Crossword Genius

Winner with time to quaff new celebratory drink (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

champagne

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'celebratory drink' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'winner with time to quaff new' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'winner' could be 'champ' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'champ' is found in the answer.
'new' could be 'n' (abbreviation as in New Testament NT) and 'n' is located in the answer.
'time' could be 'age' (an age is a period of time) and 'age' is found in the leftover letters.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for champagne that I've seen before include "bubbles" , "Someone whose life style belies their professed radical politics" , "region of France" , "part of France" , "French 'sparkler'" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app