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Champagne
The greatest of all wines? Success came quickly to the world's favourite (although not first) sparkling wine. After Louis XV's 'favourite' mistress began singing the praises of Champagne, people understandably developed a taste for it. Three centuries later, Moët boasts 105 000 bottles in their cellars at any one time - a mere three years worth - not to mention over 100km of cellar under the chalky hills of Epernay.
A tour through the town of Epernay provides testament to the success of the major 'houses'. The splendour of the Avenue de Champagne is enough to make you thirsty. Yes, it's a privileged area, but I guess they've earned it ... and it's just a simple day trip from Britain now the Tunnel's open. I know nowhere more civilised and elegant, yet not too expensive, for lunch.
Madame Lily Bollinger (1899 to 1977): "I drink it when I'm happy and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it ... unless I'm thirsty."
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