Champagne history about the noblest of all sparkling wines

In the Champagne wine has been cultivated here since the 4th century. At that time, however, nobody could have guessed what an exclusive drink would one day characterise the image of this region. Due to its privileged location in the heart of Europe, Champagne quickly developed into a vibrant trading centre in the early Middle Ages. As a result, the region's high-quality wines also gained a good reputation beyond France's borders.

Wine enjoyed great popularity among the European aristocracy, and Louis XIV made it his house wine, thereby initiating a trend. However, until around 1650, these were generally still wines. It was the English who forced the moussing of wine. It developed into a custom to make the wine lively and sparkling using cinnamon, cloves, sugar and molasses). The inhabitants of Champagne would never have thought of adding such strange ingredients to their wines.

Champagne history

Bendictine monks like Dom Pérignon and Frère Jean Oudart would eventually refine the methods of Champagne production. Originally, Dom Pérignon's main aim was to give the wine from Champagne a unique quality by skilfully blending the grapes. However, Dom Pérignon and his contemporaries were certainly not initially interested in giving the wine sparkling bubbles. Rather, he was irritated by the slight sparkle that he observed in some wines in his role as cellar master and considered to be a flaw.

The champagne process

The fine and originally undesirable bubbles are likely to have been the result of a natural process that was partly determined by the cool and harsh climate of Champagne and the short growing season for the wine. As the grapes were often harvested late in the year, the yeasts contained in the pressed grapes did not have enough time to fully convert the sugar into alcohol. The cool winter temperatures brought the fermentation process to a standstill for several weeks. It is only with the warmer temperatures of spring that the fermentation in the bottle gets going a second time. The carbon dioxide produced during this process collects in the tightly sealed bottle and provides the decisive tingling sensation.

Coincidence, an oversight

Accidentally bottling unfinished wine was subsequently developed into a veritable art and refined further and further. From then on, no one would be able to stand in the way of the triumphant advance of the noble drop. The drink, which was initially only popular in aristocratic circles, quickly gained the favour of numerous artists and intellectuals such as Voltaire and Goethe, and as its popularity grew, so did the upper middle classes. Imperial Chancellor Bismarck, like Prussian King Frederick William IV, developed a pronounced soft spot for the drink. Champagne is rumoured.

Winston Churchill is credited with the words quoted"You deserve it when you win, you need it when you lose." And Marilyn Monroe is even said to have bathed in it. At the same time, the slightly sparkling drink always had an air of cosy wickedness about it, which it retains to this day. In short, champagne became the fashionable drink of the rich and famous and still symbolises exclusivity and luxury today.

Champagne grapes

The Champagne region

Canard-Duchêne Champagne Victor Canard & Leonie Duchêne

Families of Champagne

A number of German families such as Roederer, Bollinger, Heidsieck, Krug and Mumm also contributed to the success of Champagne, mainly coming to Champagne from the Rhenish wine-growing regions. While only 300,000 bottles were produced in 1785, by 1910 the figure had risen to 40 million. By the end of the 1980s, production had even risen to 200 million bottles. However, the Champagne producers, who were spoilt for success, had to buy in huge quantities of grapes due to the high production volumes.

As a result, prices for grapes from Champagne rose significantly and were several times higher than those for grapes from other typical wine-growing countries such as Italy or Spain.

As the price of grapes rose, so did the price of a single bottle of champagne. In addition, the approaching recession cut into the financial resources of many a champagne lover. The price that rose between 1989 and 1992 The blatant slump in champagne sales was therefore almost predictable. As a result of this crisis, numerous renowned producers came under pressure and were bought up by a number of large groups. Among the world-renowned houses that remained independent were Bollinger, Pol-Roger and Roederer.

Champagne production

In the meantime, there has been a slight recovery from the crisis and champagne production has reached a new record high. But some things have changed: In times of less bulging wallets, enterprising suppliers have managed to establish a low-priced "supermarket champagne", the so-called "Premier Prix", which has stubbornly remained on the market. For consumers, it seems to be more important to be able to afford champagne at all. The bottle for less than 15 euros from the supermarket shelf is just right - even if it doesn't quite reach the quality of a champagne for 40, 50 or more euros. In Germany, this cheap champagne has managed to gain a market share of around 30 per cent in a very short space of time.

Millesimes

Nonetheless, even the finest champagnes still have their place. The most sought-after here are undoubtedly those with a Vintagealso known as millesimes. They are characterised by an individual bouquet that is more reminiscent of wine. At the top of the list of favourites among true connoisseurs are the champagne varieties that are only made from the most highly cultivated grapes of a vintage.

These "cuvées de prestige" include Moet's "Dom Pérignon", Roederer's "Cristal", Abel Lepitre's "Prince André de Bourbon Parme" and, of course, Perrier-Jouet's "Belle Epoque". The dizzying prices are not talked about in these quality regions - you pay and enjoy.

Nowadays, when a Formula 1 star takes a shower on the podium under the spray of an exquisite drop of wine, it is likely to bring tears to the eyes of true connoisseurs.

Champagne history about the noblest of all sparkling wines