The Champagne region is a historic province that lies about 100 miles east of Paris.  There are 5 departements within the region; these are Aisne, Aube, Haute-Marne, Marne and Seine-et-Marne.  The capital is Toyres and this along with Reims and Epernay are the commercial centers of the region.

The region of Champagne produced a still, light and crisp wine as early as the medieval times and this was enjoyed mainly by Kings and offered as Homage to Monarchs in Europe. These wines, much as Champagne and fine wine are enjoyed today marked occasions of celebration and in those days social status.  The English were the biggest consumers of this wine produced in the 17^th Century.

The first commercial sparkling wine was produced in 1535 in the Limoux area of Languedoc.  1700 saw the birth of Champagne as we know it today

Contrary to popular belief it was in fact an English scientist and physician that documented a second fermentation to wine by adding sugar thus producing Champagne some 30 years before Dom Perignon who is often thought to have first developed the process to produce Champagne.  Christopher Memmet the English physician and scientist presented the paper which detailed his method known as ‘Methode Champenoise’ to the Royal Society in 1662.

Although the French monk Dom Perignon may not have been the first to produce Champagne he did however develop many advances to make it what we know it as today.  One of his main advances that quickly help consumers to distinguish between a still wine and a sparkling wine or Champagne is the holding of the cork in place by means of a wire collar, this is to withstand the fermentation pressure hence the ‘pop’ when a bottle of is opened. Dom Perignon is still considered one of the most desirable Champagnes.

Much like today the advertisement and association of a product had advantages or hindrances to the success of it.  Champagne was a luxurious drink associated with this kind of lifestyle mainly enjoyed by Kings in its early days.  To continue its high profile reputation as years went on it was therefore advertised and packaged with an association to high luxury, festivities, celebration and monetary power; this tradition is still adopted today however now due to the sheer number of varieties of being produced it is more accessible to the masses although it is still mainly opened and enjoyed at special occasions.

Celebrity endorsement was also something the Champagne houses used, to sell their product.  This was the case with Moet & Chandon (one of the most popular and affordable Champagnes of today).  They commissioned George Melbourne, a famous and highly sophisticated entertainer and major star of his day, to write and perform songs about the wonders of Champagne, linking it to ‘the good life’; he was also asked to only be seen drinking Champagne when in public.  This saw the consumption of Champagne put to the forefront of enhancing ones social status.

Champagne today has come on massively since these first days and it has changed in many ways through out this time hence the varieties and producers we now see today.