In 17th-century France, Dom Pierre Pérignon, a monk at the Abbey of Hautvillers, found himself facing an unexpected challenge. The wine he was producing in the Champagne region had a tendency to develop bubbles during the cold winter months. When the weather warmed up in spring, fermentation would restart, causing the wine to sparkle—something winemakers considered a flaw at the time.

Rather than succeeding in eliminating the bubbles, Dom Pérignon stumbled upon what would become the most famous sparkling wine in the world. Legend has it that upon tasting the fizzy wine, he declared, “I am tasting the stars!”—although the quote is likely apocryphal, it perfectly captures the magic of this unexpected discovery.

Winemakers in the Champagne region soon realized that the bubbly wine had a charm all its own, and it quickly became popular among European royalty. By the 18th century, champagne had evolved from a winemaking “problem” into the ultimate symbol of luxury and celebration. Its popularity skyrocketed, thanks in part to Madame de Pompadour, who famously claimed that champagne was the only drink that kept a woman beautiful after drinking it.

However, producing champagne wasn’t without risks. Early bottles would often explode under the pressure of carbonation, causing chaos in wine cellars. Only after the development of stronger glass and corks could champagne be safely bottled and enjoyed far beyond the Champagne region.