Champagne & Sparkling Wine: From Ancient Times to Global Fame

Champagne or sparkling wine is an ancient drink that is now an irreplaceable attribute of every special occasion. It is viewed as a symbol of status, quality, and prestige. At the same time, it is a symbol of celebration and joy. Many people call it a “happy drink” that can bring cheer and joy to any occasion or experience. But where did it all start?

If you are a fan of Champagne, you must also be wondering what the history of this exquisite beverage is. Or maybe, you are a student who was tasked with writing an essay on this topic. In this case, you can simply have professional paper writers write my essay and delegate this complex task to an academic writing service to get a high grade with ease. Still, we suggest you read this article to learn about the rich and long history of this drink.

Ancient Times

There is no secret that wine is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages. It can be traced back to 5400-5000 B.C. According to experts, this beverage originated from areas where today’s Georgia, Persia, Armenia, and Italy are situated.

Sparkling wine originated a little later. However, it still takes root in ancient times. The process of effervescence (carbonation) of wine can be traced to the works of Ancient Greek and Roman writers.

Although people started making sparkling wine pretty early, it wasn’t welcomed as warmly as wine. To many people, the appearance of bubbles in this drink was not understood and, thus, seemed to be rather mysterious. Because of this, for a long time, sparkling wine has been attributed to phases of the moon and even to both evil and good spirits.

The Birth of Champagne

Many people now tend to refer to any sparkling wine as “Champagne.” However, according to an expert writer from a trusted write my essay custom writing service and an expert in history, this isn’t quite right. The truth is that the name “Champagne” can only be attributed to sparkling wine that was produced in the area of Champagne, located in the northeastern part of France.

The region of Champagne has been known before medieval times for its fine still wines. However, winemakers from this region faced certain issues with the fermentation and production of wines due to the specific climate. And this was what led to the rise of Champagne, among other reasons.

The history of Champagne began with a French Benedictine monk, Dom Pierre Pérignon. This name is widely known now. In fact, many attribute this person to the invention of sparkling wine. However, if you are working on an essay on this topic, don’t make this mistake. Dom Pérignon didn’t invent sparkling wine. But he did make a contribution to the development of Champagne.

Dom Pérignon invented innovative techniques for careful vineyard management, the use of thick bottles that would prevent explosions (which were common in the Champagne region), and blending different grape varieties.

Soon after the innovations introduced by Don Perignon, local winemakers discovered the technique of secondary fermentation. The technique implied that wines would undergo a second fermentation right in the bottle. Winemakers then tried adding extra sugar and yeast, which created bubbles in still wines. And these techniques have all become the foundation for producing Champagne.

Popularization and Expansion

At first, when Champagne winemakers started producing their sparkling wines, they didn’t gain vast popularity. This was until the 18th century when this drink was noticed by the French aristocracy and royalty.

From this point, the popularity of the drink was growing rapidly. Champagne became a symbol of luxury and celebration, which led to the emergence of several worldwide famous Champagne houses like Moët & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot. In case you are dealing with essay writing on this topic, be sure to note these two houses as they were among the first and largest producers of Champagne, and they are still renowned today.

Finally, in the 19th century, the production of Champagne withstood industrialization. Industrialization equipped winemakers with advanced equipment and innovative techniques. Namely, the riddling rack that was invented by Madame Clicquot during this time enabled winemakers to remove sediment from Champagne bottles, which was a real breakthrough.

All in all, the advancements in the production process led to significant expansion of Champagne. During this time, the Champagne region gained fame beyond France, all across the world. And since that time, Champagne was becoming more and more popular everywhere.

The Bottom Line

The history of sparkling wine and Champagne, in particular, takes root in the ancient world and stretches throughout decades. What was first attributed to evil spirits is now a symbol of status and joy.

If you are assigned to write an essay on the history of Champagne, of course, the easiest way to handle it is to delegate the task to the best essay writing services. Still, we hope that reading this brief overview of this drink’s history was engaging. We bet that it will make you love this great beverage even more!