The Art and Business of Champagne

by Dan Ginsburg

Overview

When people raise their glasses in celebratory toasts, few are aware of all the work behind the fizz. Here is a book to open their eyes with an inside look—from the vineyard to the marketplace—at the world of champagne.

Just like good wine, the book begins with the grapes: variety, growing season, harvesting and pressing method. While not attempting to be the definitive work on champagne making, this volume does enumerate all the steps and decisions that go into producing a quality champagne. Blending, bottling, aging, fermenting and storage are also discussed. With a view to practicality, the author—himself a champagne manufacturer—looks at the marketing and business concerns of champagne, including the necessity of balancing quality and timely production. Since, by definition, champagne comes only from Champagne, France, a brief history of and visitor's guide to this region is also included. The final chapters look at vintages from 1900 to 2003 as well as the various families who make it their business to produce some of the world's finest wines.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786422258
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	02/03/2006
Pages:	242
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.49(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

The late Dan Ginsburg lived in Washington, D.C., but was a part-time resident of Ay, France. He was the president and majority owner of Champagne de Meric, the only American-owned winery in Champagne.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Preface     
Introduction: Champagne Basics     

Part I. Lessons of an American in Champagne
1. Choose Your Teachers Well     
2. It’s All in the Grapes     
3. Respect Tradition     
4. Patience Is a Virtue     
5. The Business of Champagne Is Business     
6. The World Won't Beat a Path to Your Door Just Because You Make a Better Champagne     
7. Use the Home Field Advantage     
8. How to Make a Small Fortune in the Champagne Business     

Part II. The World of Champagne
9. The History of Champagne     
10. Past Harvests in Champagne     
11. Key Village Profiles     
12. If You Run Out of Champagne De Meric     
13. A Visitor's Guide to the Champagne Region     
14. Life in Champagne     
15. The Future     

Appendix I. Champagne Surface Planted by Department by Grape Variety     
Appendix II. Eight Ways to Maximize Your Enjoyment of Champagne     
Appendix III. Sample Letters to Champagne Producers     
Appendix IV. Contact Information for Hotels, Restaurants, and Tourist Destinations     
Bibliography     
Index