10 Interesting Facts About the Region of Champagne

Posted by Nick Gaskin on June 26, 2015

The Champagne region is 85km North East of Paris and is the most northern point where grape growing is worthwhile. It’s a highly weather sensitive area with there being only just enough warmth to sufficiently ripen grapes. Grapevines typically require an average annual temperature of 10 degrees Celsius to survive and the Champagne region is barely 10.5 degrees. It is this fact which can make extreme vintage variations in the area, with some absolutely brilliant, and others very very poor. From year to year Champagne may experience frost, hail, rain deluge or drought — sometimes a combination of some or all of the above!

The key Champagne varieties are Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay — varieties which are grown all over the world but none come close to the uniqueness of the Champagne terror.

The total area of Champagne is more than 34,000ha spanning 318 villages. Here are a few well known and not so well known facts about Champagne;

1. There were only 11,000ha of vines in Champagne in the 1950's, by the 1980's there was more than 24,000ha

2. There are more than 260,000 separate plots with an average size of just 1.5ha

3. There are 15,000 growers which make 90% of the fruit in the Champagne region, yet they make up only 20% of sales

4. The biggest Champagne Houses account for 90% of exports (Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon, Louis Roederer, Nicolas Feuilatte etc)

5. There is growing concern amongst the growers as to the shortage of grapes and the pricing levels

6. Production levels are approximately 300 million bottles per year

7. Reserve wine kept by the houses can help alleviate the pressure of one poor vintage, however if there are two in a row there would be a crisis

8. In the mid 2000's demand for Champagne began to outstrip supply, and in 2008 an enquiry in to the revision of the Champagne area (appellation) started

9. The same enquiry has made recommendation for 2 villages be stripped of their status with 40 new villages to be added to the Champagne appellation.

10. The Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne (CIVC) is a body that organises and governs the Champagne region. One of their principle activities is to protect the trademarked name of Champagne and if it is used without authorisation they will pursue litigation against the offending party.

Champagne is a protected designated origin and the name and it’s associated trademark is incredibly valuable.

Originally published at www.perthchampagneclub.com.