restaurant has been gathering recognition and rave reviews far and wide. At a recent event at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, titled Bubble & Crunch: A Champagne & Fried Chicken Marriage Made in Heaven, James articulated the two principal reasons why Champagne is the ideal wine to pair with salty, lusciously rich fried chicken.

One of the key factors, as per James' recognition, is that Champagne classifies amongst the wines with the highest acidity globally. This can be attributed to the colder climates of northern France where these grapes are meticulously cultivated. These colder temperatures do not allow the fruit to ripen as it would in warmer climes, resulting in a particularly tart and sour grape. James suggests, "The grapes are not very ripe, which is the source of the high acidity." This intense acidity synchronises superbly with fried chicken, as it slices through the richness of the meal, offering a balanced taste palette.

In addition to its acidity, the effervescence of Champagne plays a significant role. James notes that this fizzy property helps slice through the fat prevalent in the oil used to fry the chicken. Though it shares this attribute with beer, she emphasizes, Champagne's carbonation level is superior, and it produces exceptionally tight bubbles. This is largely due to the approximately five atmospheres of pressure within each bottle, around double the pressure found in a car tire. "When you are indulging in very rich or fried foods, bubbles are the response," added James.