There are few sounds more joyful to me than the soft pop of a Champagne cork. It signals celebration, indulgence, and those rare moments when we pause long enough to savour life with good friends. But it turns out, this golden, effervescent ritual may hold more than just symbolic value — it might also be good for your heart.
A 2025 study published by the University of Reading and reported in The Guardian found that drinking Champagne in moderation may help reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest. The researchers discovered that the polyphenols found in Champagne — naturally occurring compounds with antioxidant properties — can help protect the heart by improving blood vessel function and supporting cardiovascular health.
In other words: a little Champagne could be good for the soul — and your circulation.
It’s a compelling reason (as if we needed one) to appreciate Champagne not just for its beauty and ritual, but for its unique composition and origin.
So What Exactly Makes Champagne… Champagne?
True Champagne comes only from the Champagne region in northeastern France, where the term is legally protected under the EU’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). This means that only sparkling wine made in this exact region — using traditional methods, approved grape varieties, and local terroir — can bear the name Champagne.
The cool climate and chalky soil of the Champagne region contribute to the wine’s distinctive minerality, finesse, and delicate acidity. Add to this the méthode traditionnelle (secondary fermentation in the bottle), and you get the fine, persistent bubbles and subtle notes of brioche, citrus and almond that define the world’s most elegant sparkling wine.
What About Prosecco?
Often mistaken for Champagne, Prosecco is a sparkling wine from Italy’s Veneto region, made predominantly from Glera grapes. Unlike Champagne, Prosecco uses the Charmat method, in which the second fermentation happens in large stainless-steel tanks rather than individual bottles.
The result? A more affordable, fruit-forward sparkling wine with soft bubbles and bright, easy-going notes of pear, apple and white flowers. While Prosecco is wonderful in its own right — especially in an afternoon spritz — it differs significantly in complexity, texture and production from Champagne.
A popular day-trip from Paris
Elegance & history — Dom Pérignon
Champagne region in France
Top 5 Sparkling Wine Regions To Know
If you love Champagne (or are newly curious), these five regions are the most celebrated for sparkling wine:
- Champagne, France
The gold standard — elegant, age-worthy and complex. Look for vintage or grower Champagne (small, family-owned vineyards that both grow and make Champagne) for something special. Being located just two hours east of Paris, a day trip to the Champagne region is a worthwhile excursion! More details below. - Prosecco (Veneto), Italy
Light, aromatic and accessible, Prosecco is perfect for casual entertaining or cocktail hour. - Cava (Catalonia), Spain
Made with local Spanish grapes using the traditional method, Cava offers Champagne-like structure at a more approachable price. - Franciacorta (Lombardy), Italy
Often called Italy’s answer to Champagne, Franciacorta is refined, creamy, and made using Chardonnay, Pinot Nero and Pinot Bianco. - Crémant (Various regions, France)
Sparkling wines made in the traditional style from regions outside Champagne — think Crémant d’Alsace or Crémant de Loire — often excellent value and beautifully expressive.
Love to Drink Champagne in Champagne?
Champagne is located about 150 kilometres (roughly 90 miles) east of Paris — an easy and scenic 1.5 to 2 hour train or car journey, depending on where you’re headed.
The heart of the Champagne region includes charming towns like:
- Reims – the region’s unofficial capital and home to some of the most iconic Champagne houses (like Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, and Ruinart).
- Épernay – smaller and quieter, known for its famous Avenue de Champagne, where you’ll find Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët and others.
- Hautvillers – a picturesque village and resting place of Dom Pérignon.
It’s the perfect day trip (or overnight) from Paris — and a beautifully French way to slow down and savour life.
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Champagne is the perfect day trip (or overnight) from Paris — and a beautifully French way to slow down and savour life.
A Toast to Connection
At French Consul, we believe in small pleasures that carry big meaning. Whether you’re celebrating something momentous or simply the end of a wonderful day, a glass of Champagne is more than a drink — it’s a ritual of presence. A moment to pause. A gentle invitation to savour beauty, life, and the company you keep.
And now, with this new heart-health research in hand, we can raise our glasses with even more gratitude — to connection, to wellbeing, and to all the sparkling moments yet to come.
- TAGS ― Featured, Home-Influencer, Stories
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