Frequently Asked Questions

What is grower Champagne?

Grower Champagne is Champagne produced by the people who also grow the grapes and tend the vines. It’s farmer fizz, if you will. The Champagnes you find at fatcork are made with care and, often, via methods that have been passed down through generations. Most are created with sustainable agricultural practices, and all are made with respect for the land.

How many glasses are in a bottle of Champagne?

There are about five 6-ounce pours in a standard-sized bottle of Champagne. There are about 10-12 glasses of Champagne in a magnum or double bottle, and there are about 24 glasses in a Jeroboam.

What's a double bottle of Champagne called?

A double bottle is called a magnum, which is Latin for “great.” A magnum holds the equivalent of two standard-sized bottles or 1.5 liters and 10 to 12 glasses of Champagne. A double magnum, 3 liters of Champagne, is called a Jeroboam. Named for a Biblical king, a Jeroboam holds the equivalent of four standard-sized bottles or 24 glasses of bubbles. Holy moly!

What are the three types of grapes used to make Champagne?

There are three major grapes allowed in the Champagne-making process: chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. Technically, seven grape varieties grow in Champagne, but the others (pinot blanc, pinot gris, petit meslier and arbanne) are used strictly for blending. In fact, to cultivate anything besides chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, growers must be able to prove (with documentation) a historical precedence of those grapes growing on that particular domaine.

What does Special Club in Champagne mean?

Special Club is the highest classification of grower Champagne. In 1971, 12 of the oldest, family-run Champagne houses banded together to collectively represent the interests of small, independent grower producers whose exquisite, small-batch Champagne flies under the radar. They named their group Club Trésors de Champagne, French for “Treasure Club.” Over the last five decades, the club has expanded to include 29 Special Club grower Champagne families united in their mission to showcase vintages that are most expressive of the regions’ unique terroir and to create awareness of the regions’ extraordinary capacity for producing the best bubbles in the world. Read more on the blog!

I'm traveling to Champagne. Can I visit the fatcork growers?

C’est superl! Send us an email, and we will send you contact information for our growers as well as our personal recommendations for what to do, what to eat and where to stay.

Do you do tastings?

Mais Oui! Join us every Saturday from 12pm to 5pm where we will have three cuvées chilled and ready for you. There is a tasting fee of 20$ for non-members (waived with the purchase of a bottle), and members taste for free!

*Reservations for groups of 5 or more appreciated.

Check out our Events & Tasting page under "Discover" on our homepage for seasonal ticketed events and happenings. For information on private group tastings and events send us an email at events@fatcork.com

Health and Safety

You should know that we are a small, underground space. That said, fatcork is committed to keeping each other safe, and we are taking the following safety measures at our cave:

Due to the cozy nature of our space, the option is up to you if you would like to wear a mask. If it makes you more comfortable that our staff wears a mask while helping you pick out bottles, we are happy to pop one on.
Hand sanitizer is available for guest and office use.
All surfaces, bottles, door handles, building communal areas and bathrooms are cleaned daily.

We are also available to take orders over the phone, or you can place them through our website and select pick up as your shipping option. If you feel more comfortable, we can run your order out curbside. Just call us when you are outside!

What's the most popular Champagne?

Good news! You can't go wrong with any of our fatcork Champagnes. Each bottle in our cave is deliciously unique and hand-selected by our founders — and they’re often hard to find outside France. That being said, check out our fatcork fan favorites in the best sellers section of our shop page for bottles that you don’t want to miss.

Do I have to be a club member to shop bottles?

Nope! All are welcome to purchase any of our delicious bubbles online or in person at the fatcork cave.

What do I do if my Champagne is corked?

Damp, wet cardboard? That’s not on the tasting note! Cork taint is the worst, but all fatcork Champagnes use natural cork closures, so it does happen on the rare occasion. Please let us know, and will happily replace the bottle. Before you throw it away, snap a photo of the back label and we can refer to the code for reference. Email it to info@fatcork.com along with the order number.

Can I return or exchange my bottles?

We aim to please. Call or email us, so we can talk about what happened and how we can make things right.

I'd love some Champagne recommendations. Can fatcork help?

We thought you’d never ask! Whether you’re choosing Champagne for yourself or a gift for someone else, fatcork celebration specialists have you covered! Need help pairing a bottle from your club allocation for your dinner party? We can help there too! In our online bottle shop, you’ll discover an assortment of beautifully curated bundles and gift sets as well as our founder’s favorites, indicated by the tag “Bryan’s Choice.” If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, call or email us, and we’d be happy to help you navigate our inventory of delicious bubbles.

