Did A Monk Really Invent Champagne? Shutterstock
By Nicholas Vrchoticky/Jan. 20, 2021 4:26 pm EDT/Updated: March 30, 2021 9:31 am EDT
You ve heard it a thousand times: It s only champagne if it comes from the Champagne region of France. Otherwise, it s just sparkling wine. Well, that s not entirely true. That overly expensive sparkling beverage goes by many names, depending on which country it s from. Prosecco from Italy, cava from Spain, and even the Germans have Sekt. Regardless of what name it goes by, champagne is made through a specific process, and without it, we wouldn t have those gas station bottles of André to bring in the New Year, or Cristal with which to drain our bank accounts when we want to impress a date. Champagne has become a symbol for celebration and a mark of status. It s not just wine; it s . uh . wine with bubbles and a fancy name.