Champagne, with its inherent glamour and luxury, has always been more than just a drink. It is a symbol, a shared experience, and—at its highest levels—a connector of people through exclusive societies that celebrate its grandeur. These societies offer a space where connoisseurs gather not only to appreciate Champagne but to participate in a broader cultural tradition that spans the globe.
Champagne Societies: A Worldwide Community of Connoisseurs and Celebration
The origins of Champagne societies date back to post-WWII France, when some of Champagne’s most devoted grower-producers sought to protect and highlight their unique terroir.
La Commanderie du Bontemps: Where Bordeaux Meets Champagne
Founded in 1949, La Commanderie du Bontemps is one of the oldest and most prestigious wine fraternities in the world, originally dedicated to promoting the wines of Bordeaux. Over time, the Commanderie has embraced Champagne, reflecting the shared cultural and historical significance of these two regions. In exclusive events that gather the wine world’s elite, Bordeaux’s powerful reds meet Champagne’s elegant sparkle, symbolizing the unity of France’s finest wine traditions.
While Champagne might seem like an unexpected addition to this Bordeaux-centric society, its inclusion highlights the global prestige of Champagne and its ability to cross regional boundaries. Members of the Commanderie, including winemakers, connoisseurs, and collectors, come together at grand banquets to toast with Bordeaux and Champagne alike, blending the best of both worlds. This is a testament to how Champagne is more than just a drink—it’s a cultural connector that brings together different traditions in the world of fine wine.
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The Confrérie du Sabre d’Or: Champagne Sabrage and a Blade of Elegance
Picture a grand soirée in Paris, the soft glow of chandeliers reflecting off crystal flutes, as a gentleman, with a swift motion of a gleaming saber, sends a Champagne cork soaring across the room. This breathtaking act, known as sabrage, is central to the identity of the Confrérie du Sabre d’Or.
The society’s origins date back to the Napoleonic era, when soldiers, celebrating victories, would saber open bottles of Champagne. This act combined military precision and indulgence, reflecting Napoleon’s own penchant for the sparkling wine. Legend has it that, after his battlefield victories, Napoleon would order Champagne to be sabered in triumph. “In victory, you deserve Champagne; in defeat, you need it,” Napoleon famously said. The Confrérie, established in 1986, formalized this dramatic tradition, evolving it into a global cultural symbol of opulence. Today, represented in more than 30 countries, from private clubs in London to high-society gatherings in New York, members of the Confrérie open Champagne with this signature flourish.
The Confrérie is not just a society but a performance. Members, often elite socialites and connoisseurs, perform sabrage at private events, adding an aura of theater to the celebration. It is said that when Sir Richard Branson was inducted into the Confrérie, he sabered a bottle aboard one of his luxurious Virgin Atlantic flights, proving that the art of sabrage transcends time, place, and even altitude.
The Commanderie de l’Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne: A Legacy of Champagne Excellence
Established in 1956, The Commanderie de l’Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne is more than just a society—it’s the very essence of Champagne’s heritage. The Ordre traces its roots back to the 17th century, when French aristocrats from the courts of Louis XIV would meet in vineyards—particularly in the coteaux (hillsides) of Champagne—to discuss wine, gastronomy, and the pleasures of life. The term coteaux refers to these hillsides, but also symbolizes elevated taste and sophistication.
In one famous anecdote, Winston Churchill, a devoted admirer of Pol Roger, was inducted into this society after the Second World War. His love for Pol Roger was such that every New Year’s Eve, a case of the vintage Brut would be delivered to him at Chartwell. In honor of his passing, Pol Roger even released a special cuvée with a black border—a unique tribute to a man whose legacy is intertwined with Champagne itself.
The Commanderie’s modern incarnation celebrates this history, hosting luxurious events around the world. From Venice’s palatial canals to Tokyo’s finest hotels, their grand chapitres (ceremonial dinners) bring together the global elite for exclusive tastings, marking Champagne as a cultural connector that transcends borders.
