Summary For centuries the maisons, caves and cellars of Champagne have been laboratories where experiments and innovations have created and refined the Traditional Method.  It is now highly specified but with many opportunities for each maker to create something distinctive and special.

North vs. south For over a century, the unanimity of the Champagne region has been called into question. Separated by departmental lines (départements being administrative regions in France), the Côte des Bar in the southern Aube department was often considered as that distant cousin who always embarrasses themselves at parties. The big houses of “mainland” Champagne in the northern Marne department did indeed buy loads of grapes from