The history of champagne

Article 04/12/2015

Centuries of tradition go into the making of champagne. From its origins as a sacred wine, it later became the preferred beverage of kings at their coronation ceremonies. Nowadays we know it as the time-honored wine of special occasions.

 

Discover the history of Champagne, centuries of tradition go into the history of champagne. (Full screen mode on Youtube)

Birth of a terroir

  • 3rd century: Viticulture first appeared in Champagne;
  • 1114: Great Charte champenoise;
  • 16th century: reputation of Aÿ wines.

From a still wine to an effervescent wine

  • 1735: birth of the Champagne bottle, still in use today;
  • 1811: founding of Maison Perrier-Jouët;
  • 1827: founding of Maison Mumm;
  • 19th century: champagne embodied the
    French spirit and became the celebratory wine.

Beginnings of the Champagne appellation

  • 1882: four champagne houses, including Maison Mumm, founded the first trade body, the Syndicat de commerce de vins de Champagne;
  • 1887: the name 'champagne' is reserved for wines from the Champagne region;
  • 1890-1894: phylloxera crisis;
  • 1908: first delimitations of the terroir (15,000 hectares along the Marne and Aisne Rivers);
  • 1911: official establishment of the 'cru ranking';
  • 1927: new regional delimitation.

Struggle for quality

  • 1931-1935: crises caused by overproduction and poor sales;
  • 29 June 1936: creation of the Champagne AOC label to guarantee the quality and authenticity of the terroir;
  • 1941: creation of the CIVC (Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne), a trade organization bringing together independent champagne producers and Champagne Houses;
  • 2001: launch of sustainable wine growing.

Read also:

 

Tags

On the same topic

  • Approval of the Half-Year Financial Results and filing of the Half-Year Financial report for FY2024/25

    The Board of Director held on 12 February 2025 approved the financial statements as of 31 December 2024. Those statements are in line with the preliminary financial information disclosed on 6 February 2025.

    Read more
  • Accor joins the groundbreaking data management technology partnership launched by Pernod Ricard and JCDecaux

    Two years after the launch of their innovative digital partnership, Pernod Ricard and JCDecaux are welcoming another internationally renowned French group, Accor, as they continue to develop the Data Portal.

    Read more
  • Availability of preparatory documents for the Annual General Meeting of 8 November 2024

    Pernod Ricard shareholders are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held on Friday, 8 November 2024 at 2 p.m at Salle Pleyel, 252, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré - 75008 Paris.

    Read more