The first commercial sparkling wine was produced in the Limoux * area of Languedoc about 1535. Around 1700, sparkling Champagne, as we know it today, was born. There is documentary evidence that sparkling wine was first intentionally produced by English scientist and physician Christopher Merrett at least 30 years before the work of Dom Perignon who, contrary to legend and popular belief, did not invent sparkling wine.
Although the French monk Dom Perignon did not invent champagne, it is true he developed many advances in the production of this beverage, including holding the cork in place with a wire collar to withstand the fermentation pressure. It is believed champagne was created accidentally, yet others believe that the first champagne was made with rhubarb ** but was changed because of the high cost.
*Thus the first sparkling wine should have been called limousine.
** Mmmmm. Rhubarb.
The illustration is a statue of Dom Pierre Perignon at Moët et Chandon
Yeah, but "I see stars" is a great line, esp. for a blind monk... hard to overcome that. Debating on which champagne to open tonight... Krug is currently running in front...
Posted by: ken | December 31, 2007 at 04:46 PM
champagne can't have been accidentally produced. it takes a special yeast that is more tolerant of the higher alcohol content. to make any beverage bubbly, the only thing you really have to do is to add a touch more sugar during bottling (assuming you didn't sulfite it and kill the process) and seal that cork on tight!
Posted by: prairie biker | December 31, 2007 at 07:27 PM