The Champagne wine region is a flat, undulating open plain east of Paris making it a place of both privilege and suffering. Ancient History – Roman Rule – romans brought grapes to champagne (viticulture established at the end of the 4th/beginning of the 5th century), Romans dug crayéres or chalk caves as the chalk was used for building (turns into stone when exposed to air). The Franks, Gauls and the Huns all fought over the territory of Champagne. Attila the hun was defeated near Chalons-sur-Marne in Champagne.
The Dark Ages – After the fall of Rome, Clovis the King of the Franks and the first King of France converted to Christianity. Saint Remi blessed a cask that never ran dry and Clovis defeated his enemies – Saint Remi baptized him . The Cathedral of Reims has been the site of the coronation of 27 French Kings – the wine of champagne was always considered that of royalty. Benedictine monks needed to grapes for wine.
Cellar masters had a position of power and high regard. They blended all grapes together in the press. The grapes during this time were Gouais Blanc, Gouais Noir and Fromentau (Pinot Gris). The wines were becoming more popular and were called mountain wines (Montagne de Reims) and river wines. The wines were still and red.
Charlemagne and the Carolingian Dynasty – Charlemagne united all of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Roman Empire. He passed away and the crown was
This Article was originally published on Travel and Champagne
