Who Could Possibly Turn Down a Glass of Bubbles?
By Deborah Carpenter
Geographically limited to a town in France, Champagne is unable to be manufactured or produced in any other location in the world other than Champagne itself. Similar to the Italian equivalent Prosecco, this means it has an element of speciality to it unlike other sparkling wines. But who exactly created Champagne? Dom Perignon himself of course! A monk in the 17th century, he created Champagne wine which was soon popularised by King Louis XIV, who loved it so much.
But the drink created by Dom Perignon was a light red wine without the special fizz that is so widely associated with it today. It wasn’t until the French, in the 18th Century, decided that bubbles were actually good for your health that they were introduced to create the effervescent drink. Today, the Dom Perignon brand is a vintage form of Champagne, with rare bottles being considered as collectors’ items, and sold for over �1000 each! There are other far more affordable brands from the Champagne region, such as Mo�t & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot.
It is estimated that the popular sparkling wine we have today can hold up to approximately 49 million bubbles in a 750ml bottle – that’s a lot of bubbles! This amount of bubbles means Champagne has three times the gas than beer, and the cork can reach speeds up to 40mph if it isn’t popped correctly and safely! So be careful when you’re cracking open your new bottle of Champagne!
So how do we drink our beloved beverage? There are traditionally two types of Champagne glasses, the flute and the coupe glass! Legend has it that the coupe was modelled on Marie Antoinette’s breast shape, as an ode to her love of the drink. Although there’s no evidence of this, it’s still a romantic idea of the decadence associated with the bubbly drink.
In reality, the bowl type glass was created in England in the 17th Century and then taken to France. It is with this style of glass that makes it possible to create incredible towering glass fountains which look stunning at glamorous events and weddings.
In recent years, the flute glass has become the glass associated with Champagne for its ability to keep the drink cold and bubbling for as long as possible. Loved globally for its light, refreshing taste and exciting fizz, the flute has been designed with scientific reasoning to ensure the drink is enjoyed to its maximum capability. For example, the bubble trains, called ‘collerettes’, keep darting up the side of your glass whilst you drink your Champagne because the flute glass is shaped in a specific way. As it thins out towards the top of the glass, the reduced surface area retains the carbonation process of the bubbles for longer! The lengthy stem of the glass is also designed specifically to be held in order for the temperature of the drink to remain unaffected by those holding it. In extreme cases of etiquette, only the base of the glass will be touched.
You can choose from a selection of Champagne gift hampers and glassware over at Smart Gift Solutions, many of which can be personalised to suit any occasion and to create the perfect keepsake gift.
For an amazing range of unique champagne gifts to celebrate any special occasion visit Smart Gift Solutions… with next day delivery, including Saturday, and International delivery options together with lots of free add-ons such as printed ribbon and photo cards… let us help solve your gift dilemmas!
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