Great champagnes

The traditional use of champagne dates back to well before the Middle Ages, to the 5th century BC. At that time, the first baptized Frankish king, Clovis, was crowned in Reims Cathedral. The wines used for his coronation were champagne. A few centuries later, this beverage became the wine of choice for all the important events of the French crown, and even for historic moments around the world. In this guide, we look back at the history of the great champagnes, how this festive beverage is made and our selection of the best producers

History of champagne wine

Wine has been used in the celebration of the Eucharist since the earliest days of Christianity. But champagne entered the history books with the baptism and coronation of the first king of France, Clovis, in 496 BC. Saint Rémi, bishop of Reims, anointed the monarch. Champagne wines were consecrated on this day. A few centuries later, the official union between the Queen of Navarre, Countess of Champagne, and Philip IV the Fair, King of France, sealed the eternal link between Champagne and the crown of France. From 898 to 1825, the coronation of the kings of France took place in the heart of Champagne. Champagne wines were present in large quantities at these banquets, and it was even customary to offer them to any royal visitor to the region. Similarly, in the 18th century, during the French Revolution, they were the only drinks served to celebrate the culmination of this period of political and social upheaval. The same fizzy beverage became an essential part of the great moments in history, uniting the European powers that took part in the Congress of Vienna between September 1814 and June 1815. It was also drunk at the signing of major treaties, such as the Maastricht Treaty, and at major exhibitions. Its fame is so undisputed that it's inconceivable not to pour champagne on the happy occasions of life and special achievements. The inaugural flights of Concorde, the conquest of Annapurna and Everest, the opening of the Channel Tunnel, motor racing... are all celebrated with champagne. Opening a bottle of this excellent wine is not reserved for celebrations. Philippe d'Orléans asked for this wine before his appearance before the Revolutionary Court. Czarist troops defeated by Napoleon also drowned their sorrows in this sparkling beverage

The champagne-making process

From the 7th to the 17th century, Champagne wine was not sparkling. Legend has it that it was the blessed monk Dom Pérignon who invented the process for making sparkling wine. But if history is anything to go by, the "Maison Ruinart" was the first to offer the sparkling version of Champagne wine in 1729. In fact, Champagne is the result of blending basic wines from three grape varieties(chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier). They are cultivated in numerous vineyards, up to a hundred basic wines. The idea is to ensure the consistency of non-vintage champagne. White champagnes made from 100% Chardonnay are lively, elegant and delicate, with good ageing potential. They become more structured with the addition of Pinot Noir, while the addition of Meunier gives them fruity and floral notes. To make champagne, producers use the "méthode champenoise". The wine is placed in a full-glass bottle. A dose of sugar and yeast is added to create bubbles. The cork is not yet placed in the bottle. The wine is then left to age in the cellars for 18 months to over 10 years, depending on the champagne. If there is no riddling machine, the bottles are turned slightly every day to bring the sediment of the lees to the top of the bottle. The machines then freeze the neck of the bottle. They then remove the neck, and the lees escape under the effect of the pressure inside the bottle. They may add a sugar or syrup solution before corking the bottle. The champagne is then ready for sale

Champagne classification

Unlike Bordeaux wines, which are classified by region, town, village and parcel, Champagne is classified according to crus and the village in which the grapes are grown. There are also a myriad of champagne brands. Some products are produced by a single Champagne house, while others are grown by cooperatives or several producers. In all cases, there are big-brand champagnes such as Moet et Chandon/Dom Pérignon, Cristal/Roederer, Pol Roger/Winston, etc

The main champagne producers