The Champagne Region

With some Dom Perignon

*Gabby*Ms. Andrya Fitzgerald

Where in the world is the Champagne Region?

Its strategic location has made it abattleground whenever France has been invaded from the east.

The Falaise de l'Ile-de-France, a The Falaise de l'Ile-de-France, a limestone ridge, borders Champagne limestone ridge, borders Champagne on the west, separating it from the on the west, separating it from the Ile-de-France, core of the Paris Basin Ile-de-France, core of the Paris Basin

The departments of Champagne are:

Marne, Haute-Marne, Aube, and Ardennes and parts of Yonne, Aisne, Seine-et-Marne, and Meuse

The name derives from the Latin word, campania, meaning "plain."

Champagne

ChampagneChampagne

Is a historic wine region located 90 Is a historic wine region located 90 miles northeast of Paris,miles northeast of Paris,

It consists of 86,000 acres of land It consists of 86,000 acres of land and is best known for the production and is best known for the production of the sparkling white wine that of the sparkling white wine that bears the region's namebears the region's name

There are 250 Villages divided into 5 main areas:

Montagne de Reims

Vallée de la Marne

Le Côte des Blancs

Aube District

Le Côte de Sézanne

Earliest VineyardsEarliest VineyardsThe first vineyards were established around 50 A.D. but were destroyed in 92 A.D. by order of Emperor Domitian.

The vineyards were replaced in 202 A.D. by edict of the Emperor Probus who was the son of a gardener.

Grapes grown on the lower Grapes grown on the lower slopes of the Falaise are made slopes of the Falaise are made into the famous sparkling wine into the famous sparkling wine in the miles of cellars carved out in the miles of cellars carved out of the chalk under REIMS and of the chalk under REIMS and EpernayEpernay

Because of the cold winters, the grapes are harvested before they are fully ripened.

Most of the Champagne vineyards are between Reims and Epernay. Only Champagne produced in this region has the right to call itself "Champagne". Other versions are often called "sparkling wines" which contributes to why the true Champagne is so expensive.

In the early Middle Age period, Champagne France was a duchy under Merovingian rulers. By the 10th century, the duchy of Champagne became a hereditary estate known as the county of Champagne. Then, in the 12th and 13th century, the county became well-known for commercial fairs where merchants from all Europe were present. At that period, the Capital was the city of Troyes. Finally, in 1314, Champagne became a province of the royal domain of France when the count of Champagne , who had inherited the area, succeeded as Louis X, king of France. The successive wars of the Revolution, the Empire and the beginnings of the Republic left, until the signing of the Reims Armistice in 1945, painful scars of history on the soil of Champagne.

Most of the exported French champagne comes from the area around the cities of Reims and Epernay

The Champagne-Ardennes region is rich in The Champagne-Ardennes region is rich in events that made history of France and events that made history of France and has preserved several vestiges such as the has preserved several vestiges such as the Cathedral of Reims. For a thousand years, Cathedral of Reims. For a thousand years, the cathedral was one of the privileged the cathedral was one of the privileged places in French history, providing the places in French history, providing the setting for the coronation of kings. Mostly setting for the coronation of kings. Mostly built during the 13th century and built during the 13th century and completed in the 15th century, this completed in the 15th century, this monument is a masterpiece of Gothic monument is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, remarkable not only for its architecture, remarkable not only for its architecture but also for its dimension. architecture but also for its dimension.

Cathedral of Reims

The Champagne region is also known for the raising of sheep and the manufacture of wool being part of the economy.

What’s good to eat?What’s good to eat?

Yummy!!!Yummy!!!

TheThe boudin blanc de Rethel boudin blanc de Rethel (white pudding (white pudding The The andouillette de Troyesandouillette de Troyes ( small pork ( small pork

tripe sausages) tripe sausages) TheThe jambon des Ardennes jambon des Ardennes ( dried ham) ( dried ham) Cheese: the creamyCheese: the creamy Chaource Chaource and the and the

LangresLangres (matured with (matured with marc de marc de ChampagneChampagne alcohol) alcohol)

Biscuits Roses de ReimsBiscuits Roses de Reims (cookies): great (cookies): great with Champagne! with Champagne!

What’s good to What’s good to drink?drink?

CHAMPAGNE!!!

Some Favorites are…Some Favorites are…

Mumm Mumm Mercier Mercier Moet & Chandon Moet & Chandon Joseph Perrier Joseph Perrier Perrier-Jouet Perrier-Jouet Taittinger Taittinger Veuve Cliquot Veuve Cliquot

and more….

More, including, Dom PerignonMore, including, Dom Perignon

Dom Perignon, a Benedictine Monk, Dom Perignon, a Benedictine Monk, produced a well known champagne produced a well known champagne named after himself.named after himself.

References to his “blind tasting of References to his “blind tasting of wine” have led to misconceptions wine” have led to misconceptions that Dom Perignon was blind.that Dom Perignon was blind.

“Come quickly, I am drinking the stars!”

A tagline from a 1980’s Dom Perignon Ad.

Rich heritage of Champagne is displayed in museums such as:

The Basilica

and….

The Museum Saint Remi in Reims.

Where’d I get this stuff from?Where’d I get this stuff from? http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761568169/Champaghttp://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761568169/Champag

ne_(region).htmlne_(region).html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne_(region)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne_(region) http://www.discoverfrance.com/regions/champagne.htmlhttp://www.discoverfrance.com/regions/champagne.html http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Provinces/Champagnhttp://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Provinces/Champagn

e.htmle.html