Champagne

The Champagne region is just an hour's drive east of Paris and is dedicated to producing one of the world's most iconic luxury products: Champagne. The region benefits from a unique combination of factors, including its northern location in France, chalky soils that help vines grow deep roots, and cool, humid cellars perfect for aging wine. This, along with its early success in marketing Champagne as the drink of celebration, has made it a global symbol of glamour.

Though Champagne is often thought of as a light and white wine, it is made primarily from black grapes. Around 40% of the region’s vineyards are planted with Pinot Noir, which thrives on the lower slopes of the Montagne de Reims and in the warmer Aube. Chardonnay, the white grape, makes up less than 30% and is best suited to the chalky slopes of the Côte des Blancs. The third main grape is Pinot Meunier, which ripens reliably across the region and adds fruitiness to the blend. Together, these varieties create the distinctive character of Champagne, making it a wine like no other.