From the smash of a bottle on the side of a new ship to the pop of the cork at a New Year’s Eve party champagne signals celebration, fun, and camaraderie all over the world. Bubbly, as we affectionately call it, is a symbol of luxury and decadence and the go-to drink whenever there is an important toast. This history from Becky Sue Epstein is a celebration of the world’s most celebratory drink. Here, Epstein chronicles champagne’s story, from the world’s first sparkling wine, produced in Limoux, Languedoc, in 1531 by monks at an abbey in Saint-Hilaire to the celebrities who made champagnes famous and continue to do so today— from Dom Perignon to the widow Veuve Cliquot. Most important, Epstein fully explains the distinction between champagne and sparkling wine. In this informative chronicle, she answers whether French champagne is really better than other sparkling wines and elucidates the science behind that characteristic fizz and bubble. She takes the reader on a tour of vineyards in wine regions around the world and teaches the correct techniques for storing and serving champagne and sparkling wines. Whether you prefer magnums of Cristal or the affordable thrill of Cold Duck, Champagne is an invaluable complement to any bubbly glass and an informative, elegant gift for connoisseurs, beginners, and wine lovers of all kinds.

Beneath the cover of France's most exquisite vineyards, a city of women defy an army during World War I, from the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Carousel of Provence.... Deep within the labyrinth of caves that lies below the lush, rolling vineyards of the Champagne region, an underground city of women and children hums with life. Forced to take shelter from the unrelenting onslaught of German shellfire above, the bravest and most defiant women venture out to pluck sweet grapes for the harvest. But wine is not the only secret preserved in the cool, dark cellars... In present day, Rosalyn Acosta travels to Champagne to select vintages for her Napa-based employer. Rosalyn doesn't much care for champagne--or France, for that matter. Since the untimely death of her young husband, Rosalyn finds it a challenge to enjoy anything at all. But as she reads through a precious cache of WWI letters and retraces the lives lived in the limestone tunnels, Rosalyn will unravel a mystery hidden for decades...and find a way to savor her own life again.

I¿m Drinking Stars tells the luxurious story of champagne over 400 years. Pivoting around one of champagne¿spioneers Dom Pérignon and the brand named after him, the book explores the delectable overlap between history andlegend. In late 17th-century France the modest abbey in the Champagne village of Hautvilliers collected its taxes from farmers in the form of grapes. The Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon was responsible for the production of wine at the abbey, and by refining his techniques over 47 years he anticipated the méthode champenoise and created in his own words, ¿the best wine in the world¿. Through Dom Pérignon¿s wine both the abbey and its region became famous.I¿m Drinking Stars traces Dom Pérignon¿s elaborate history through the 17th, 18th, and 20th centuries: from the monk¿sinitial experiments, to Louis XV¿s hedonistic court at Versailles; from Marilyn Monroe¿s glamorous patronage of thechampagne, to Karl Lagerfeld¿s recent creations for the brand.

This work explains how nationhood emerges by viewing countries as cultural artifacts, a product of "invented traditions." In the case of France, scholars disagree, not only over the nature of French national identity but also over the extent to which diverse and sometimes hostile provincial communities became integrated into the nation. The author offers a new perspective by looking at one of the central elements in French national culture -- luxury wine -- and the rural communities that profited from its production

Winner of the 2018 James Beard Foundation Cookbook Award in "Reference, History, Scholarship" Winner of the 2017 André Simon Drink Book Award Winner of the 2018 International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) Cookbook Award for "Wine, Beer & Spirits" From Peter Liem, the lauded expert behind the top-rated online resource ChampagneGuide.net, comes this groundbreaking guide to the modern wines of Champagne--a region that in recent years has undergone one of the most dramatic transformations in the wine-growing world. This luxurious box set includes a pullout tray with a complete set of seven vintage vineyard maps by Louis Larmat, a rare and indispensable resource that beautifully documents the region’s terroirs. With extensive grower and vintner profiles, as well as a fascinating look at Champagne’s history and lore, Champagne explores this legendary wine as never before.

Both the region of Champagne and its wines have always been associated with prestige and luxury. Knowledgeable wine enthusiasts have long discussed top Champagnes with the same reverence they reserve for the finest wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. But everyday Americans usually keep Champagne way back on the high shelf. It’s for big celebrations, send-offs, and wedding toasts and, more often than not, is bought by the case. The good stuff costs plenty—and frankly, rarely seems worth the price. Today, though, Champagne is in the midst of a renaissance—no longer to be unjustly neglected. Over the past decade, an increasing number of wine enthusiasts have discovered the joys of grower Champagne—wines made by the farmers who grow the grapes. Thanks to a few key wine importers and America’s newfound obsession with knowing where food comes from, these shipments have been climbing steadily. In But First, Champagne, author David White details Champagne’s history along with that of its wines, explains how and why the market is changing, and profiles the region’s leading producers. This book is essential reading for wine enthusiasts, adventurous drinkers, foodies, sommeliers, and drinks professionals. With a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the region, its history, and its leading producers, But First, Champagne will demystify Champagne for all. From the foreword: "Smart, entertaining, and valuable . . . one of those rare wine books that should appeal to people just getting into Champagne and longtime Champagne obsessives." —Ray Isle, Executive Wine Editor, Food & Wine

The sparkling wine’s untold dramatic history, from the thirteenth century to two world wars and the twenty-first century, by the bestselling authors of Wine and War. “The blood history of Champagne has been told before, but not in such a breezy, easygoing volume. Good froth.” —New York Times It’s been said that Champagne in northern France has been the site of more bloody battles, fiery incursions, and large-scale wars than any other place on Earth. From the time of Attila the Hun to the Germans in World War II, countless invaders have tried to conquer this strife-torn land. Yet somehow it managed to become the birthplace of the world’s most beloved wine. In this engrossing and unforgettable history, author Don and Peite Kladstrup show how this sparkling wine, born of bloodshed, became a symbol of glamour, good times, and celebration. It’s a story filled with larger-than-life characters: Dom Pérignon, the father of champagne, who, contrary to popular belief, worked his entire life to keep bubbles out of champagne; the Sun King, Louis XIV, who rarely drank anything else; and Napoleon, who, in trying to conquer the world, introduced it to champagne. Compelling, dramatic, eye-opening, and utterly fascinating, Champagne will forever change how you look at a glass of bubbly. “A lovingly written ode to this incomparable, festive wine.” —Newsday (New York) “[An] outstanding contribution to popular wine history. . . . A delight.” —Wine Enthusiast