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Champagne has to be the king of all wines, drunk across the globe to celebrate special occasions such as births and marriages, to launch ships and crown victorious sports champions. It’s also just one of the treats that will greet you as you board many of European Waterways luxurious river and canal cruises. And where is this most appropriate if not the floating hotel barge Panache, which takes you on a magical exploration of the region where the grapes for this world class wine are grown. A War of the Wines The history of Champagne is an interesting one. This prestigious drink didn’t start out life as a special wine, but rather developed from a “wine war” that raged for many years between the Burgundy and Champagne regions. Burgundy had long been known for its rich red wines, but the Champenoise, whose land had different soil and climate conditions, were unable to produce anything that came close to the much-sought after Burgundy vintages. Instead, their wines tended to be acidic and a pale, rather than a deep, red colour. One of the main reasons for this was the colder climate that slowed fermentation. It resulted in the production of excessive amounts of carbon dioxide in the fermenting bottles often causing them to explode – not the desired result! The surviving bottles contained a fizzy wine which was disdained by the French. Dom Pérignon – The First Great Champagne Producer However, here in England, the rich and nobility rather liked this new bubbly wine and drank it in copious quantities. Dom Pérignon, a Benedictine monk, was a key figure in the history of Champagne. He was responsible for developing the first champagne that was a commercial success – even though he still tried to produce a non-carbonated wine. Whilst he did not actually invent the region’s sparkling wine, he did develop a process that made exploding bottles less of a problem. Wine producers across the region, realising that they had a commercial success on their hands, began producing this new wine in greater quantities, even though they still considered it a poor substitute for “proper” wines. Interestingly, it was British bottle manufacturing technology that made it possible to produce stronger bottles that were able to withstand the internal pressure generated by the fermentation process. Bollinger, Moët et al. By the nineteenth century, Champagne was a huge success across Europe and some of the world’s most famous brands came into existence – Bollinger, Krug, Pommery, Veuve Clicquot, GH Mumm and what is perhaps the most well-known brand, Moët & Chandon. It was, in fact, the founder of Moët & Chandon who established champagne as the drink of choice for the rich and the famous as they spent much of their marketing effort on establishing the drink as a status symbol. So there we have it – a brief history of Champagne! Enjoy the Luxury European Waterways cruises are known for the luxury they provide their guests. Sailing through the Champagne region, enjoying a fine glass of bubbly, is an experience that will remain with you for many years to come! Author Plate Paul Newman is the Marketing and E-Systems Executive for European Waterways, the UK's most respected provider of all-inclusive, luxury barge holidays. Offering holidays to France and other great destinations, itineraries include wine tours to learn about the history of Champagne and other wines, as well as a variety of cultural and themed activities. Part of a team of experienced barging aficionados, Paul is first in line to endorse the perks of a slow-paced barge cruise to anyone looking for a unique holiday experience.
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