Champanhe: como o mais sofisticado dos vinhos venceu a guerra e os tempos difíceis

by Don Kladstrup

Em uma narrativa emocionante, Don e Petie Kladstrup – autores do best-seller internacional “Vinho & Guerra” – envolvem o leitor na surpreendente saga do champanhe, o vinho mais sofisticado do mundo. Associado ao glamour, à amizade e a grandes celebrações, ele oculta uma história de sofrimento e coragem. Desde a violenta invasão de Átila, rei dos hunos, à barbárie da Segunda Guerra Mundial, os autores revivem a trajetória do champanhe e da região onde ele é produzido. No caminho, apresentam personagens admiráveis, como o humilde monge considerado o pai do champanhe, Dom Pérignon, e os donos de casas famosas, como Pommery e Moët & Chandon, Mumm e Veuve Clicquot, que ao longo do tempo souberam descobrir saídas ardilosas para situações inusitadas. Mesmo em meio a dramas como os da Primeira Guerra Mundial – narrados pelos autores com detalhes emocionantes – as uvas continuaram a crescer. Os champenois, conhecidos por sua determinação e coragem, não se entregaram. Unindo forças, conseguiram fazer a colheita e estocar a safra para produzir a maior riqueza que possuíam: o champanhe. No livro, o leitor descobre que, por trás das finas taças de cristal e do líquido claro e borbulhante, escondem-se exemplos de coragem e auto-superação na luta contra pragas, catástrofes climáticas, guerras e invasões. Resultado de muita pesquisa e de longas entrevistas com os participantes dessa inesquecível história, este livro certamente trará um novo gosto ao champanhe!

Genres: History, Wine, Nonfiction, Food, France, Microhistory, Food History

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Dave & Lindsay Gurak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down

Highly recommend for anyone who loves history and champagne / wine. The author did a phenomenal job of integrating the most fascinating aspects of champagne with the most important events in French and even US history.

Would love for the author to do a similar book on other wine regions in Europe

[Rebecca Rosenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

World War II and Champagne country-- great research for my CHAMPAGNE WIDOWS SERIES.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this because I have ancestral family ties to this area. Wow. I had no idea how much war and its effects had on this area and its people. I am still trying to absorb what their lives would have been like. Despite the focus on the "War and Hard Times" it was incredibly interesting to also see how those times affected the Champagne houses by incorporating historical time marks that I could relate to. After reading this on Kindle, I went and bought the actual book for my library.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors appeared to play fast and loose with dates and historical figures/events in the beginning of this book, despite their heavy use of footnotes. Initially, I was turned off, BUT, it got better. I have some new fodder for my dream series of screenplays focusing on the exploits of pioneers of the wine world. ;) Extra points for winning me over in the end.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is “the story of how a small community of people, living in a harsh environment and subjected to centuries of invasions, triumphed over one adversity over another to create the greatest effervescent wine in the world”. It’s a fascinating read and is well told.

[Lydia Claire Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well-researched, with lots of fun facts and anecdotes through - in fact, maybe too many. The writers were in such a rush to tell us everything they knew that they didn’t take the time to form a cohesive narrative. While I enjoyed what I learned, it was missing that extra polish that takes non-fiction to the next level for me.

[Les Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating to understand some of the history behind the region.

[rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very readable, well researched work that traces the origins and development of champagne (the drink) and the turbulent history of the region of its birth, La Champagne. It is a tribute to the many prominent people who, through constant trial and innovation, created this marvellous sparkling wine. Even more so, it is a tribute to the people of the region who tilled the soil and cared for the vines, even in wartime, even under artillery fire.

Some of the history of this region is shocking. It has been a battlefield in war after war. Yet atrocities in WW I stand out. For example, the Germans targeted the historic cathedral in Reims with huge bombardments and destroyed it, largely to strike at French morale since it was the site of coronations of so many French kings. This was one of the earlier examples of war being targeted at civilian populations, a forerunner of so many more 20th century atrocities.

Still the sheer courage of the people of La Champagne shone through. They kept tending the vines, harvesting the grapes and making their wonderful wines. When men had to go to war, women, children and the aged worked the vineyards. When artillery made life in the villages too dangerous, life moved underground into the vast caverns used to store and age the wines. Dormitories, refectories, schools and hospitals were all created alongside the stored bottles of aging champagne.

The book brings to life so many people who contributed to the creation of champagne. It started with Dom Perignon, a monk who did not 'discover' champagne but did contribute to its eventual development. Many other, often colourful people populate the pages of the book - Charles Heidsieck ("Champagne Charlie"), Louise Pommery, the widow (in French 'veuve') Clicquot, Maurice Pol-Roger, Louis Roederer, George Kessler and many more. They are brought to life so very well.

There is a comprehensive bibliography which attests to the great care shown by the authors.

This is a very enjoyable non-fiction work.

[Matt Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 bottles of champagne and 1 bottle of Prosecco (the drink enjoyed while reading this wonderful book).

A great history. A beautiful story.

As someone who loves champagne but lacks in a knowledge of its history, this was an incredible book to read.

Unlike the champagnes I prefer, this was not at all dry. It was wildly interesting and insightful.

I cannot recommend it enough.

