| Let's Celebrate International Champagne Day 2020 What does "Champagne" mean to you? Is it an elitist enclave with experts issuing proclamations about "terroir" and boring you with endless discussion of the best micro sites for growing the noble varieties of the region? Is it a historical view of the development of civilization, with the Roman influence dating back into early times? Is it the drink of choice for the rich &/or famous (Winston Churchill was a massive devotee after all), racing types spraying it everywhere, celebration of birthday/Christmas/special occasions of all kinds? Is it just big brand names and their renown in the international community? Frankly, all of these and many more conceptions have more than an element of truth and also more than an element of myth, all coming together to make this ethereal French region both famous and fabulous in equal measure! Whether it be the unique geography, remarkable people, historical significance or just beautiful countryside, Champagne has that very French beguiling beauty in both look and product. So let's explore one of the most talked about regions and products which, in some ways is one of the less understood. The Romans (as they did in many great regions of Europe) are credited with establishing the region for wine production, in the process digging into the soft chalk on which it is built, excavating many of the "caves" used to this day to age the famous sparkling wine. Historical sidenote, sparkling wine was initially an accidental outcome of cool weather affecting fermentation in this region and was originally thought to be of inferior quality to still wines. The widow Clicquot Ponsardin, (yes "Veuve" means widow) is credited with improving not only the method of production toward the fine styles we know today, but also in applying her marketing genius to change public perception of Champagne's sparkling wines. Being at the historical crossroads of many kingdoms and societies, this land has seen its fair share of battles from this time all the way through until the end of WW2. At the time of the Nazi invasion, many of the major Champagne houses managed to brick up and disguise large sections of those caves to hide their precious liquid treasure! With its patchwork of vineyards and long term under vine, the production of Champagne is done at various levels. From single growers making their own in tiny quantities, through grower collectives pooling resources and engaging winemaking expertise to produce Champagne under their name. At the upper end the Champagne Houses we know on our market, showing there is a diversity that is generally not known unless you live in France itself. Champagne Houses are some of the most long-lived of businesses, each having its own distinct style, so let's examine three fabulous examples and their magnificent offerings, available for tasting on International Champagne Day, Friday 23 October at Inglewood and Noranda, from 3:30pm for as long as the bottles last: | 
