October 17, 2022
The Wonderful World of Champagne
Everyone recognises that Champagne is something special, it’s why that ‘pop’ of uncorking brings such a cheer. We see it as a symbol of success, wealth, and celebration. Champagne is far more than just sparkling wine, but what is it exactly that sets it apart?
Sparkling wine only qualifies as Champagne by falling within a set of strict regulations. This includes which grapes it’s pressed from, the fermentation process, the storage process, and, of course, the fact that it must be grown and bottled in the region of Champagne.
In fact, when you buy Champagne, make sure you look for the acronym AOC on the label. This stands for ‘appellation d’origine controlée’ and is a guarantee that the nectar within follows the appropriate standards.
The actual Champagne region is set in the north-east of France, about 100km east of Paris, and the Champagne wine region expands past those boundaries to a total 84,000 acre landmass. There are three significant cities in the region, those of Reims, Épernay and Aÿ.
The famous Champagne houses are all found here, naturally, and many of them offer tours, with a tasting of course. Reims, (unofficially the capital of the Champagne region), is only an hour away from Paris, so makes an excellent day trip, especially if you want to add on the nearby Epernay.
If visiting Epernay, be sure to walk the Avenue de Champagne and spot the residences of Moet & Chandon, Perrier-Jouet, Boizel, de Venoge, Vranken, Pol Roger, Mercier, and G. H. Martel.
The Accidental Rise of Champagne
Champagne wasn’t always as we know and love it today. Matter of fact, sparkling wine of any kind was an unwanted byproduct of imperfect storage and fermentation. Monks of the time in the famous monastery of Dom Pérignon even used to refer to it as ‘vinum diaboli’ (the devil’s wine).
Whilst it is commonly claimed that Dom Pérignon is the inventor of Champagne, it is similarly stated that the English are responsible for sparkling wine’s effervescent arrival. The truth is that it’s a bit fuzzier than that.
We can most certainly attribute the refined techniques of fermentation, harvest, pruning, and blending to the good Pérignon, who essentially wrote the book on it. We can also thank the English for better bottling and corking advancements to allow for more consistent storage and transportation.
Both the French and the English held wine from the region in high regard and it frequently made appearances at coronations and other high society events. With Champagne being so well received by the wealthier classes, the industry took note and began to shift their focus. In fact, many wool merchants in the Champagne region saw the lucrative potential and changed industries to take advantage.
Champagne vs Other Sparkling Wines
Other than the process and geographical distinctions, Champagne is much drier than other sparkling wines like prosecco or cava. However, this wasn’t always the case. In the early days of Champagne production, the taste was for a sweeter, more cloying flavour and sugar was often added to cover subpar ingredients or any issues with fermentation.
Historians say that Russia and the Scandinavian countries preferred a much sweeter taste in their sparkling wines than French, German, or American consumers. And that the English preferred it more like we find it today. So where Champagne bottled for English consumption may have contained around 22-26 grams of sugar, Russian Champagne often held an extraordinary 250-330 grams of sugar per bottle.
Champagne also differs from other sparkling wines in how the bubbles are formed. While many sparkling wines are carbonated in stainless steel vats, Champagne bubbles are formed as part of a secondary fermentation process in the bottle itself. It’s the labour-intensiveness of this second step that really makes Champagne stand out in a class of it’s own.
The Drink of Kings
Champagne has long held a close relationship with royalty, more so than any other sparkling wine, and can be considered the go-to. In 496 AD, King Clovis was baptised in Reims and since then, every other king has been crowned there. Naturally, Champagne wine flowed freely, as the local product, and the foundations were set.
King Louis XIV, the Sun King, also played a key role in helping Champagne get to where it is today. It is widely recorded that he was obsessed with Champagne, and he decreed that, to preserve the gas within the wine, it must be transported in glass bottles instead of wooden barrels, which allowed the gas to escape. This ensured that Champagne was then synonymous with a specific packaging, helping to secure the identity of Champagne as a drink of choice.
Champagne Moments
“Champagne is one of the elegant extras in life.” - Charles Dickens
Special moments throughout our lives are often called ‘Champagne moments’. This could be a promotion, a wedding, a house purchase, or anything that’s personally significant. Champagne is also synonymous with achievement and celebration, which is why we see it popped, sprayed, and drunk at sporting victories around the world.
However, Champagne is also used to elevate an occasion into something special. As the former head of house Bollinger, Lily Bollinger, once put it,
“I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it—unless I’m thirsty.”
As such a revered beverage, it’s possible to have it for any reason at all. It’s made to be enjoyed and savoured, so why not pop open a bottle and feel like royalty if you can?
For your next special occasion, or to make that next gathering that much more elegant, The Wine Flyer has a range of Champagnes for you to enjoy. From elegant rosé Champagnes to iconic Veuve Clicquot’s, relatively young vintages from Nicholas Feuillatte to timeless Moet’s, there’s a Champagne to match your means and occasion. So call up your friends and plan that next event with a bottle of bubbly to go with it.
The Wine Flyer suggests: Champagne Angel Brut Rose NV; Champagne Angel Brut NV; Champagne Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial NV; Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV; Champagne Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Blanc; Champagne Castelnau Brut NV.