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 super! Send us an email at info@fatcork.com, 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.

When is the tasting room open?

We are open Monday-Thursday from 10-6, Friday from 10-7 and Saturday from 11-7. Closed Sunday.

There is a tasting fee of 40$ 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 & Tastings page on the "Discover" drop-down menu.

Do you do private tastings?

Mais oui! We would love to host you at the cave for your event. Click here for the breakdown on private events.

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 are my membership benefits?

All of our fatcork Champagne Club members are entitled to the following benefits:

- Complimentary Champagne tastings for members and up to two guests ($40 per person value)

- Champagne-tasting guest passes (up to four per month) for when you want to send friends and family in your stead. Your guests need only drop your name.

- Outside of club shipments, receive a sixth bottle free with any five-bottle purchase (standard-size bottles only)

- Free shipping for add-on bottles that ship with your quarterly allocation

- The option to update your delivery address before each allocation

- A complimentary bottle added to your allocation for you when you refer a friend to the club. Simply email us. Or your friend can let us know, too.

- Special pricing on “members only” Champagne selections

- Complimentary access to quarterly “members only” Champagne events

- First access to ticketed fatcork events and the opportunity to host private events in the cave at a reduced price

- First dibs on rare and exclusive fatcork cuvées

- Each quarterly allocation offers special pricing at 15-30 percent below the regular cost of bottles purchased individually

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

When can I expect my bubbles?

Typically, we process your first box of bubbles shortly after sign up. However, before we pack up your order to ship or for pick up, a celebration specialist will reach out personally with your options. Allocations are curated seasonally and release once a quarter in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

Can I pick up my club allocation in person?

If you are a local member and wish to pick up at the cave, as soon as your quarterly club allocation is processed, your bubbles are ready for you to take home with you!

**Months where there is a club release, there will be a members' only tasting event. Otherwise, if you’re in the neighborhood, we’d love to hand off your allocation with a little splash to whet your appetite!

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.

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

After your club allocation is processed, it is available for pick up right away.

If an allocation has not been collected after three allocation periods, we cannot guarantee that the allocated cuvées selected for you will be available at time of pick up. Instead your bottles will be substituted for available inventory.

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 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 express air. This cost will be added to your club invoice.

Can I customize my allocation?

Yes, you can! We now offer members the option to customize their quarterly allocations. Before we begin packing up each shipment, members will receive an email reminding them to log into their account and select their desired cuvées. If the member is happy with their allocation as is, no further action is required, and they will receive their carefully curated, one-of-a-kind allocation as we designed it.

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.

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.

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:

If you are a club member, 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 2-day express based on your delivery address (with ice packs in our insulated packaging). Additional charges may apply.