The History of Champagne
Champagne
You may be wondering about the history of champagne. After all, it is the signature drink of Northern France and associated with wealth and festive occasions. While the history of champagne is complicated, it is also filled with tradition and experimentation. Throughout its development, the champagne industry has been the product of cultural change, experimentation, and good fortune. But did you know that champagne was invented accidentally? It is a popular belief that champagne was discovered accidentally. However, winemaking in the Champagne region has been going on for centuries. Grapes were planted in this region during the Gallo-Roman era.
The first recorded use of champagne dates back to 1715, when the Duc d’Orleans served cases of vin mousseux to guests at his court. Although it was a luxury drink until that time, its popularity among Parisian elites quickly grew. At first, champagne was a novelty drink, and most winemakers tried to eliminate its pesky bubbles. But after the Industrial Revolution, champagne became a luxury good and became the drink of choice for the rich.
The history of champagne has many interesting twists. In the 1600s, a monk named Dom Perignon discovered that sugar was fermenting too quickly. He decided to bottle the wine before the due date. However, when the days got warmer, the yeast woke up and began to consume the sugar. From there, champagne became a staple at royal events. The French nobility took champagne to new heights, and in the nineteenth century, the wine became a worldwide drink.
The History of Champagne
Today, champagne is a world favorite for celebratory purposes. Drinking it during coronation ceremonies and sports events has become a rite of passage. It has been used to launch ships, and it has also been popular in celebrations. However, a more recent tradition is the champagne throwing down. In 1967, Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt won the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. After the race, the winner of the race, Dan Gurney, a former Formula One driver, saw Carroll Shelby and sprayed champagne into the crowd. This has become an annual tradition.
Dom Perignon may not have invented the drink, but he owes it to his predecessors. Although he was not responsible for the creation of the first true sparkling wine, he did greatly contribute to the development of the wine industry. His brief was to remove unwanted bubbles from red wine. As a result, he was credited with the first still red wine. This accelerated the development of champagne. It was a noble feat.
The region of Champagne was originally known as Reims. The city is the effective capital of the region. At coronation banquets, the champagne wines flowed freely. The wine was prized for its finesse and taste. It was even given to the kings and queens of France. In fact, the first king of France, Clovis, was baptised in Reims Cathedral on Christmas day in 496 AD. His pious predecessor, Saint Remi, who had a vineyard near Epernay, anointed Clovis with champagne wines. By the 12th century, Champagne had spread to other countries and became big business.