Champagne

by Maggie McNie

Summary

Just in time to celebrate the millennium: the definitive guide to champagne, the king of wines. This fascinating book covers all aspects of Champagne: the region, the history of the wine, and the development of the Champagne method. Maggie McNie starts with the prehistory of the region, encompassing information on the geology and climate, and goes on to document Champagne's beginnings as a still wine; she explains how the appointment of a young monk, Dom Pierre Prignon, as cellarer at the Abbey of Hautvillers was key to Champagne's evolution into the sparkling wine that we know today. McNie also provides an overview of the various Champagne makers, from their beginnings as small growers in the nineteenth century to the preeminence of the major houses, such as Krug, Mot et Chandon, and Veuve Clicquot, today. In addition, she includes useful notes on the vintages for each year since 1945 and offers invaluable tips on selecting and storing Champagne, giving the Champagne lover all the information he or she needs to fully enjoy-and appreciate-this unique wine.

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