FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2021-148 DAILY FEATURE:
By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)
LOVELAND, OH (August 4, 2021) – In Issue 2021-148 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, we visit France to celebrate a taste of champagne.
POP THE CORK AND CELEBRATE
Today is the traditional date given as the day in 1693 when Dom Perignon invented champagne. While it may just be an arbitrary date, certainly the tradition of celebrating any important date would not be the same without this French Benedictine monk.
The cellar master at the abbey in Hautvillers, France, just south of Reims, is credited with many oenological advances like blending grapes to improve the quality of wines, pressing grapes to produce clear white wines, and determining just when to open those bottles to get maximum bubble effect. He also introduced corks rather than wood as stoppers.
Today, Dom Perignon is a brand name of champagne sold by Moet en Chandon. It is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The first vintage was bottled in 1921 and sold in 1936. The current release is the 2010 vintage, along with a rosé from 2006.
Here is Homann’s map of the champagne region of France from 1750.
Champagne region of France – 1750. (Credit Steve Kovacs)
Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.
Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.
