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The vineyards of the Champagne region in France produce one of the most coveted of wines.

The bubbly, sparkling wines that are grown in the chalky, limestone rich soil of this area are allowed to use the name "Champagne" and no sparkling wine from another area can claim that prestigious designation.

Deciding which of the well known names to buy for your party or special occasion is much easier if you know a little about the wine and its history. How the grape vines that began growing in this region centuries ago were brought to perfection as Champagne makes for a great story.

However, the real interest is drinking the results. The best way to decide which Champagne label to choose is to check with the experts, and you'll find a few of them offering their opinions just up ahead.

A glass of Champagne never tastes as wonderful as it does when you sip it in the tasting rooms of one of the great Champagne houses. If you are planning a trip to France, the Champagne region is a short, and very pretty, train ride from Paris.

Whether you visit Mumm, Moët & Chandon, Roederer, Taittinger or any of the more famous name, a tour is fascinating and the tasting at the end is guaranteed to present you with several of the top champagnes to purchase for your trip home.

As the villages of the Champagne region also have magnificent architecture and delicious food to enjoy as you sip, linger a while to savor one of life's rich pleasures.

In the end, the extra time you take may save you from the same fate as Lord Keynes, whose famous last words were ... I wish I'd drunk more Champagne! ...

also see --> How to Pop Champagne

More information about Champagne and its vineyards around the Web:

Champagne - Go on a virtual tour of the vineyards of Champagne through the seasons where you can see the grapes emerge from winter sleep through harvesting, along with many videos and brochures, listings of the cellars that allow visitors and the major champagne houses, sections on how to taste and serve wine with many other tourist resources and information on the region.