Club Trésors de Champagne: Guardians of Terroir
In a different light, the Club Trésors de Champagne represents a more intimate, artisanal side of Champagne. Founded in 1971, this exclusive club consists of just 28 small, independent producers dedicated to the terroir-driven approach. Initially called Club de Viticultures Champenois, it brought together passionate growers determined to preserve the individuality of their terroirs. As a mark of excellence, the Club established the Special Club cuvée, a designation reserved for each member’s finest vintage
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Members of Club Trésors de Champagne are held to strict standards. The Champagnes must undergo two rigorous tastings before being released under the prestigious Special Club label: once after blending the “still” wines, and once after aging for at least three years on lees. These bottles are meant to reflect the epitome of each estate’s quality, ensuring that collectors and enthusiasts receive only the most exceptional bottles from the year’s harvest.
This tradition of exclusivity and collaboration helped to elevate grower Champagnes into a distinct category of their own, revered not just for their high quality but for their deep connection to the land.
The Club itself is secretive, almost elusive. Its producers are spread across the Champagne region, crafting wines in small quantities, often with generations of tradition behind them. The Special Club bottles, with their unique design, have become highly collectible—symbols of Champagne craftsmanship at its finest.
One of the most captivating stories from the Club is of Jacques Diebolt-Vallois, whose Special Club cuvées have become legendary among collectors. It is said that during a private tasting in his cellars, surrounded by aged vintages, one guest remarked that Diebolt’s wines were “the closest one could come to bottling the soul of Champagne.” The club, with its focus on purity and terroir, represents the heart of Champagne—a contrast to the glamour of larger houses but no less prestigious.
Champagne Societies Beyond France: A Global Celebration
Champagne’s role as a cultural connector extends far beyond France. In recent years, countries across the world have embraced Champagne as a symbol of luxury and success, expanding the cultural footprint of these societies. In Asia, Champagne consumption is rising rapidly, with connoisseurs from Japan to Hong Kong organizing tasting clubs and exclusive events.
Champagne has also become an integral part of the luxury lifestyle in cities like New York and London, where private clubs such as Soho House and Annabel’s host Champagne-themed events that bring together the cultural elite. In these spaces, Champagne is more than a drink—it’s a social experience, a connector of influential people who appreciate the nuances of luxury.
In the United States, the American Friends of Champagne brings together connoisseurs from Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and Hollywood for tastings of rare vintages. These exclusive tastings, often held in private estates or penthouses, are marked by a shared passion for Champagne’s heritage and its place in high society.
Sporting events, too, have found their connection to Champagne. From the Formula 1 podiums to America’s Cup yacht races, Champagne is more than a drink—it’s a symbol of triumph. Since the 1950s, the ritual of spraying Champagne after a Formula 1 victory has become iconic. The sight of a victorious Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen, shaking a bottle of Moët & Chandon on the podium, has cemented Champagne’s place in the world of elite sports. Similarly, in yachting circles, Champagne toasts signal the beginning and end of great races. For instance, at the America’s Cup, competitors toast their victories with flutes of the finest bubbles, linking sportsmanship with Champagne’s enduring legacy of celebration.
Champagne as a Universal Language of Celebration
Through societies, events, and sporting traditions, Champagne has transcended its French roots to become a global symbol of connection, celebration, and elegance. Whether in an exclusive tasting room in Reims or on the winner’s podium at a Grand Prix, Champagne’s bubbles tell a story of shared moments, victories, and indulgence. From the Club Trésors de Champagne to the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne, the drink brings together those who revel in its charm, linking them across time and geography in a universal celebration of life’s finest pleasures.
As Sophie Claeys remarked, “To drink Champagne is to participate in a ritual that spans centuries, connecting us all in the language of celebration.” It is in these societies, gatherings, and traditions where Champagne solidifies its role not just as a luxury item, but as a vital cultural connector for those who understand its magic.