The Sparkling Story: A Brief History of Champagne
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Few drinks carry the weight of celebration quite like Champagne. It’s the pop of joy at a wedding, the glittering toast on New Year’s Eve, the refined sparkle in a coupe held high. But behind every golden bubble lies centuries of craftsmanship, rivalry, royalty — and the rise of a wine that came to define elegance itself.
Here’s how Champagne became the world’s most iconic drink.
The Origins: Still, Not Sparkling
Long before it was effervescent, Champagne was still. In the cool, northern region of Champagne in France, monks in the early Middle Ages were making quiet wines — often pale, acidic, and delicate due to the region’s cool climate and short growing season.
It wasn’t until the 17th century that the wine began to sparkle… by accident.
The Accidental Sparkle
Because of Champagne’s cold winters, fermentation often stopped prematurely. Once bottled, fermentation would spontaneously restart in the spring — producing carbon dioxide in the sealed bottles. The result? A wine that fizzed — and bottles that often exploded from the pressure.
Local winemakers considered it a fault. But across the English Channel, people were enchanted by the "bubbling wine." British taste, as it turned out, helped shape Champagne’s destiny.
Enter Dom Pérignon: Myth vs. Mastery
Ask most people about the inventor of Champagne, and you’ll hear one name: Dom Pérignon.
The Benedictine monk wasn’t the first to make sparkling wine, but he did transform its quality. Working in the Abbey of Hautvillers in the late 1600s, he experimented with blending grapes, strengthening bottles, and using corks to contain pressure — laying the foundation for modern Champagne-making. While the quote "Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!" is apocryphal, the sentiment is real.
Dom Pérignon elevated wine to ritual.
18th–19th Century: The Age of Refinement
Champagne found its way to the courts of France and across Europe. Madame Clicquot — the “Grande Dame of Champagne” — revolutionised the industry in the early 1800s by inventing riddling (a technique to clarify sparkling wine). Her vision helped transform Champagne into the refined, crystal-clear wine we know today.
Around the same time, Champagne houses such as Moët, Ruinart, Perrier-Jouët, and Bollinger were taking form — crafting wines not just for kings, but for the world’s growing elite.
From Aristocracy to Icon
By the 20th century, Champagne had become more than a drink — it was a symbol. Of luxury. Of arrival. Of living well. From F. Scott Fitzgerald’s flutes in Gatsby’s garden to a Formula One podium spray, Champagne became entwined with moments that matter.
Today, real Champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France, made using the méthode champenoise. Every bottle represents years of aging, layers of terroir, and a commitment to tradition.
A Modern Ritual
At Lujo, we believe that Champagne isn’t just for celebrations — it is the celebration. Whether you're raising a Sorano coupe at a soirée or sipping from a Capri flute at home on a Tuesday, Champagne connects us to centuries of elegance, innovation, and joy.
Because behind every pop is a story — and every story is worth savouring.
Life is short. Sip in style. Choose Lujo.