Le champagne et sa région | Historique | Champagne et 20ème siècle

The champagne and its region | History | Champagne and 20th cent

Beginning and difficulties

From the very beginning of the 20th century, phylloxera, which had developed throughout the French vineyard, reached the Champagne region. The people of the region fought this scourge by burning the affected plots, and by disinfecting the soil with carbon disulphide.
Under pressure from the A.V.C. (Champagne Wine Producers’ Association founded in 1898) anti-phylloxera associations were set up in the villages.

However, the progress of the parasite remained difficult to stop, and even threatened to destroy the entire vineyard.

Salvation came during the first half of the 20th century with the use of American plants, and the change of growing habits, such as the abandonment of crowds of vines (vine stocks in disorder), in favour of lines of vines, or such as the use of grafting of the French vine.

The destruction due to the struggle against phylloxera was added to by the difficulties encountered during the First World War.
Thus in 1918, the situation was catastrophic. The production areas had decreased by 40%, and the vineyards were criss-crossed by trenches and shells.

The vineyard had to be reconstituted, and so the choice of grafted vines that provided salvation from phylloxera was made, meaning a total re-organization of the cultivation systems. The horse was introduced for seasonal work and for re-planting, and the vines were regrouped in zones where the geological and climatic conditions were the best.

During the period between the wars, yields increased and became more regular. Phylloxera was no longer a threat, and the struggle against various diseases was even more efficient.

Appellation and organistation

Faced with the beginning of the century, the vine growers discovered the need to associate and to protect the special nature of champagne.

The vine grower, who was sometimes obliged to produce wine, did not necessarily have the required storage capacity, so some of them had the idea of becoming members of co-operatives.
Funds became easier to obtain, and collective procurement meant that equipment was more profitable and of better quality.
In 1939, the "Féderation des Cooperatives Champenoises" (Federation of Champagne Co-operatives) was a group of 26 co-operatives. To begin with, the aim of the co-operatives was to store surplus stocks, but they later directly produced their own champagne.
During the 1930s on the other hand, numerous vine growers were to attempt the venture of champagne production alone. This meant the appearance of the handling harvesters, whose number increased during the 1950s.

This solidarity took on a new dimension with the introduction of the "appellation", which was supported by a new professional organizaton. In 1919, the "Syndicat Général des Vignerons de la Champagne" (Champagne Wine Growers General Syndicate) was founded.
Around 1910, certain wines that did not belong to the Champagne vineyard, were, however, sold by the merchants under the name "champagne".

At the same time, the Aube wines, which were however very similar, did not benefit from this appellation. The revolt began to brew.
On 11th April 1911, buildings belonging to the fraudulent merchants were ransacked.
On 12th April, around 6,000 vine growers came from 50 villages to demonstrate at AY.
The revolt was put down, and the region remained under army surveillance, but the process had begun:
In 1927, the delimitation of the appellation precisely defined:

  • the production areas
  • the quality criteria
  • the authorized vine types

The creation of the inter-professional organization consolidated the progress achieved.
At present, the CIVC (Comité Interprofessionnel des Vins de Champagne, Inter-professional Champagne Wines Committee) defends the appellation and the respect of traditions.
Set up in 1941, the CIVC is thus the guarantor of the observation of the 1927 law, which organized and allowed the expansion of Champagne wines.

The champagne trade

At the beginning of the century, a period representing the golden age of the Champagne region began: it was the "Belle Epoque".
In everyone's mind, champagne and celebrations went together. It was thus possible to find champagne at any high-class party, as well as in luxurious and fashionable places.

The champagne trade thus experienced great expansion, with shipments rising by 35% between 1900 and 1911. From then on, the greatest events, whether they were universal exhibitions, the launching of the motor car or aviation, or sporting victories, were washed down with champagne.

The post-war Roaring Twenties were to re-launch euphoria, but the Twenties Crisis, and the troubled political contexts (the Russian Revolution, the monetary crisis, prohibition and protectionism) seriously affected the champagne markets of the time.

However, champagne survived these troubled times and acquired an international identity and reputation. The Second World War was to have the same consequences in the short term, but afterwards, champagne was present on all the international markets, and became a choice medium for advertisers.

Champagne had established itself in both mentalities and habits, and the rest of the 20th century was to perpetuate this status, making present day champagne the King of Wines.