France wine country toasted with World Heritage status

[Surya Gayatri]

Source: CNN

(CNN)France's world renowned wine country was toasted twice Saturday with world heritage status by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The U.N.'s cultural body bestowed the special status on the historic hillsides and properties where the sparkling wines of Champagne are produced, as well as the famous vineyards that grace the slopes of Burgundy.


12th century church of Chavot in the Champagne-Ardenne region.

The designation covers the Champagne hillsides, houses and cellars where "the method of producing sparkling wines was developed on the principle of secondary fermentation in the bottle since the early 17th century to its early industrialization in the 19th century," UNESCO said in a statement.

The vineyards in Hautvilliers, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Saint-Nicaise Hill in Reims, and the Avenue de Champagne and Fort Chabrol in Epernay bear "clear testimony to the development of a very specialized artisan activity that has become an agro-industrial enterprise," the statement said.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/04/world/unesco-champagne-burgundy/

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Break open the bubbly to fete France and her great wine-making history!!!

[Divernan]

1. I will toast with mly favorite, Veuve Cliquot

In 1772, Philippe Clicquot-Muiron established the original enterprise which eventually became the house of Veuve Clicquot. In 1775, it was credited to be the first Champagne house to produce rosé Champagne, using the method of adding red wine during production.[4]

Philippe's son, François Clicquot, married Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin in 1798 and died in 1805, leaving his widow (veuve in French) in control of a company variously involved in banking, wool trading, and Champagne production. She became the first woman to take over a Champagne house.[4] Under Madame Clicquot's guidance, the firm focused entirely on the last, to great success.[5]

During the Napoleonic Wars, Madame Clicquot made strides in establishing her wine in royal courts throughout Europe, notably that of Imperial Russia, thus becoming the first Champagne house to ship Champagne through the blockade to Russia in 1811.[4] During this time, she also gave Champagne to the Prussian guards enforcing the blockade and the soldiers opened the champagne with their swords, so started the technique of sabring Champagne.[6] By the time she died in 1866 Veuve Clicquot had become both a substantial Champagne house and a respected brand. Easily recognised by its distinctive bright yellow labels, the wine holds a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

[corkhead]

2. Personally, I think there are better options out there but you have to admit Veuve is ubiquitous

It think you can get it at RiteAid, Kroger and Walgreens.

Miller claims to be "The Champagne of Beers", I call Veuve Cliquot "The Beer of Champagnes"

I prefer Champagne Montaudon, from a small independent family producer in that price range.

http://www.champagnemontaudon.com/index.php?menu=1&ssMenu=1

I am sorry, I didn't mean to trash your taste in Champagne. I am not as big a fan of theirs as you are because they have become a big international corporate juggernaut.

When I can I like to try small independent producers over the big corporate brands and would encourage you to also give them a try. They are very often better value for your dollar because they aren't relying on brand recognition and aren't supporting a giant corporate infrastructure.

Check out the movie Mondovino which talks about Corporate vs Family in the wine industry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondovino

[CTyankee]

3. I was in one of those vineyards last fall while on a river cruise on the Saonne and Rhone

rivers. It was just wonderful. Of course, none of the smaller vineyards wines are available here in the U.S. altho I could order some if I had the money...

I wish we could have these wines without the sulfites being added to them. They taste so much better over there...

[Divernan]

6. Hate to read how pompous you'd be if you MEANT to trash my taste!

You're welcome to select your wines based on some sense of political correctness re ownership, and you could have simply stated that. But no, you had to compare Veuve to Miller beer. Aren't you the droll, witty, passive-agressive poster! I didn't realize Miller Beer also held a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth. That's not why I started drinking Veuve, of course - didn't know she liked it until I looked up Veuve's history today. I'm not a beer drinker, myself - except when I'm in Germany - but I would think there are a lot of posters on DU who are quite happy to drink Miller Beer - and in part that's a function of how affordable it is. So you insulted them too. Way to go!

First, FYI, Veuve Cliquot has been my choice of champagne for about 50 years - long before it became, in your words, "a big international juggernaut". When I started drinking Veuve, it was the product of a distinguished and very old family owned operation - the very kind you now patronizingly advise me to try. Here's the thing - this brand of champagne has been the celebratory drink of choice for me and my family for decades - so I not only like the taste, I treasure all the memories associated with the label.

Second, you specifically trashed my "taste" but then gave the company's corporate ownership as your reason. With that as the basis for your preferences, blind tastings would be a minefield - quelle horreur, if you should prefer a wine produced by the wrong owner. Again it's your choice to put political correctness above actual "taste". Just don't lecture others to do the same.

Third, for the past 40+ years, I have lived in a state which runs its own liquor stores, which means there are very limited selections. I considered myself fortunate when I moved here that the state stores did stock Veuve Cliquot. They definitely do NOT stock little known small foreign wine producers whom you prefer.

Finally, don't you think it's about time you learn you can voice your own preferences, and politely suggest alternative choices to others, without insulting, or in your very own word "trashing" someone else's preference. It's called having some class.

My post just stated it was my favorite - I didn't challenge you. I was happy when I posted my reply - I'm a big fan of World Heritage sites - have been to a number of them - and I was happy to take part in a positive thread, as opposed to the primary battles of the day. Thanks so much for spoiling the thread for me (sarcasm).

[corkhead]

7. Its a shame you live where you are limited to the big corporate brands your state allows you to see

I am sorry you took what I said so personally... In other words, I am sorry if you were offended.

[Divernan]

8. The classic "non-apology": "I'm sorry if you were offended."

In other words, poor misunderstood you, trying to communicate with some people who are just sooo sensitive. That's no apology. Is it just the anonymity of the internet that brings out this behavior in you? When you're at a dinner party, do you trash (the word YOU used to describe your initial response to me) your host's or hostess's choice of wines?

I can just hear you, "Hey, Charlie, where'd you buy this wine, Rite-Aid? Yuck, yuck, yuck! Am I right or am I right?"

My reply to you left absolutely no question of "if" I was offended. I spelled out to you the multiple ways in which I found your post offensive.

[corkhead]

9. I guess I should have put it in "air-quotes" so you would have understood that it was intentional

Surprisingly we seem to have the same taste in Presidential candidates. I hope my telling you that doesn't change it.

[lark]

4. They should have included the Alsace region.

They have the best wines, IMO. Pino Noir, Pino Gris, Chenin Blanc, Reisling, Gurwurztraminers, yum, yum, yum. Water and these wines were all I drank when I lived in Strausbourg for a month 3 years ago. Funny, their wine was less than half the cost of a bottle of coke and of course 1,000,000 times better.

[Surya Gayatri]

5. Gurwurztraminer, ummm good! Couldn't agree more. Alsace wines are some of my favorites...

[lark]

10. Salut

[Surya Gayatri]

11. Chin, chin!