Champagne as a Political Tool

Champagne is definitely regarded as one of the most luxurious beverage to have existed and the amount of influential people who used it as a means to put across their status only contributes to its significance for society as a whole. Royal courts and the aristocracy in general have become accustomed to using champagne because of the beverage's cost and because it was relatively rare on the market. While it initially came to be appreciated because of its novelty, it gradually came to be regarded as a fine beverage that should mainly be used to highlight an important event.

The fact that champagne is a rare commodity is also visible when considering that, across time, it came to be associated with celebrations -- to the degree to which people drinking it are likely to ask "What are we celebrating?" The fact that champagne is one of the most common beverages that people use when celebrating the New Year further contributes to showing champagne's status as a beverage meant to be used when people are witnessing a special event. For millennia people have been accustomed to drinking alcoholic beverages that were of finer quality during the celebration of the New Year.

Champagne's connection to religion is truly intriguing, considering that it came close to replacing it in some situations. To a certain degree champagne actually became a symbol of the secular movement, taking into account that it came to be used in rituals as a replacement for religious rituals. While priests were previously called to christen ships, many replaced that tradition by using champagne. It is difficult and almost impossible to determine if these respective people actually considered religious ideas when choosing champagne as the liquid to be used when christening ships. Even with this, champagne's power is only emphasized as a consequence of it being used in order to launch ships.

Tens of kings have been crowned in Reims, one of the most significant cities in the French region of Champagne. The beverage was often used during coronation festivities and, as previously said, the aristocracy came to love it as a consequence of its values. With kings being crowned in Reims, it was common for celebrations to involve wine made locally. This improved the way that champagne was viewed, as Kings would use it as a drink of choice during the most significant moments in their lives. The masses also observed this and thus came to see it as a liquid fit for some of society's most important people. While champagne is believed to be around since the sixteenth century, it was not until the end of the seventeenth century that a famous monk named Dom Perignon used a special recipe in order to improve it. "As demand for effervescent wine grew, he began packaging the product in bottles, helping to maintain its sparkle. He also figured out how to stopper the bottles with corks, and how to secure the corks with string." (Epstein)

Not only did the French aristocracy appreciate champagne for its taste and exquisiteness, but also because it was believed to be a healthy alternative to traditional alcoholic beverages. The fact that champagne kept its freshness if it was held in bottles influenced King Louis XV to issue a decree making it mandatory for champagne to only be shipped in bottles (Epstein). This made the beverage more expensive and thus only available to influential individuals.

Champagne is often used as a means to celebrate in wealthy circles and this further adds to making people associate it with an important privilege. World Series winners, Formula One pilots and a series of other individuals in sports where significant amounts of money are invested celebrate by pouring champagne on each-other. Instead of being seen as a waste, this is perceived as a way to emphasize the high status of these individuals (Carlson). Taking this into account, it would only seem normal to claim that champagne is a drink linked to the idea of winning, with this concept being among the most important in the contemporary society.

An inauguration banquet meant to honor the reelection of U.S. President Barack Obama attempted to serve sparkling wine made in California during a luncheon and claimed it was Champagne. The Champagne Bureau, an organization associated with French champagne makers criticized the act and insisted that the name champagne should only be associated with sparkling wine made in the French region of Champagne. "Real Champagne, the bureau insists, can only come from the region of Champagne, France, and bubbly from anywhere else should only claim to be "sparkling wine," no matter how good it tastes." (Lifsher) This event makes it possible to gain a more complex understanding of how champagne is associated with influential environments in politics. Obama's inauguration ceremony served the beverage and tried to link the term champagne to it as a consequence of perceiving the beverage as one meant for important people.

The picture showing Barack Obama and Putin clinking their glasses during a United Nations luncheon emphasizes the power of champagne.

Their stare represents one of the most powerful and controversial relationships in the world. Society as a whole is witness to this encounter and champagne is being used as a tool to unite the two world leaders. Their stares emphasize two apparently very different characters but they are both meant to put across the idea of power. Again, champagne stands in front of them and it reaches a point where it is being used as more than a means to celebrate. It came to be a formality and a very important one, considering the effect that the meeting could have on the rest of the world.