According to a new report, champagne sales took a tumble last year, dropping 10% and marking the 2nd consecutive year of declines. The reason? Apparently, people just don’t feel like celebrating!
Champagne only comes from the Champagne region of France. Bubbly wine from anywhere else is sparkling wine. The first champagne was created in France by accident! In fact, it was known as “the devil’s wine”, because the pressure in the bottle often caused it to explode, setting off a chain reaction. Contrary to popular belief, Don Perignon did not invent champagne, though he did help standardize production methods of it. He was a Benedictine Monk who was the cellar master at an abbey in the 17th and 18th centuries. He added two important safety features to his wines – thicker glass bottles to withstand the pressure and a rope snare to hold the corks in place.
Athletes spraying champagne at each other is a common site after any big game or match. The tradition started in 1967 after the grueling 24 hours of Le Mans race. Winner Dan Gurney climbed onto the winners podium, bottle of champagne in hand. He looked down and saw his team owner and the CEO of Ford Motors standing with some journalists and decided to have some fun. He gave the bottle a good shake and sprayed the crowd, starting a new tradition.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, champagne became associated with royalty. In their marketing, champagne manufacturers made efforts to associate the drink with nobility and royalty, leading to its popularity among the emerging middle class. It came to symbolize “the good life” to which all people could aspire.
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