Champagne Champagne Champagne… that’s all we can say!
Inspired by the ‘Gorgeous Bar’ in Steenberg this week, I felt it was in order to find out why Champagne is used in celebration. We all know that it is a special occasion when you hear that cork popping! Champagne, those delicious bubbles that give you that feeling you are floating! As the great Dom Perignon once said: “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!” That is a beautiful saying; to describe great tasting Champagne!
It all began in the French region in 1700, the French aristocracy used to offer it to foreign kings at celebrations. The ‘methode champenoise’ was introduced into the region – even back then it was associated with luxury and power! It is also said England originally produced it, the technology for bottling and corking drinks containing cardon dioxide was developed latter part of 1500s.
The French concentrated on advertising and marketing Champagne as royalty, luxurious and prestige. It was all about the upper, middle and lower classes back then. Advertising campaigns in Art, Music and literature were created – this gave the people an idea that Champagne was an important social status. If you were drinking it – you were part of the elite!
The Industrial Revolution helped Champagne’s reputation as an middle class and upper class product. The luxurious drink symbolized the ‘good life’ to which people could aspire. At the end of the 19th century a new consumer culture was born – this meant Champagne drinkers were of class and status!
By the First world war – Champagne became a powerful symbol in France. The French were proud to produce such high quality goods. In World War two Winston Churchill is quoted to have said – “Remember, gentlemen, it’s not just France we are fighting for, it’s Champagne!” Champagne was now see worldwide as luxury and associated with wealth.
Champagne has been promoted in the Arts for centuries, the most famous association is from Ian Fleming’s character – James Bond. He is seen as a frequent drinker of Champagne. “Over 22 Bond films reveals 35 occasions on which the character was portrayed drinking Champagne”. We see today in the Music industry pop and rap artists all sipping back on their “Dom Perignon”.
Cheeky Fact: Champagne the colour: describes some diamonds. People used to see Diamond colouration as defeats, until people associated it as a Champagne colour.
Believe it or not – but Marilyn Monroe had a bath in 350 bottles of Champagne. Ummm a very sticky affair!
To this day we still use Champagne in all our celebrations – “Champagne does this symbolically, but also visually, since it overflows in abundance and joy.”
So don’t forget to get the bubbles flowing when you are next celebrating.
Check out next weeks blog post for a delicious Champagne Sorbet Recipe.
XOXO