How do I choose the right club tier?

We have a club tier to fit every Champagne persuasion! Visit our Join the Club page to compare fatcork’s 4, 6 and 12-bottle tiers and to learn about the membership benefits of each. You can also take the handy quiz on the club page to find out which level best suits your personality. If you’re still on the fence, we recommend starting with our 4-bottle tier, The Weekenders. You can always upgrade to the next tier if you find yourself craving more bubbles.

What is the founders' private Champagne stash?

Our founders’ love affair with Champagne has been years in the making, so they have quite the collection in their cellar. From unique cuvées and rare finds to all their favorite bottles, Bryan and Abby’s private stash is a bon vivant’s dream. That’s why, a few times a year, club members at our 12-bottle level, The Merrymakers, will receive an exclusive invitation via email to purchase Champagne from this exquisite collection. See more on the blog!

What is the yearly thank you gift for The Frequent Fizzers and The Merrymakers club tiers?

We’re keeping the gifts a surprise for now, but here’s a hint: They will be items that enhance and elevate your fatcork Champagne experience and make celebrating every day even more fun. We promise you’ll love them.

When can I expect my bubbles?

You will receive a box of Champagne four times a year. Allocation months are March, May, September and November (months with the best weather for shipping).

How long do I have to pick up my bubbles?

As soon as your quarterly club allocation is processed, your bubbles are ready for you to take home with you! If you are not able to pick them up in a 6 month window, we will reach out as a friendly reminder with a few options. If we don't hear back from you at this time, your bubbles will be donated to charity.

My shipping label has been created for a little while now, but I see no movement on my package. What's going on with my order?

It takes our small team a few days to prepare orders after your UPS shipping label has been created. If you havent heard from us and see no movement on your package, you will probably be hearing from us soon. This most likely means that weather in your area has been too hot or too cold to ship. Thanks ahead of time for your patience and please wait for us to reach out to you about updates. We know more about UPS shipping and weather around the country then you can imagine!

When will I be billed?

We will charge the credit card we have on file for your account four times a year when each allocation ships (March, May, September and November). You will be charged the same amount every time according to your membership tier. See our Join the Club page for tier pricing.

For gift memberships, the person who is giving the gift will be charged quarterly as outlined above.

How much is club shipping?

All membership tiers will be charged carrier-calculated shipping rates based on the weight and size of the box and its destination. For club members in Alaska and Hawaii, our only option for shipping your Champagne is via UPS express air. This cost will be added to your club invoice.

Can I pick up my club allocation in person?

If you’re in the neighborhood, we’d love to hand off your allocation with a little splash to whet your appetite! We’ll notify you that your bubbles are ready, and you can pop by our cave during business hours to pick them up. If you’re in a hurry, give us a heads up that you’re on your way. Then, call us when you’re outside, and we can deliver your bubbles to you curbside.

Please pick up in-person orders in a timely manner, so we can make room for our incoming supply from France. Let us know if you can’t make it in as planned, and we will arrange to ship your allocation instead. In the unlikely case that you abandon your bubbles at the cave, after six months, fatcork will ship that allocation to the address on file and charge the shipping to your credit card on file.

I signed up for the club, but my first allocation is months away. How can I get bubbles sooner rather than later?

Call or email us to let us know that you’d like to start celebrating every day — right away, and we’ll walk you through your options. For example, if we have the selections from the previous allocation available in the cave, we could send those to you ASAP as your first club shipment. You could also use your membership benefits to get a sixth bottle for free when you buy five bottles. Or we could make some recommendations from our online bottle shop. Of course, if you’re local, you’re always welcome to pop by our Champagne cave to taste and get to know your faves.

I signed up for a gift membership, but the first allocation is months away. How can I let the gift recipient know that good times are on the way?

We love your enthusiasm, and we know your friend will, too! To give them a taste of what’s to come, we suggest sending them a single bottle of fatcork Champagne with a personal handwritten gift message. We’re happy to make recommendations and/or send you a downloadable certificate for you to email or present to the gift recipient. Call or email us, and let us know how we can help spread the love.

Can I customize my allocation?

For each allocation, we work with our vignerons in France to carefully curate a one-of-a-kind Champagne experience featuring a selection of the world’s best bubbles. In 2022, we’re excited to put the spotlight on the unique regions and villages of Champagne by bringing you collections from our producers to try throughout the year. We adore them all, and we’re pretty sure you will, too. Of course, as you become familiar with your fatcork bubbles, if there is something that doesn’t suit your fancy, let us know, and we will do our best to exclude it from your allotment. On the other hand, if you’ve discovered something you can’t live without, there is always the option to add bottles to your allocation. Just sign into your account, and let us know what bottles you’d like to add.

