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Wine cellars at Rheims
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Wine cellars at Rheims
Mid-19th century engraving showing a cross section of the wine cellars at Rheims, home of champagne. Date: 1862
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Media ID 14167431
© Mary Evans Picture Library
1862 Alcohol Cellar Cellars Champagne Rheims Section Sparkling Wine
EDITORS COMMENTS
Step into the rich history of Champagne production with this mid-19th century engraving of the wine cellars at Rheims, France. Dated 1862, this image offers a cross-sectional glimpse into the intricate network of underground cellars where the traditional method of sparkling wine production began. Rheims, located in the Champagne region of northeastern France, has been renowned for its wine production since the Roman times. However, it was in the 17th century that the monks of the Abbey of Hautvillers, near Rheims, are believed to have first discovered the technique of creating sparkling wine by adding sugar to the wine and allowing it to undergo a second fermentation in the bottle. This engraving reveals the labyrinthine layout of the cellars, with their narrow, vaulted passages, and the rows of bottles, each carefully tucked away in their nooks, resting in the cool, dark environment. The chalky soil beneath the cellars helped maintain a consistent temperature, ensuring the perfect conditions for the wine to mature. The meticulous process of Champagne production is illustrated in this image, with workers tending to the riddling racks, where the bottles are slowly turned to allow the sediment to settle in the necks of the bottles. The painstaking process of disgorging the wine, where the sediment is removed, is also hinted at, as workers can be seen using long, thin tubes to siphon off the clear wine from the bottle, leaving the sediment behind. This evocative engraving not only showcases the industrial side of Champagne production during the 19th century but also transports us back in time, allowing us to appreciate the rich history and craftsmanship that goes into creating the world-renowned sparkling wine we know today.
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