Although some people call any sparkling wine champagne, the truth is that only wines produced in the wine region of France called Champagne can be labeled as such, and they must be produced using the rules of the appellation. It’s also a wine that can only legally use one of eight different predetermined grape varieties to be called Champagne.

That makes true Champagne quite different from sparkling wines produced elsewhere. How different? The best way to find out is to try some Champagne for yourself. And you might as well do it on December 31st—a day that is known not only as New Year’s Eve but also as National Champagne Day.

The Long History Of Champagne

The area now known as the Champagne region of France was first used as vineyards by the ancient Romans. The Romans thought that this area resembled Campania—the area located south of Rome, and in fact, the name Champagne comes from the Latin word Campania.

For hundreds of years, the Romans used the area for growing grapes for wine and for making wine. If you fast forward to the Middle Ages, you will see that several different shades of wine were made in this area—from light red to pale pink.

Eventually, a rivalry developed between the Burgundian area and the Champagne area. The wine manufacturers from the Champagne region were trying to equal the Burgundy wines. Unfortunately, the cold winters in the region prevented the fermentation of the wines they had stored in their cellars.

When the weather warmed again in the spring, the yeast in the wine would once again become active, causing some of the bottles to break. The bottles that didn’t break, however, contained an effervescent wine.

While there are some conflicting origin stories over who precisely ended up inventing this type of wine, one thing is for certain: sparkling wines were enjoyed by the King of France, Hugh Capet, during the 18th century.

Bubbly Facts About Champagne

If you want some bubbly facts about champagne, you’ve come to the right place. Below are some of the things we’ve learned about champagne during our research for this holiday. Enjoy.

• The most expensive bottle of champagne ever sold cost more than $2 million U.S. dollars.
• The Champagne area used to be where a prehistoric ancient sea was located.
• Marilyn Monroe is reported to have taken champagne baths.
• A typical champagne bottle has more than 90 pounds of pressure per square inch.

Observing National Champagne Day

National Champagne Day is best enjoyed with a nice glass of bubbly. This shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve since this holiday falls on the same day as New Year’s Eve, and many people are drinking for this holiday. You can also use the hashtag #NationalChampagneDay on your social media accounts to spread the word about this holiday to your internet friends.