8 Fun facts about Champagne you never heard before

Maybe you have heard about this technique for opening a Champagne bottle with a saber, or even saw it! Nonetheless, few know the history of the art of sabrage. This tradition starts with the fall of Napoléon 1st. The Russian army was occupying Champagne lands, and imperials officers took advantage of the situation by visiting the cellars. They emptied a huge number of bottles and opened them with their sabers. After years of conflicts, Napoleon 1st finally won this battle against the Russian army and to celebrate the victory, French troops carried on the technique and continued to open Champagne bottles with a saber. Currently, the sabrage can be perform during celebrations or prestigious events, but also during more informal moments by passionate wine-growers.

As we said in the introduction, champagne is the drink of the great and the good. Indeed, a lot of celebrities, from politicians to famous rappers, get their preferences regarding the French sparkling wine. As a matter of fact, the iconic British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a true Champagne lover. He used to drink Pol Roger cuvee once a day. He used to talk a lot about Champagne, but here is our favorite quote: “I could not live without Champagne. In victory, I deserve it. In defeat I need it”. After his death, Pol Roger house decides to dedicate him in 1975 its cuvee prestige “Sir Winston Churchill”, still available today.