10 Apr 2020 • Delicious dining
The 10 Champagne facts you didn't know
The clean pop of a cork. An effervescent gush of fizz filling a glass flute. Whether it’s a celebration or sophisticated aperitif, Champagne is a consistent crowd-pleaser. The bars and restaurants in Red Carnation Hotels are well-stocked with our house Champagne, Lanson, beloved for its classic Brut. Here, we take a closer look at the world’s most prestigious sparkling wine with a round-up of fascinating Champagne facts.
1. It was invented by a monk
Dom Perignon, a Benedictine monk, fought hard to keep out the bubbles that ruined so much of the wine in the monastery cellar. Despite his best efforts, the bubbles continued to form. One day, he decided to sample the doomed fermentation… et voilà, Champagne was born.
2. The inhabitants of Champagne are known as…
The Champenois. Beneath the area’s official 34,000 hectares of vineyards, there are 1.3 billion bottles currently ageing in its cellars.
3. Champagne is exceptionally high maintenance
It’s a fact that Champagne is the most labour-intensive wine to produce. It undergoes two fermentations; one in the barrel, and one in the bottle. It’s in the second fermentation that the bubbles form over a minimum of two weeks. The bottle is then gradually twisted and inverted, traditionally by hand, over a month, allowing the sediment to settle at the cap. It’s then aged for at least 15 months before the cap and sediment are removed and the bottle is finally corked.
4. It was considered to be 'dangerous'
In the early days, the bottles were known to spontaneously pop their corks if they contained too much sugar. Helmets worn in Champagne cellars became de rigueur and the drink was dubbed ‘devil’s wine’.
The clean pop of a cork. An effervescent gush of fizz filling a glass flute. Whether it’s a celebration or sophisticated aperitif, Champagne is a consistent crowd-pleaser. The bars and restaurants in Red Carnation Hotels are well-stocked with our house Champagne, Lanson, beloved for its classic Brut. Here, we take a closer look at the world’s most prestigious sparkling wine with a round-up of fascinating Champagne facts.
1. It was invented by a monk
Dom Perignon, a Benedictine monk, fought hard to keep out the bubbles that ruined so much of the wine in the monastery cellar. Despite his best efforts, the bubbles continued to form. One day, he decided to sample the doomed fermentation… et voilà, Champagne was born.
2. The inhabitants of Champagne are known as…
The Champenois. Beneath the area’s official 34,000 hectares of vineyards, there are 1.3 billion bottles currently ageing in its cellars.
3. Champagne is exceptionally high maintenance
It’s a fact that Champagne is the most labour-intensive wine to produce. It undergoes two fermentations; one in the barrel, and one in the bottle. It’s in the second fermentation that the bubbles form over a minimum of two weeks. The bottle is then gradually twisted and inverted, traditionally by hand, over a month, allowing the sediment to settle at the cap. It’s then aged for at least 15 months before the cap and sediment are removed and the bottle is finally corked.
4. It was considered to be 'dangerous'
In the early days, the bottles were known to spontaneously pop their corks if they contained too much sugar. Helmets worn in Champagne cellars became de rigueur and the drink was dubbed ‘devil’s wine’.
When we travel again
When we travel again…
We shall go forth
with renewed gratitude
for the amazing gift that travel can be –
and the awe that comes from
finding ourselves at home
in places we have never been.
When we travel again…
We will see the world through new eyes
and deepened appreciation
for this truly magnificent planet we all share.
Not only will we take in the sights,
but we will hear the sounds. Breathe in the smells.
And savour the tastes – all waiting to be experienced.
When we travel again…
We will do so with renewed joy and purpose –
Joy as we create memories that last a lifetime,
and purpose that comes from knowing our travels
play a crucial role in the recovery
of communities we visit
around the world.
When we travel again…
We will venture forth with open hearts,
letting ourselves be guided
by wonder and curiosity
ready to connect to those we meet along the way -
our hosts, our guides, and our fellow travellers,
joined together in a journey of discovery.
When we travel again…
We will make travel matter more than ever before.
Knowing that how we travel
is just as important as where,
As we explore this wild and precious planet we call home,
Meet people around the globe who welcome us into their homes.
And discover magnificent wild creatures whose homes we visit.
When we travel again…
We will journey to places both near and far with those we love –
our partners, our parents,
our children, and grandchildren
and dear friends, some we’ve known for years –
and others we have yet to meet,
making memories all over the world.
When the time is right,
We shall go forth again.
Until then, we shall do what we have always done –
and dream of distant shores.
For while something deep inside us sleeps,
We know the sleeper will awaken –
When we travel again.
