Champagne is a luxury product; a status symbol; the sparkling drink of the elite. Some bottles are (much) more valuable than others - check our Champagne auction for some special editions - but all champagne is considered a catch. Read along to learn more about champagne's elite status and how it became part of many traditions!
The distinct qualities of champagne
Let us start by explaining the difference between champagne and sparkling wine because champagne really is something special. It is a so called 'AOC wine' ('appellation d’origine controlee'); a French quality certification that tells us champagne is indeed produced within 100 miles of the Champagne region (North-East France). But it also tells us the drink meets certain quality standards concerning alcohol percentage, method of conversion and even the labelling of the bottle.
A distinct feature of champagne is the type of grapes that are used, which is, of course, related to the Champagne region; the grapes are grown in a mild climate with soil that is rich in minerals and chalk. The most used grapes are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
Champagne is the result of a labour-intensive process with high-quality standards, as controlled by the AOC. This means, for example, that grapes are picked by hand and may only be pressed twice. Altogether, Champagne is a unique type of wine, popular all over the world, as our Champagne auction proves. But this is not just the result of taste and quality; another reason champagne is so popular is because the drink is part of many traditions.
Champagne traditions
We pop the cork of a bottle of champagne when the clock strikes midnight on December 31st; we toast with a glass of champagne when celebrating a wedding ceremony or graduation; we smash a bottle on the hull of a new ship for good luck. Sometimes just opening a bottle is sufficient to celebrate the winners of a triathlon or race. A waste of good champagne, for sure, but it definitely proves champagne has become a symbol in our societies.
So how come champagne plays such a great role in Western culture? The sparkling drink gained popularity in the 18th century among royal courts in Europe. By then the bubbles were seen as a distinctive, extravagant feature after they were first regarded as unwelcome (and uncontrollable) by wine producers. This is where champagne got its elite status, but it was just after the French Revolution the drink became part of traditions like christening a ship, baptising, or celebrating a wedding. It was seen as a form of ‘holy water’ in certain religious rituals, setting the tone for today’s champagne traditions.
Elite drink
In the 19th century, winemakers were able to produce champagne on a larger scale. Combined with great marketing in the form of flyers and posters, champagne suddenly was no longer just a drink for the elite; it became an elite drink for the middle class as well. And it still both is. Although champagne is often used as nothing more than a symbol (a waste of good champagne, but an important part of tradition), many can still appreciate a good, special champagne.
Sabre à champagne
Occasionally on Catawiki, you will come across another interesting item related to champagne; the champagne sabre. A sword that is used to ‘behead’ the bottle; a tradition that dates back to the era of Napoleon. The sabre was the weapon most used by the Hussars, Napoleon’s cavalry. When celebrating one of Napoleon’s many victories, soldiers would often slide their sabre along the body of the champagne bottle to open it.
As Napoleon used to say; “Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it”. In our Champagne auction, you can find a few of these special editions, that are not only great for celebrating a traditional event but are very much worth drinking as well!