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At the end of the 17th century, a French Benedictine monk, in charge of the cellar at Hautvillers Abbey, made an important contribution to differentiate wines from that region.
It became possible to produce wines of superior quality, particularly white wines made from black grape varieties. While Dom Pierre Pérignon initially felt the sparkling of the wine was a negative feature the consequent increase in both quality and quantity created the path that lead to the appreciation and recognition of champagne.
Throughout the 18th century several "champagne houses”, or Maisons de Champagne, were founded, and a new business dynamic grew in the region. These houses replaced small farm and monastery production in leading the evolutionary process of champagne and, either by planting more vineyards or by buying grapes from other producers, they mastered the specialization. To promote their product the houses hired sales agents to take samples of their champagne wines to the Royal Courts of Europe, a crucial factor in generating the glamorous fashion of drinking champagne.
Despite the growth of production, the improving quality, and the increasing popularity, the champagne trade did not reach spectacular rates during the 19th Century. That’s why this game is much more about winning prestige than earning money...
In this game, you are responsible for one of the oldest Maisons de Champagne. You will produce and sell wine all over Europe, even to the other side of the Atlantic. The local economy will be boosted, employment increased and your brand will become universally recognized...
The game flows in a chain of actions that start in your vineyard. You will need to look for continuous improvement, constantly react to your opponents, and optimize your choices to build the most prestigious Maisons de Champagne
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