History of the Vineyards

As we walk along Rue Eugène Mercier toward the prestigious Avenue de Champagne, let me tell you a bit about the history of the sparkling wine that shares its name with an entire region of France. The region itself was called Champagne long before the invention of the drink, named after its vast open plains. Since Gallo-Roman times, still wines—meaning non-sparkling—were produced here. The area’s wine reputation grew quickly, thanks to its ideal conditions but also to its proximity to Reims, where most of France’s kings were crowned. After the coronation ceremonies, grand banquets were held, and plenty of local wine was served, helping Champagne gain early fame. In the 16th century, a Parisian edict limited taverns to sourcing wine from within a 90-kilometer radius of the capital—good news for Champagne, which fell within that zone. Even back then, some sparkling wines were already being made, but the process was unpredictable. Winemakers couldn’t control how much the wine would bubble—sometimes the pressure was too high and bottles exploded, other times they wouldn’t sparkle at all. That’s where Dom Pérignon comes in. His work helped improve wine quality and introduced techniques to regulate fermentation. If you’d like to know more about him, you’ll find his statue and story on Avenue de Champagne. From the late 17th century onward, sparkling wines began to be produced intentionally, and they soon took on the name “champagne,” in reference to the region. These wines were a hit with the aristocracy—it’s even said that Louis XIV favored them—and the royal seal of approval gave champagne its luxury reputation. Production grew throughout the 18th century, and the first champagne houses appeared in Reims and Épernay. The 19th century brought new innovations that boosted quality and simplified production. But in 1863, the vineyards were hit by phylloxera, a tiny aphid that devastated the vines. Much of the crop was destroyed. Winegrowers and champagne houses united to form the Champagne Wine Association, working together to fight the pest and save the vineyards—efforts that ultimately succeeded. The association still exists today, protecting the Champagne name and supporting the region’s producers. Thanks to centuries of tradition, innovation, and resilience, champagne remains the drink of celebrations worldwide. Around 300 million bottles are shipped each year, with 120 million sold in France alone. The biggest international markets are the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Some American celebrities have even invested in champagne houses—Leonardo DiCaprio, for instance, began working with the eco-friendly house Telmont in 2022 and even visited their vineyards, much to the delight of the owners. So now you know a big part of champagne’s sparkling history—and you can always learn more with a cellar tour or a museum visit while you’re here in the region.