Definition: Unconsumed champagne

Nothing is known for certain about the origin of this custom. Some claim that it dates back to the ancient Greeks, who poured wine on the ship Argo, commanded by Jason, to obtain the protection of the gods as the Argonauts set out to conquer the Golden Fleece. Others believe it was a Viking custom to sprinkle blood on newly built ships. Closer to home, the completion of a building, particularly a ship that has been given a name, gives rise to a kind of christening. However, it is almost impossible to determine when wine first became associated with the ceremony. It seems that christening ships with champagne is an^18th-century French tradition that quickly became an international custom. A century later, the press reported on the launch of the first modern transatlantic liner, the Great Britain, on 19 July 1843: "The grandfather of the German Emperor and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg, husband of Queen Victoria, were in attendance, surrounded by thirty thousand people. Every spectator held their breath as the mother of the local MP threw the traditional bottle of champagne... and missed! Prince Albert immediately grabbed a second bottle and smashed it against the bow of the Great Britain with a deft hand.

Pamela Vandyke Price recounts the story of what happened in 1853 to the four-masted Great Republic, once the largest ship in the world. The bottle of champagne reserved for the christening was drunk the night before the event by an inconsiderate thief. The bottle was not replaced. Shortly after its launch, the Great Republic caught fire. The negligence of the builder, who had not taken the precaution of providing a second bottle, almost ruined him.

It has also been claimed that the Titanic, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1912, was not christened with champagne.

The last French transatlantic liner, the France, was christened in 1962 by Madame Charles de Gaulle, who threw the bottle of Charles Heidsieck.

In 1980, there was even an attempt to blame Olivier de Kersauson's shipwreck during his Atlantic crossing on the fact that the bottle had not broken when his trimaran was launched.

During the inaugural flights of the Concorde, passengers drank champagne before departure, on the plane during the flight and on arrival, in front of American and Brazilian television cameras.

To avoid such unfortunate incidents, during the christening of large ships, every measure is taken to ensure success, for the enjoyment of spectators and to safeguard the vessel. The bottle is weighted. Tests have been carried out. All the godmother has to do is press a button and technology takes care of the rest.

Finally, this tradition has inspired many cartoonists, such as this drawing of the godfather in a top hat carefully examining the label before throwing the bottle and exclaiming: "A great 1955, what a shame"! Or in Robert Dhéry's film "Le Petit Baigneur", an energetic godmother throws her bottle... and makes a hole in the hull!

Today, ships are no longer enough. Any creation, any novelty, whether it be a book, a record, a car, a new variety of rose, or a sporting achievement, at the end of a car race, cycling championship or mountaineering expedition, champagne, usually in magnums, is loudly present, shaken, to better spray the winners.

The "non-drinking" use of champagne, meaning champagne that is not consumed but used for spraying, has a connotation that is not very refined, even shocking. Have we not gone too far and fallen into a trap that contradicts the countless efforts made to develop a luxury, prestigious product?

It should be noted that this practice remains the preserve of the big houses, always on the lookout for "explosive" publicity. During our investigation, we noticed that the brands specifically concerned are careful not to publish anything about the quantities of champagne sacrificed in this way, simply adding that it remains very marginal.