Georges Sand once said that “champagne helps us wonder”. Captions and quotes about this festive drink which was used to characterize joy and cheer over the years are numerous. Weddings, official receptions or even boats are entitled their own bottle. At Les Grappes, good news is always greeted with bubbles.
Produced in the region of the same name, champagne is entitled an AOC to the very precise specifications. In fact, only three main vines are authorized: the Chardonnay, the Pinot noir and the Pinot Miller. Other factors such as the zone of production, the vintage cutting, the yield, the degree of alcohol and the maturation are also taken into account.
Bunches are manually and naturally harvested in order not to damage the product and once the grape is pressed, assembly occurs: we mix vines and vintages to obtain the best combination…
Now that you know more about this drink that would go great with any kind of food, learn to taste it like a true French! In order to do this, you must understand how champagne claimed its emblematic status in French culture and how it quickly became associated with opulence....
It all began in 496, when King Clovis was baptized in Reims (the unofficial capital of champagne, where many champagne houses have their headquarters). Since then, all the kings have been crowned there and Champagne flowed freely at these ceremonies; that’s how it became synonymous with prestige.
The second stroke of luck was a decree given by King Louis XIV. The "Roi Soleil" was obsessed with champagne and decreed that it should be transported in glass bottles rather than in barrels, which released the gas. From that moment on, Champagne was protected under specific packaging, which contributed to making it a prestigious drink.
Today, champagne is the first drink you think of when you have an occasion to celebrate or when you’re looking for a taste of luxury... we can thank Napoleon, the French Revolution, Louis XIV as well as our famous winemakers for its everlasting iconic status…!
