How Champagne Claimed Its Iconic Status In French Culture

Champagne has an iconic status in France, but it wasn’t always so. This drink, which has a luxurious reputation, has far more pragmatic roots involving monks, wool farmers, and Napoleon, as well as the Royal Family.

The lucrative Champagne industry wasn’t created by monks

Many people believe that a monk running the Dom Perignon monastery “invented” Champagne in the 17th century. While monks did produce and promote Champagne as a way to fund their monasteries, they didn’t actually invent it. Bubbles in wine are a naturally occurring phenomenon, but encouraging the legend of monks and centuries of cultivation was beneficial for Champagne to take its place in an over-populated drinks market. It helped promote the drink as being worthy of an expensive price tag. The industry was actually pushed forward by wool producers in the region, who saw Champagne as being more lucrative and switched production.

How did Champagne become associated with opulence?

The second lucky break was to do with a decree given by King Louis XIV. The “Sun King” was obsessed with Champagne and decreed that it must be transported in glass bottles rather than barrels, which let out the gas. From that moment on, Champagne was protected under specific packaging which helped to brand the drink even further as a go-to drink of choice.

Champagne became a national drink

After the French Revolution in 1789, Champagne was no longer associated with French kings and queens. Napoleon met Jean-Rémy Moët, the heir to the Champagne dynasty, at school, and they became friends. Napoleon stocked up on Champagne before every battle and the two marketed the drink as key to the new Republic.

At the turn of the industrial revolution, with improved distribution and transport networks, Champagne began to be sent all around the world. In the 1930s, the drink obtained international legal recognition, meaning that only Champagne could come from the Champagne region; everything else was just fizzy wine.

Champagne has been marketed as a luxurious drink

Champagne was marketed as a timeless, luxurious choice

At every major event in France’s history, Champagne has also been there. To keep one step ahead of Italian Prosecco or Spanish Cava, French Champagne was at every major launch (including of the Titanic) and the World Fair in 1889 in Paris when the Eiffel Tower was first revealed. It helped the drink to be thought of as modern and cultivated.

Champagne’s reputation and status have been carefully curated and guarded over the centuries by the Champagne region. Now, it’s the first thing people think of when they have an occasion to celebrate and when they’re looking to taste a little bit of luxury. We can thank the French Revolution, Napoleon, wool farmers and clever Champagne-makers for its still-iconic status today.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.