Every celebration deserves the best, so here’s all you need to know about Champagne.
Birthdays, winning events and New Year’s Eve are all traditional times to drink Champagne. But few know that this special wine had its humble beginning in 496 AD. It was Christmas day when the first king of France, Clovis, was crowned by a bishop at Reims Cathedral and consecrated using Champagne wine.
The province in France with the same name is the only place genuine Champagne can be produced. All others are “sparkling wines”/vineyards in the region that are strictly protected by a Geographical Indicator, but in 1891, the Treaty of Madrid and later the Treaty of Versailles both confirmed that the only bottles allowed to be labelled Champagne are those from the region.
A special process that uses fermentation with yeast and sugar creates the lovely bubbles inside the wine, which is why it is also called the “Champenoise” method. This second fermentation happens inside the bottle itself, making it naturally sparkling.
Champagne may be labelled as brut or extra brut. This refers to how sweet the wine is. Extra brut is sweeter with more sugar added during fermentation, while brut is considered a dry wine (not sweet). The standard size of a bottle is 75cl and a 150cl bottle is called a magnum.
Dom Pérignon is a famous Champagne named after a Benedictine monk in the 17th and 18th centuries. He didn’t invent Champagne, but he helped standardize its production. It is made by Moët & Chandon founded in 1743, and they hold the Royal Warrant to supply Champagne to Elizabeth II, Queen of England.
A bottle of their Moët & Chandon Dom Pérignon Charles & Diana 1961 costs £3,023. It was served at the official champagne at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. The limited release is now in the hands of collectors.
The most expensive bottle by Champagne Chapuy and is called Goût de Diamants and is literally more about the bottle than the wine. The cost of £1,408,503 is because of a beautiful expertly cut Swarovski Diamond which sits in the middle of the logo. However, it is possible to purchase a bottle without the diamond for only £172,541.
STATUE OF DOM PÉRIGNON IN HÉPERNAY
IN CHAMPAGNE REGION, FRANCE
