Do you love Champagne? If so, you're in for a treat! Here are 25 fun facts about Champagne, from must-know figures down to Champagne history facts. We'll also share some surprising Champagne trivia that'll set you apart at your next dinner party. So, pour yourself a glass and get ready to learn more about your favourite tipple. You'll be toasting to your newfound knowledge in no time!
Table of Contents:
Champagne figures
Let's start with some essential Champagne facts and figures:
1. Champagne is said to be invented in 1697
Legend has it that Dom Perignon, a Benedictine Monk from the abbey of Hautvilliers in Champagne, France was the first person to create the Champagne drink. Perignon is said to have perfected the 'méthode champenoise', a process of bottling wine before fermentation is complete, by accident.
2. There are 33,400 hectares of Champagne growing land
This is the size of over 80,000 football pitches! The grapes used to make Champagne - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier - are all grown in this region. These are grown across 320 villages across 4 departments: Aube, Marne, Haute-Marne, and Ardennes.
3. 300 million bottles of Champagne are produced every year
That's a lot of bubbles! Out of that figure, around 180 million bottles are exported. Last year (2021), the UK was the second biggest consumer of Champagne, with 22.6 million litres. This was just behind the French, who consumed 102.2 million litres of Champagne in total.
4. The most expensive bottle of Champagne costs $2.07 million
The 2013 Taste of Diamonds Champagne was made by UK-based company Goût de Diamants. The price tag is due to the fact that the logo is handcrafted from 18-carat gold and embellished with a 19-carat white diamond. The taste? A rich floral, refreshing and full creamy texture with a soft finish.
At The Champagne Company we also have the finest Champagne, from Louis Roederer Cristal 2002 Gold Medallion Jeroboam 300cl (£25,000), to Krug 2000 Vintage Champagne Jeroboam 300cl (£25,000) or Dom Perignon 1973 Vintage Champagne 75cl. For more interesting Champagne bottles, have a look at our selection of rare Champagne bottles.
5. A standard bottle of Champagne (75cl) contains about 49 million bubbles
According to the scientist Bill Lembeck, there are approximately 9,800,000 bubbles in a glass of Champagne, and 49 million bubbles in one 75cl Champagne bottle.
For an average glass, they can emerge at a rate of approximately 30 bubbles per second. That's a lot of fizz, and it gives Champagne its characteristic 'bubbly' texture that we all know and love.
6. A Champagne cork can reach 24.8 miles/hour when popped
This is due to the fact that Champagne is under a lot of pressure, which pushes the cork out when the wire cage is removed. So, make sure you always point the cork away from yourself (and others) when opening a bottle to avoid any accidents.
7. The longest recorded Champagne cork flight is about 177 feet
This Guinness World Record was set by Emeritus Heinrich Medicus in June 1988 at the Woodbury Vineyards Winery, New York. This impressive record has been safe for years, but who knows who may try to beat it in the future?
8. There’s a pressure of 90 pounds per square inch in a standard bottle of Champagne
This is around three times the pressure in a car tyre - or roughly the same air pressure as the tyres of a double-decker bus. So, it's no wonder that opening a Champagne bottle results in such a bang.
9. Beer has 3 times less gas than Champagne
Champagne is a lot fizzier than beer, and this is because it contains more dissolved carbon dioxide. This means that if you're after a truly effervescent experience, Champagne is the way to go.
Champagne and Celebrities
There are many celebrities that are known for their love of Champagne. Some notable names include:
10. Winston Churchill had Champagne every day at 11am
The former British Prime Minister was a big fan of Champagne and is even said to have once declared that, "In victory, deserve it. In defeat, need it."
11. Marylin Monroe took a Champagne bath of 350 bottles
The Hollywood icon was known for her love of all things luxurious, and a Champagne bath perfectly fit that bill.
12. James Bond drinks Champagne 65 times on its novels
The world's most famous spy is a big fan of Champagne, and he is often seen enjoying a glass of bubbly in the films. It's not all about the martinis, shaken, not stirred, after all! Furthermore, Bollinger Champagne is James Bond’s official Champagne, with a partnership of over 40 years. The Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne bottle was released to celebrate the Bond film No Time to Die, the perfect gift for 007 fans.
