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When thoughts of champagne come to mind, they are normally accompanied by thoughts of celebration and excitement. Champagne is an icon of success and elegance and has been seen that way for centuries.
There is a region in France that is the home of this bubbly nectar – the Champagne region. This is where some of the oldest vineyards in the world exist and where the celebration drink of choice was created and perfected. From old cities to a variety of vineyards, this area is embedded in history for its champagne production. But what makes this area so special?
You might be wondering, where is the Champagne region of France? Sitting to the east of Paris, the Champagne region in France is one of the country’s historic provinces. The area is synonymous with the sparkling wine that bears its name, and the reason why we know the word ‘champagne’ around the world. However, sparkling wine was not exactly invented in the area.
According to legends, the method of making the sparkling wine was brought up from the south of France by monks. The climate and soil in the Champagne area were said to produce a better product. Champagne itself also owes its commercial success to the fact that it is in close proximity to Paris and other European cities, and that a reputation for quality wine was developed back in the Middle Ages.
The term ‘Champagne’ doesn’t mean that anything inside your glass with bubbles is just that. Champagne is a type of bubbly that is created with strict adherence to a set of specific standards within one of the zones in Champagne, France. There are five winemaker districts in the area: Aube, Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte de Sézanne and Côte des Blancs.
The name ‘Champagne’ itself is a protected designation of origin, meaning that it can only be labeled as champagne in the European Union if it is bottled within Champagne, France. There is, however, a loophole that allows sparkling wine from the United States, California in particular, to use the word ‘Champagne’. They didn’t sign the Treaty of Versailles at the end of WW1 and therefore don’t fall under European protection of the name.
Some of the oldest champagne houses are in this area, with one being over 270 years old. The vineyards, hillsides, and cellars are all listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although the whole area is famous, there are two cities that really stand out amongst the rest and are known to all – Reims and Épernay.
Reims, or Rheims as it is sometimes spelled, is a city in northeastern France within the Champagne region. It was founded by Gauls and was a major city within the Roman Empire. Of all the cities in Champagne France, Épernay and Reims create what is the industrial center for the Champagne wine district.
This area is home to a large number of some of the biggest champagne-producing houses, also known as les grandes marques, of whom most use Reims as their headquarters. The champagne itself is stored in tunnels that have been cut into the chalk underground to form cellars. These tunnels form a maze underneath the city, with some even dating back to the Roman period.
You will find Épernay in the north of France. It has quite the elite aesthetic, thanks to the expensive houses and mansions that have been constructed from the profits of the champagne trade. The city itself sits at the base of the hills, surrounded by vineyards, and is known as a mecca for any Champagne lover.
The self-proclaimed Capitale du Champagne or Champagne capital, the city of Épernay is home to some of the world’s most celebrated Champagne houses. Hiding below the streets of the city in roughly 110km of cellars, there are around 200 million bottles of champagne being aged. The city is only 1.5 hours from Paris and 30 minutes or so from Reims.
Everything may have begun with an ideal area of land for a champagne vineyard but there is also a huge amount of talented humans that play a role in the creation of this exceptional wine. Although the Champagne region itself is famous, there are a number of Champagne houses that have solidified their prominent status around the globe.
At over 270 years old, Moët & Chandon is the world’s most revered and loved champagne. This particular champagne house is famous for introducing champagne to the world toward the end of the 18th century. Consumed by royalty and notable figures, this champagne quickly became the benchmark. It grew into an icon that symbolises success and elegance, which it still represents to this day.
This is probably the oldest champagne house in the region with close to three centuries of heritage to discover. It can be found on the Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, only 80 minutes from Paris by train.
Founded in 1827 and located in the heart of the Champagne region in Reims, you will find the champagne house, G.H. Mumm. This vineyard has built a reputation for being one of the oldest and best in the area, thanks to its continued pursuit of excellence and innovation.
What makes Mumm champagne so unique is the structure and complexity of the Pinot Noir that is used to create it. They use a combination of their own vineyards and an external supply from independent vineyards in the region. The producers’ motto is “only the best”. They strive for this with constant research and innovation through scientific studies to improve procedures.
The Champagne region of France is rich in history and significant for the bubbly that it perfected and introduced to the world. Any connoisseur should have the land of Champagne on their bucket list to visit.
From the rolling hills covered with vineyards to the champagne houses that are centuries old, this area is not only for quenching your thirst but also for taking in some stunning views. Besides, everyone wants to say that they had some champagne in Champagne.
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