Jeff Grossman
Jeff Grossman
We are, of course, discussing Champagne (see page 51 of A History of Champagne by Henry Vizetelli, 1882).
Around the time of its first popularization there was much dissension about whether Champagne was good for you at all, and, even if it was, whether Burgundy was better. Benigné Grenan, one of the pro-Burgundy camp, tweeted* the following verse:
Lift to the skies thy foaming wine,
That cheers the heart, that charms the eye;
Exalt its fragrance, gift divine,
Champagne, from thee the wise must fly!
A poison lurks those charms below,
An asp beneath the flowers is hid;
In vain thy sparkling fountains flow
When wisdom has their lymph forbid.
'Tis but when cloyed with purer fair
We can with such a traitress flirt
So following Beaune with reverent air,
Let Reims appear but at dessert.'
The Champenois were not amused. Retaliatory Latin verse were prepared and launched.
*Note: Actually, he wrote several sapphics in Latin and published them but I think the effect was the same.
Around the time of its first popularization there was much dissension about whether Champagne was good for you at all, and, even if it was, whether Burgundy was better. Benigné Grenan, one of the pro-Burgundy camp, tweeted* the following verse:
Lift to the skies thy foaming wine,
That cheers the heart, that charms the eye;
Exalt its fragrance, gift divine,
Champagne, from thee the wise must fly!
A poison lurks those charms below,
An asp beneath the flowers is hid;
In vain thy sparkling fountains flow
When wisdom has their lymph forbid.
'Tis but when cloyed with purer fair
We can with such a traitress flirt
So following Beaune with reverent air,
Let Reims appear but at dessert.'
The Champenois were not amused. Retaliatory Latin verse were prepared and launched.
*Note: Actually, he wrote several sapphics in Latin and published them but I think the effect was the same.