[Mshelton50 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take two talented media correspondents with a taste for wine, add the fascinating subject of champagne, and what do you get? A very enjoyable -- and informative -- read. While not as gripping as their Wine & War, Don and Petie Kladstrup's Champagne is still a very fine book. If you like champagne, you will love it.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable read. Fascinating history of Champagne the drink as well as Champagne the district. Nicely linked with the history of the French Revolution, Franco Prussian war as well as WWI and WWII. Well worth the read

[Olga Rusu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I devoured it in no time! Along with "Wine and War", this one is in my top wine books!

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read during the Bear Lake Scout camping trip--lots of time in a hammock and tent with this book. Really enjoyed the history!

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very educational.

[Maddy Barnard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good medium to learn about French history.

[Studebhawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

History, Tradition & Style
The history of Champagne presents a story here of a people steeped in their traditions and a singular devotion to their craft. Champagne, perfectly described here by the author, is emblematic of it's terroir and also is the name of the wine. Le Champagne is the terroir and La Champagne is the wine. This dichotomy is unique in the world of wine. It's fitting that champagne is wedded so intimately to it's terroir. This story describes the struggle, conflicts from multiple wars and all of the uncertainties of the weather.
Several years ago I toured the Champagne region. We stopped in Epernay on the tour. We were treated to a tour of one of the renowned producers (Mercier). This well-written book only added to my appreciation of the region and of the and the greatness of the historic story of champagne.
This book is a fun read, well researched and documented by the author. Any reader, wine connoisseur or not, can enjoy this well-told story. For myself, I am filled with the desire to return to Champagne for another visit.

[Destiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's an easy-to-digest history of Champagne, both the region of France and the wine that was named after it. It's told narratively is filled with anecdotal stories about conversations and events that happened while champagne was developed from a still wine to a sparkling wine, from a sweet wine to a dry wine, and a lot more. You should probably take some of the book with a grain of salt, since some things felt more like anecdotes than fact (the author's included Marie Antoinette saying 'Let Them Eat Cake' despite the fact that this is not a real quote from her), but it was still incredibly fascinating to learn about just how much strife the region went through throughout it's history.

The book covers history from 1668 (with very brief mentions of stories before this time) and ends with the end of the second world war. It mostly focuses on vine-growers, champagne-houses, and historical figures who sang the praises of champagne even before the rest of the world learned to love it, too.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read - concise, a bit second-hand in research, but full of anecdotes and always entertaining. This is not a comprehensive academic work- but more a collection of stories that come together to narrate the chronological history of Champagne (the region) and champagne (the wine). There's a lot of focus on WWI history as it relates to champagne... perhaps too much. Still, I'd say this is a good introduction to the history of this wine and region.
The writing style is... well, let's just say there's no mistaking this book was written by American expats in France - quite a few "Frenchisms" (which I appreciated as a recovering Francophile) but they won't get too much in the way if you're unfamiliar with French language or culture.
Overall, this is a delightful book to read while you sip a glass (or bottle) of your favorite bubbly.

[Garnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The joy of travel is in the surprises. We chose to stop in Reims to see the famous Cathedral, where the kings of France were traditionally crowned. Only when we changed trains in Champagne-Ardennes did I realize that the theme of this visit would be wine and war. This light, quick read helped to fill in some of the gaping holes in my understanding of European history. The Kladstrups use the history of bubbly champagne to discuss the broader history of the region of Champagne. The events of World War I were astonishing: the wholesale destruction of the city of Reims, the burning of the Cathedral, the efforts to harvest grapes while the bombs fell. But wine is the powerful, rich and entertaining protagonist of the story..A nice read.

[Emily Monaco]

I grabbed this book in a flurry of research on a forthcoming story for the BBC about the ways in which French wine regions coped with the onset of World War II, but it encompasses so much more than just the period from ’39 to ’45. From the Huns to the English to the Prussians, the people of Champagne have born the brunt of countless invasions, and they have long risen to the challenge of remaining strong and united despite these and other struggles. The Kladstrups’ approachable style makes this historical book ultra-readable.

[Sherrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts out out centered around how champagne became THE drink of kings, how it was made, and who turned it into an international symbol of celebration, but takes a turn into tragedy as multiple wars ravage the Champagne region. The sorrow and pains peaks the highest during WWI, which saw direct combat and uncalculable destruction. Not the most ideal reading if you're seeking to up your direct oenephile knowledge, but the WWI sections of the book remain compelling nonetheless.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who love wine and history, you will love this book. From understanding how thousands in the Champagne region lived underground for months to escape the constant bombing of WWI to realizing that those who made the original Champagne tried their hardest not to let bubbles seep in, it's a very interesting read full of the many characters and stories around this much loved wine.

[Phil Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great summery of the history of the wine and region. Well written that it keeps the reader engaged and interested. Could be a bit more detailed, but I don't think the authors wanted to bog down the reader with a report.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Champagne

A phenomenal read about the history of la champagne and le champagne. Pour a glass and read about the incredible journey of this famous region and wine. I can't wait to visit especially after reading this book

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you enjoy champagne or not, you will have a whole new appreciation for this celebratory beverage. It definitely is a story of perseverance, ingenuity and team work to remain such a iconic symbol of good times for centuries. Cheers!

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting and surprisingly touching read. Beautifully written. It brought the Champagne region to life and made me feel and care for it as if I was Champenoise myself.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. History in an entertaining way. Wonderful stories to show the history.

[Diane Cadei · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look into the history of a wine and a region of France. This book took a in depth look at the effect of WWI on the region ---- I'm always stunned by the horrors of this war.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most interesting books I've ever read.

[Diana Stegall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tolerable but there’s a lot of misinformation and champagne mythology perpetuated here.