Foam fest: Champagne birthday and other dates in honor of the king of bubbles

In the calendar of unofficial holidays, there are days dedicated to all sorts of things: from pets to favorite dishes. But among them, there is a special holiday — the Birthday of Champagne. It is celebrated on August 4th, and on this day, lovers of sparkling wine around the world raise their glasses to honor the drink that has become a symbol of the holiday, luxury, and carefree joy. But why exactly August 4th? And does champagne really have an exact date of birth? Let's figure out what lies behind this beautiful legend and how the most famous sparkling drink in the world came into being.

Birthday on August 4th: the legend of the House of Pérignon

According to the most popular version, the Birthday of Champagne is associated with the name of the French monk-benedictine Pierre Pérignon, who served as the steward and manager of the wine cellars in the abbey of Hautvillers, located in the heart of the Champagne province. It is precisely August 4th in different years that is called the key date in the history of the drink.

Some sources claim that this happened on August 4, 1668. On this day, Pérignon first presented to the astonished monastery brothers the wonderful drink in which “silver bubbles with a quiet rustle rose from the bottom of the glass, and the clear foam sparkled like alive.” Others call August 4, 1693. According to this version, the monk, having tasted the sparkling wine he had prepared, exclaimed the sacral phrase: “Hurry up, I’m drinking stars!” (in French — “Venez vite, je bois des étoiles!”)

This beautiful legend has so deeply entered mass culture that the name of the House of Pérignon has become a byword. Today, it is immortalized in the name of the premium champagne brand “Dom Pérignon,” produced by the famous house Moët & Chandon. In the Champagne region, August 4th is celebrated widely — with dinners, concerts, and open days at wineries.

Fact or fiction: what historians say

However, historians and winemaking researchers view this legend with a considerable degree of skepticism. They rightly point out that Pierre Pérignon, despite all his merits, was not the inventor of sparkling wine. Moreover, it was his duty to remove the bubbles from the wine, which at that time were considered a sign of spoilage and low-quality product.

It turns out that sparkling wine in Champagne appeared not because of a genius insight, but due to the harsh climate. In this northeastern region of France, winters are very cold. The fermentation process of wine often did not finish until the cold weather set in. When spring or summer temperatures rose, secondary fermentation began in the bottles, resulting in the formation of carbon dioxide. It was this gas that created those very bubbles that we love so much. For a long time, such wine was considered spoiled and unsuitable for drinking.

Moreover, there are documentary evidence that the technology of producing sparkling wine was known long before Pérignon. For example, in 1662, several years before the supposed date of “invention,” the English scientist and physician Christopher Merret presented a report to the London Royal Society, in which he described the process of making sparkling wine in detail. And the first records of champagne as a method of secondary fermentation in the bottle were made in 1531.

So, most likely, the famous phrase “I’m drinking stars” is no more than a beautiful marketing legend launched by wineries in the 19th century to enhance the prestige of the drink. But as one commentator aptly noted, “let the scientists argue, and we will enjoy this popular drink.”

International Champagne Day: another reason to raise a glass

It turns out that champagne has not only a birthday. There are at least two other dates in the calendar dedicated to this drink.

International Champagne Day is celebrated on the fourth Friday of October. In 2026, this will be October 23. The history of this holiday is much more prosaic and modern. It was established in 2009 by the California blogger and wine expert Chris O’Gorman. The idea received support from the Interprofessional Committee of Champagne Wines (CIVC) — an organization that brings together champagne producers in France. Unlike the Birthday on August 4th, this holiday is more focused on promoting French champagne produced in the Champagne region.

Pre-Christmas Champagne Day is perhaps the most logical and intuitively understandable date. It is celebrated on December 31st and coincides with New Year's Eve. On this day, millions of people around the world open a bottle of sparkling wine to welcome the new year with the sound of the clock chimes. The tradition of drinking champagne on New Year's Eve has become so integral to the celebration that this day can be considered another birthday of champagne in the popular consciousness.

In this way, lovers of this drink can celebrate it three times a year: on August 4th (Birthday), on the fourth Friday of October (International Day), and on December 31st (Pre-Christmas Day).

Champagne: from the “Devil's Wine” to the royal drink

The path of champagne to world fame was long and thorny. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was called the “Devil's Wine” (le vin du diable) because bottles often exploded due to the enormous pressure of carbon dioxide. Winemakers of that time tried their best to get rid of the hated bubbles, considering them a sign of low quality.

However, the situation changed only at the beginning of the 18th century when sparkling wine from Champagne entered fashion at the French royal court. The Duke of Orléans Philip II, the regent for the minor Louis XV, made champagne the favorite drink of French aristocracy. It was then that the triumphant path of this drink around the world began.

By the way, one of the first mentions of champagne in Russia is associated with the name of Prince Lev Sergeyevich Golitsyn, who in the 19th century set the task of creating “Russian wine” that would not be inferior to French wine. It was thanks to him that mass production of sparkling wines, which we call “Soviet champagne” today, began in Crimea and the Caucasus.

Interesting facts about champagne

Champagne is not just a drink, it is a whole universe filled with amazing facts and numbers.

Pressure and bubbles. There are about 49 million bubbles in a bottle of champagne. According to other data, on average, 11 million bubbles are released when opening. The pressure inside the bottle reaches 5-6 atmospheres, which is almost three times more than in an automobile tire.

Name and geography. Champagne is not just a type of wine, but a geographical name. By law, only sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France using certain grape varieties and the method of secondary fermentation in the bottle can be called “champagne.” All other sparkling wines must be called something else (for example, “sparkling wine” or “cremant”). However, in Russia and some other countries, the term “champagne” is used as an indication of the type of product, not geographical origin, which is established by law.

Russian taste. The producers of champagne had a special term — “champagne of Russian taste” (goût russe). It was incredibly sweet and contained more than 300 grams of sugar per liter. Such wine was very popular in the Russian Empire in the 19th century.

Health benefits. Some studies show that champagne contains polyphenols — organic substances that can protect nerve cells and slow down aging processes in the brain. It is believed that a glass of champagne helps relieve fatigue and nervous tension. However, as with any alcoholic beverage, it is important to maintain moderation.

Cork cork. It is believed that it was Pierre Pérignon who invented the cork for bottles of sparkling wine, although this assertion is also challenged by historians. Before that, bottles were sealed with wooden corks wrapped with string, which did not provide tightness.

How to celebrate the Birthday of Champagne

Celebrating August 4th is a great excuse to throw a small party or simply treat yourself to a glass of good sparkling wine. Here are a few ideas:

Tasting. Buy several bottles of champagne or sparkling wine from different regions and organize a home tasting. Compare the taste, aroma, and effervescence.

Champagne breakfast or brunch. In many countries, champagne is served not only in the evening but also in the morning — for example, with fruits or strawberries.

Cocktails. Champagne is an excellent base for cocktails. The most famous one is, of course, “Mimosa” (with orange juice) or “Bellini” (with peach puree).

Visiting a winery. If you are near a winemaking region, on August 4th, many champagne houses have open days.

And most importantly — do not forget about the main rule: champagne is a drink for joy, toasts, and good company. As they say, there is a little happiness in every bottle of champagne, and on August 4th, we have a legitimate reason to believe this.

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