17|40 Valentin Leflaive NV

Champagne is the world's most celebrated sparkling wine region, the only place whose traditional-method wines can legally be called Champagne, synonymous with celebration and luxury.

Geographic position: Northeastern France, about 150 km east of Paris, mainly in the Marne and Aube departments, around Reims, Épernay and the Côte des Bar; it is one of the northernmost vineyards in France, covering about 84,000 acres.

Origin & history: Vines were planted by the Romans, and kings of France were crowned in Reims Cathedral. In the 17th century, the monk Dom Pérignon of Hautvillers improved blending and winemaking, and the great Champagne houses developed in the 18th and 19th centuries. The appellation was recognised in 1936, and its hillsides, houses and cellars became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2015.

Main appellations & varieties: Champagne AOC (with Grand Cru and Premier Cru villages), Coteaux Champenois for still wines and Rosé des Riceys. Main grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, blended into Brut, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, rosé and vintage cuvées.

Food specialties: Chaource and Langres cheeses, Reims ham, pink Reims biscuits (biscuits roses), andouillette from Troyes, and oysters and caviar, the classic partners of Champagne.