Blanquette de Limoux facts for kids
Blanquette de Limoux is a special type of sparkling wine made in the Languedoc region of France. Sparkling wines are bubbly drinks, like fizzy grape juice for adults! This particular wine is famous because it might be the oldest sparkling wine ever made in France.
A Bubbly History
Blanquette de Limoux has a very long history. People have been making wine in the Limoux area for a very long time. Even an ancient Roman writer named Livy wrote about the wines from Limoux, though they weren't sparkling back then.
The Monks Who Made it Sparkle
The secret to making sparkling wine was discovered by Benedictine monks. These monks lived in an abbey (a type of monastery) called Saint Hilaire, near Limoux. They figured out how to make white wine bubbly. This happened way back in the year 1531!
Dom Pérignon and Champagne
Later, a famous monk named Dom Pérignon visited the Saint Hilaire abbey. He learned about their method of making sparkling wine. He then took this knowledge back to his own abbey in the Champagne region of France. At the end of the 16th century, he started experimenting with making sparkling wines in the vineyards there. This is how the famous Champagne wine got its start, thanks to the methods first discovered in Limoux!
Images for kids
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Bottles of Blanquette de Limoux
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The Limoux area describes itself as the oldest sparkling wine area of the world. This Crémant de Limoux has been named after the year the first sparkling wines were mentioned – 1531.
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Limoux Vineyard
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Winemaking cooperative Sieur d'Arques, the largest winery in Limoux
