French sparkling wine D.O. Champagne

Fossil evidence shows that wild vines flourished in this region. However it was the Romans in AD 79 who laid much of the groundwork for the now world-famous Champagne appellation. Quick to recognise the exceptional terroir they began to develop the vineyards and introduce forward thinking winemaking techniques. They also quarried the chalk creating vast chalk pits (crayères) now used as cellars by the Champagne Houses. The name even derives from Latin - ‘campus’, ‘campania’ meaning field and in old French this became ‘champaign’. A lot happened between AD79 and 1900! Invasion, war, plague, drought, famine and revolution to name but a few of the notable events. But come what may the Champenois kept faith in their appellation – building, improving, protecting until finally on December 17th 1908 the delimitation of the Champagne vineyard (setting out the geographic area) became official. Now only grapes grown in Champagne could be used to make Champagne thwarting the disreputable shippers, who fraudulently blended cheap imported wine with Champagne. Today the Champenois are reaping the rewards of many centuries of hard work and their precious Champagne appellation, has come to represent a worldwide benchmark for quality, authenticity and excellence. The Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) is a semi-public body set up under the aegis of the French Government to co-ordinate the common interests of wine growers and houses in Champagne. Among its key duties are the promotion and protection of the Champagne appellation around the world.