13. Queen Victoria really enjoyed Perrier-Jouet
The British monarch was such a fan of Perrier-Jouet that she even awarded the Champagne a Royal Warrant in 1861.
14. Pol Roger Brut Réserve Non Vintage was served at royal weddings
This Champagne brand has been served at some of the most high-profile weddings, including the weddings of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. In fact, Pol Roger Brut Réserve Non Vintage has a royal warrant from the Queen, which is a pretty big deal.
15. Champagne coupes have the shape of the breast of Marie-Antoinette!
The Champagne coupe is a classic glass shape that is said to have been modelled on the breast of Marie-Antoinette, the French Queen at the end of the 18th century. Legend has it that she had her court toast to her health in these glasses. Learn more about the different types of Champagne glasses.
16. A Champagne bottle was made in homage to Usain Bolt
After the Jamaican sprinter broke the world record for the 100m dash, Mumm Olympe Rosé Champagne was created in his honour. The "out of this world" bottle was designed to be drunk in space, which Bolt tried out in zero-gravity conditions.
17. We owe sabrage to Napoleon and his troops
The technique of sabrage, opening a Champagne bottle with a sword, is said to have been invented by Napoleon's troops. The story goes that they would open bottles of Champagne with their swords to celebrate their victories.
18. Lady Gaga and Dom Pérignon designed a Champagne Bottle
The American singer, songwriter and actress, and the Champagne brand Dom Pérignon, collaborated together to design a limited edition bottle for the French brand: the Dom Pérignon Lady Gaga 2010 Vintage Champagne.
Surprising Champagne facts
Now that you know some essential Champagne figures, let's move on to some surprising facts about this much-loved beverage:
19. The soil in the Champagne region contains prehistoric sea microorganisms
Interested in Champagne nutrition facts? Microorganisms, known as 'crustaceans', in the ground in Champagne give the soil its unique characteristics. The chalky soil is very porous, which helps the grapes to thrive.
20. Global Champagne Day is celebrated on the 4th Friday of October
Save the date! This global day is the perfect excuse to open a bottle of Champagne with family and friends. Alternatively, you can join an event near you. The US, for their part, celebrates Champagne on December 31st - one couldn’t find a better drink to finish the year!
21. The world’s oldest bottles of Champagne were found on the Baltic seabed
In 2010, a team of divers discovered 30 bottles of Champagne in the wreckage of a ship that sank in the Baltic Sea. The bottles, which were well preserved, were believed to have been made by Clicquot between 1782 and 1788.
22. Drinking Champagne every week can prevent memory loss
A study carried out by the University of Reading found that Champagne can help to protect the brain from damage caused by Alzheimer's disease. Other benefits of Champagne include reducing the risk of stroke and improving heart health. This is because Champagne contains polyphenol antioxidants that help to protect the body against heart disease.
23. The first glass of Champagne will affect you the most
This is because the first glass contains the most bubbles, which release carbon dioxide gas into the bloodstream. This can cause a 'champagne buzz' or 'champagne high'.
24. Collarette is a sign of good Champagne
The collarette (the bubble trains on the side of the glass) is a sign of good Champagne. It indicates that the wine has been well-made and is of high quality. Smaller bubbles also mean that the Champagne is smoother and more refined.
25. Champagne is more bubbly in a flute than in a coupe
The flute is the best glass to use if you want to enjoy the full effect of Champagne's bubbles. This is because the long, narrow shape of the glass helps to preserve the bubbles and keep them from escaping.
So, to summarise…
So there you have it - 25 interesting facts about Champagne. Whether you're a fan of the bubbly stuff or not, there's no denying that Champagne is fascinating. From its history to its celebrity fans, there's a lot to learn about this popular drink. To learn about Champagne in more detail, make sure you check out our Champagne Guide, and for more Champagne fun, browse our Champagne quotes. To find your perfect bottle for any occasion, be sure to visit our online Champagne shop and browse our wide range of Champagne bottles.
