The techniques of sparkling winemaking did not originate with the Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon, nor was the first purposely sparkling wine produced in the region of Champagne. Regardless, through centuries of refinement Champagne has become the world’s leading sparkling wine and the vinous embodiment of luxury and celebration.
Robert,
They do seem like contradictory statements, however:
I do not know when exactly the Contrôle des Structures was enacted (any French lawyers on the board?), but prior to the law firms could own however much land they wanted. So, it is possible for an NM firm to purchase an older, ailing house with larger holdings, and therefore control a greater number of hectares, but it would not be possible to purchase the vineyards outright currently. I owe this answer to Stevenson:
www.wine-pages.com/.../Champagne_2005.pdf