Book Review – Champagne: A Global History
Are you a fan of champagne? Do you wish you knew more about this delicious, bubbly spirit beverage? If so, consider reading Champagne: A Global History . Part of the award-winning Edible Series published by UK-based Reaktion Books Ltd., this book is written with the interests of true champagne aficionados in mind.
Whether you are looking to expand your own knowledge about champagne or if you’re looking for a gift idea for a champagne lover, you’re sure to find this book to be an excellent choice.
About Champagne: A Global History
Champagne: A Global History is a short, easy-to-read book that is sure to appeal to those who enjoy drinking champagne and may have wondered a bit about the background of their favorite sparkling spirit. Author Becky Sue Epstein, does an excellent job writing for a consumer audience, so don’t be concerned that you will need to have professional-level sommelier knowledge to understand or follow it.
Champagne: A Global History provides a thorough overview of the history of champagne, starting with the origins of the sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France, which can be traced back to before the Middle Ages, up to modern times.
Examples from the Book:
When you read this book, you’ll learn all kinds of fun and interesting facts about champagne, as well as other sparkling wine spirits.
Examples of the interesting tidbits explained in detail in the book include:
- As early as the Fifth Century, members of the French royal class marked celebrations with sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France.
- In the early 1700s, French monk Dom Pérignon is said to have developed the standards for producing and bottling champagne.
- It was during the 18th Century that people outside of France were first introduced to sparkling wine from the Champagne region. That’s when the region’s wine makers were able to stabilize the production process to the point where they were able to begin making their wares available to customers in other parts of Europe.
- Afterwards, champagne production became a full-fledged industry, which – of course, led to competition outside of the Champagne region. So began the battle to limit the usage of the term champagne to describe only those wines produced in the Champagne region.
Additional Information in the Book
After presenting information about the early days of champagne, the book goes on to provide interesting facts and information about the expansion and marketing of champagne and sparkling wine from its beginnings to modern day.
Learn About Champagne
If you’re intrigued by the history of champagne, you’re sure to find this book to be a fun and enjoyable read – as well as one that’s informative and educational.
Note: Thanks to author Becky Sue Epstein for providing me with a review copy of this book. The opinions presented are my own.
