Editing Champagne wine region (section)

====Rivalry with Burgundy====
A strong influence on Champagne wine production was the centuries-old rivalry between the region and [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]]. From the key market of Paris to the palace of [[Louis XIV of France]] at [[Palace of Versailles|Versailles]], proponents of Champagne and Burgundy would compete for dominance. For most of his life, Louis XIV would drink only Champagne wine with the support of his doctor [[Antoine d'Aquin]] who advocated the King drink Champagne with every meal for the benefit of his health. As the King aged and his ailments increased, competing doctors would propose alternative treatments with alternative wines, to soothe the King's ills. One of these doctors, [[Guy-Crescent Fagon]] conspired with the King's mistress to oust d'Aquin and have himself appointed as Royal Doctor. Fagon quickly attributed the King's continuing ailments to Champagne and ordered that only [[Burgundy wine]] must be served at the royal table.<ref name="Kladstrup pg 32">D. & P. Kladstrup ''Champagne'' pg 32 HarperCollins Publishers {{ISBN|0-06-073792-1}}</ref>

This development had a ripple effect throughout both regions and in the Paris markets. Both Champagne and Burgundy were deeply concerned with the "healthiness" reputation of their wines, even to the extent of paying medical students to write theses touting the [[Health benefits of wine|health benefit of their wines]]. These theses were then used as advertising pamphlets that were sent to merchants and customers. The Faculty of Medicine in Reims published several papers to refute Fagon's claim that Burgundy wine was healthier than Champagne. In response, Burgundian winemakers hired physician [[Jean-Baptiste de Salins]], dean of the medical school in [[Beaune]], to speak to a packed auditorium at the Paris Faculty of Medicine. Salins spoke favorably of Burgundy wine's deep color and robust nature and compared it to the pale red color of Champagne and the "[[instability (wine)|instability]]" of the wine to travel long distances and the flaws of the bubbles from when secondary fermentation would take place. The text of his speech was published in newspapers and pamphlets throughout France and had a damaging effect on Champagne sales.<ref name="Kladstrup pg 33-34">D. & P. Kladstrup ''Champagne'' pg 33–34 HarperCollins Publishers {{ISBN|0-06-073792-1}}</ref>

The war of words would continue for another 130 years with endless commentary from doctors, poets, playwrights and authors all arguing for their favorite region and their polemics being reproduced in advertisements for Burgundy and Champagne. On a few occasions, the two regions were on the brink of [[civil war]].<ref name="Kladstrup pg 36">D. & P. Kladstrup ''Champagne'' pg 36 HarperCollins Publishers {{ISBN|0-06-073792-1}}</ref> A turning point occurred when several Champagne wine makers abandoned efforts to produce red wine in favor of focusing on harnessing the effervescent nature of sparkling Champagne. As the bubbles became more popular, doctors throughout France and [[Europe]] commented on the health benefits of the sparkling bubbles which were said to cure [[malaria]]. As more Champenois winemakers embarked on this new and completely different wine style, the rivalry with Burgundy mellowed and eventually waned.<ref name="Kladstrup pg 36" />