Sparkling wine was invented in the Limoux area of Languedoc about 1535. Champagne was first produced in the French region of Champagne about 1700.

Dom Perignon began "La mthode champenoise" was introduced into the region by about 1700. The popularity of champagne did not develop until about 1650 when the nobility and royalty of Europe became "intoxicated" by the eloquent taste. Bollinger Champagne became, as a result of brilliant marketing and fashionable trends, especially identified with luxury, celebrations and partying amongst the wealthy and privileged. Bollinger Cuvee Champagne remains a firm favourite among many champagne buffs.

Champagne glasses began as traditional fluted designs that well showed the effervescent nature of the wine, but "saucer" shaped glasses became popular in England about 1663. In time, Champagne came to symbolize affluence and the "good life". Of course, despite over indulgence and decadence, champagne quickly began to be looked upon as the ?Wine of kings - the king of wines.? [Guy du Maupaussant]

By the WW1, Champagne was used as an indicator of the superior quality of French goods and itself became the symbol of the inherited value of the French countryside. Winston Churchill's above comments indicated the importance of the British support for the French situation.

Verve Cliquot Demi Sec Champagne: The shortage of Demi Sec and Brut Champagne in England, and some think that Verve Cliquot in all varieties and particularly Demi Sec Champagne were an important factor in the the outcome of WW2?

Moet & Chandon Champagne is made from vineyards that grow Chardonnay, Pinot noir and meunier varieties. The mature grapes are sorted and undergo rapid pressing, but without crushing so as to avoid and maceration. After a settling the must is fermented at low temperature. "Prise de mousse" is a second fermentation in the bottle and is produced by adding to the wine a highly concentrated yeast liqueur. Moet Chandon Imperial Champagne bottles are then capped [they used to be corked back in my day - 1963] and the Moet Chandon Imperial Champagn bottles are racked horizontally. After a controlled period of fermentation, the bottles are re-racked with a neck down tilt. For some time the bottles are individually rotated by hand and laid to rest in a slightly different position until all the sediment reaches the cork - or cap. Not very long ago a clever machine was used to removed the old cork from the upside-down bottles and replaced them with a new corks - an great machine to watch. Many vineyards now freeze the neck and disgorge the ice with the sediment. This is less wasteful I am told. At this stage the wine can be "topped-up" with old wine to produce a particular champagne vintage.

Vintage Champagne Comments: I am sure that a formula 1 race or a golf victory does not require Vintage Champagne to be sprayed, but the writer truly values Vintage champagne and rejects the wasteful practice of spraying this precious and exquisite liquid at such events, whatever the vintage. To some it looks impressive, but to me it is a disgusting waste of a valuable resource that deserves our preservation in line with all of earth's wonderful resources and not our abuse.

Brut Champagnes from Wines-UK include: Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec Champagne; Taittinger and Nicolas Feuillatte Rose & Brut Champagnes.

Cristal Champagne: Cristal Champagne was only commercially available in 1945 and owing to clever marketing in the late 1990s, Cristal Champagne has become a trendy adjunct to the modern rap music culture. Cristal Champagne is probably the most expensive Champagne at a RRP over 800.00 a bottle. Although we will deliver your Vintage Cristal Champagne gift with the minimum of delay. Champagne gifts are not an every day sale for us. We would like to sell Cristal Champagne and you would like to buy it every day as a champagne gift no doubt! !

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Bench Marque Wines Ltd.
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Broadstone,
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