The region - CHAMPAGNE - the land of bubbles!
Champagne region is located East of Paris, along the Marne, Vesle and Aisne rivers.
The wine region starts 140 kilometres from Paris, around the city of Meaux and stretches
along the Marne river to the city of Epernay.
The Champagne terroir is the only one of its kind. Its features are:
- northern location—located at the northern edges of the wine growing world Champagne is
France’s most northern wine region,
- rugged climate—with cool winters and sunny summers and autumns, the average temperature in
the region is around 11 to 12 C ,
- distinctive soil type— being a predominantly chalky area with a thin layer of topsoil
which provides perfect drainage for the vines and also an excellent base which reflects
the heat of the sun to help ripen the grapes, and
- hillside vineyards—rolling countryside with south facing slopes.
The principal grapes grown in the region are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Pinot Noir is the most widely planted grape in the Aube region and grows very well in Montagne de Reims. Pinot Meunier is the dominant grape in the Vallée de la Marne region. The Côte des Blancs is dedicated almost exclusively to Chardonnay.
The region developed a reputation for quality wine production in the early Middle Ages and was
able to continue that reputation as the region's producers began making sparkling wine with the
advent of the great Champagne houses in the 17th & 18th century.
Today the vineyards cover 34,000 hectares and produce 25 million bottles annually.
All 300 Champagne villages scattered around the district are rated for the grape quality
potential, and the top 17 are designated as “Grand Cru” vineyards. The best known of these
are Bouzy, Aÿ, Sillery and Le Mesnil.
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