THE GIFT OF EXHILIRATION
The joy of life
It was at the end of the 17th century that the Champenois really started to master the sparkle. The wine was no longer the sole prerogative of the clergy and could assume its rightful place as guest of honour at secular festivities. Its seductive lightness enchanted and delighted the dilettantes of the 18th century. Philip of Orleans' wife tells of the passion of the ladies of her time for "the wine of popping corks". It was drunk at the intimate suppers at the Palais-Royal. The records that remain show considerable orders from Madame de Pompadour for her outdoor feasts. No fewer than 1,800 bottles of Champagne were drunk at a masked ball given at the Hôtel de Ville in 1739. Casanova mentioned Champagne as one of the indispensable accoutrement for his evenings of seduction.
International reputation
The wines of Champagne travelled very early on. Dogged and adventurous Champenois set out to make them known on every continent. The first to become enamoured of these wines were the English. Champagne became a "must"at the royal court and for dandies like Beau Brummel and Sheridan. When Tsar Alexander I organised a dinner lasting four days in September 1815 during a military parade on Champagne, 300 guests were served a menu created by the great French Chef Carême and the wines of Champagne were the main accompaniment. Only few years later, glasses of Champagne were raised in New York and on the coast of California as the New World discovered the delights of these wines. By the end of the 19tth century, the wines of Champagne had gained a reputation throughout the world of being the ideal wines for joyous gatherings to which one wanted to give panache and a touch of class.
Popularity
The ever-increasing speed of transport, particularly the spread of railways, allowed Champagne to be at festivities everywhere, but it was in Paris that it became indispensable. It was served in the cafés on the Grands Boulevards - at the Café Anglais, at the Tour d'Argent, at the Jockey Club and at the Olympia Tavern. It was ordered by everyone and was called simply "Champ".
After the Franco-Prussian War, it became a democratic drink Feydeau and Offenbach mentioned it in works like"take care of Amélie" while in Johann Strauss' Die Fledermaus, they sing "His majesty Champagne is King, let us line up under his rule"; Glasses are also raised in Verdi's La Traviata. When the whole of Europe was living in the golden years of the 1920s, those at the height of fashion were prepared to try anything as long as it included Champagne. They ordered it in all the most fashionable places - in Paris, Deauville, Biarritz and Monte-Carlo. Of course it was served at all the great society events - Boni de Castellane had Champagne at his parties in his pink marble palace and it was served at the balls of Princess Murat or Clermont-Tonnerre, whose famous Persian parties made their mark with their contemporaries. Along with madcap decorations and hundreds of guests in sumptuous fancy dress, there were elephants, horses -and fountains spouting Champagne!
Generosity
When General Eisenhower set up his headquaters in Reims in February 1945 it was clear that the Liberation of France would be celebrated with Champagne - and what a party was! Since the beginning of the 20 th century, Champagne has become the wine that unique people and guarantee conviviality. In recent years, it has been almost unthinkable to have a celebration wtihout Champagne. Whatever the occasion, be it an imperial event, like that organised by the Shah of Iran in the ruins of Persepolis to celebrate the 2,500th anniversary of the creation of the Persian Empire, or more popularist such as the celabrations of th bicentennial of the french Revolution or the opening of the 1998 World Cup. Champagne is present at film festivals, cultural exhibitions, sporting occasions, commemorations and anniversaries. Naturally enough, Champagne has also become the favourite wine at new year's eve.
A special wine for celebration - A talented wine