Champagne is a sparkling wine that originates from the Champagne region of France, approximately 100 miles off Paris. The region encompasses Marne, Haute-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, Aisne and Aube, and the towns of Reims and Epernay; this region has been producing wine for years, but it was only in the nineteenth century that sparkling wine became Champagne's key product.

Today, by law, only sparkling wines made following the local appellation laws and originating in the viticultural region of Champagne are allowed to use that name. In fact, the