With its quiet, rolling hills, historic vineyards, and top-notch dining, France ’s Champagne province is already just about as good as it gets for a restorative getaway. But now, with the very ...

Cantine Monfort cuvée ’85 Trentino DOC. The Champagne province of France is considered by many to be the benchmark for quality sparkling wines made primarily from chardonnay and pinot noir.

Take Champagne, for example, a beverage so hoity toity the French have locked up the name – only the sparkling wine made in five tiny districts of Champagne province can say it on the label.

It’s a prestigious title that has only been taken by a winemaker outside of the Champagne province in France once before, and one that no Australian has ever held.

Champagne by definition is made only from grapes grown in the Champagne province. Other effervescent drinks, like prosecco, cava and lambrusco, are considered sparkling wines.