Champagne became associated with royalty and luxury in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The leading manufacturers made efforts to associate their champagnes with nobility and royalty through advertising and packaging, which led to its popularity among the emerging middle class. [1] First, know that Champagne is defined by sparkling wine that comes from the Champagne region of France.

Understanding the Context

Though winemakers in California make a Champagne-style sparkling wine, this style of wine made outside of Champagne is merely sparkling wine. Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut (what we dubbed “PJ”) is a fresh yet generous Champagne with a rich history. Its origins trace back as far as 1846, but in 2026, our editors loved the fruity, bread-like... Nothing says it’s a celebration like Champagne.

Key Insights

Since the discovery of Méthode Champenoise, or the Champagne method, it’s grown to become the premier sparkling wine. The first thing you should... Over centuries, champagne evolved from being a pale, pinkish still wine to a sparkling wine. When Hugh Capet was crowned King of France in 987 at the cathedral of Reims, he started a tradition that brought successive monarchs to the region—with the local wine being on prominent display at the coronation banquets. Champagne is a sparkling wine produced exclusively in the Champagne region of France.

Final Thoughts

It adheres to strict appellation rules, meaning that only sparkling wine from this specific area can be labeled as “champagne.” Champagne tastes bright and refreshing, with crisp acidity and flavors of citrus, green apple and toasted almonds. It features fine bubbles and mineral undertones, with aged bottles offering a more complex, creamy mouthfeel. In a bottle of Champagne, you can expect: What is Champagne?