Does fatcork have a referral program?

Bien sûr! Current club members who refer a friend to join the club will get a bottle of Champagne on the house. To make it official, once they’ve signed up, your friend can send an email with your name to info@fatcork.com, and we will get that bottle to you right away!

How do I skip an allocation, pause, or cancel my membership?

Call or email us, and we will take care of that for you.

When will my order arrive?

It depends on when you placed your order and where you are located. Fatcork ships to most U.S. states via UPS. Typically*, if you are on the West Coast, your order will arrive in approximately 1-2 business days. For customers in the middle of the country, expect about 3-4 business days. For East Coasters, your bubbles will arrive in about 5-7 business days.

*During periods of high volume, it can take our small team up to a week to pack and ship orders once they’re processed. Need your bubbles fast? Let us know, and we’ll do our best to get it out ASAP.

Do I have to sign for my delivery?

Oui, chef. At the time of delivery, someone over the age of 21 must sign for your box of Champagne. If you’re not typically around during typical delivery hours, or know you will not be there to sign for your package, we recommend routing your shipping address to a convenient UPS retail location. Or you can sign up for UPS My Choice to manage and schedule your deliveries.

Once you’ve received payment confirmation, stay tuned for an automated email from your shipping carrier letting you know they’ve scanned your package for delivery. This email will include a tracking number and an expected delivery time.

*During periods of high volume, it can take our small team up to a week to pack and ship orders once they’re processed. Need your bubbles fast? Let us know, and we’ll do our best to get it out ASAP.

What happens if I miss my delivery?

This happens from time to time. We’re only human! If you miss your package on the first delivery attempt, have no fear. Your UPS driver will attempt delivery three times. After the third attempt, they will hold your package at a UPS location for up to five business days before they ship it back to fatcork.

After your package leaves the fatcork cave, any route or shipping changes to your order may incur additional charges.

What happens if my package is returned to fatcork?

If your order is returned to fatcork, we will contact you about shipping your package back to you at the same address or a different location. You will be charged a carrier-calculated shipping rate to reship the package.

If you prefer a refund instead, no problem! We will schedule the package to be sent back to us and will issue you a refund, minus the carrier-calculated fees to ship the package back to us. Questions? Give us a call or send us an email.

Heatwaves and cold spells: What are my club shipping options in extreme weather?

We will always do our best to make sure your bubbles get to you in tip-top shape, so we keep a close eye on the weather forecast before shipping to your area. If you happen to be experiencing a heatwave or a cold spell that would make shipping too risky, we’ll offer you the following options:

We’ll hold your order and combine it with your next allocation.
We’ll hold your order and ship as soon as the forecast clears.
We can ship via UPS 2-day express based on your delivery address (with ice packs if it’s hot). Additional charges may apply.

It's summer, and I just ordered bubbles from fatcork. Do I really have to choose UPS 2-day express for shipping?

We do our best to make sure your bubbles arrive in the best shape possible. Unfortunately, warm summer weather means it’s often too hot for us to ship your bubbles beyond Washington and Oregon without taking extra precautions to keep them safe. Please refer to the three options above.

Can I pick up my order in person?

Absolutely! Call or email to let us know when you would like to come by the cave, and our celebration specialists will be sure to have your bubbles ready for you when you get here. We’d love to pour you a splash to whet your appetite, or if you’re in a hurry, we can run your order out to your car if you call us when you’re outside.

How will I know when my order is ready for pickup?

Once we process and prepare your order, you will receive an automatic confirmation email. Stop by and grab your bubbles any time after you see this email.

How long do I have to pick up my club member allocation?

After your club allocation is processed, you have 3 months to pick up your allocation. If you are not able to pick them up in this window, good news...We are happy to store your bubbles for a charge of $25 dollars a month. If you do not wish to be charged for storage please pick up before then. Otherwise this will be an automatic monthly charge until your bubbles are picked up. We can also ship your bubbles if you prefer!

It’s summer, and I just ordered bubbles from fatcork. Do I really have to choose UPS 2-day express for the shipping?

We do our best to make sure your bubbles arrive in the best shape possible. Unfortunately, warm summer weather means it’s often too hot for us to ship your bubbles beyond 2-day ground destinations without taking extra precautions to keep them safe. Fatcork reserves the right to implement UPS 2-day express as the only shipping option in these instances of extreme weather. Have questions? Give us a call or send us an email and we can go through some of your other options such as:

We’ll hold your order and keep an eye on the weather and ship as soon as there is a good shipping window in the forecast.