Rosé Champagne was first created by accident in the early 18th century when red grapes had a bumpy ride on their way to the press, resulting in a pale pink sparkler rather than the white style Louis XIV and his court had become accustomed to.
The style was affectionately dubbed ‘oeil de predrix’ (eye of the partridge) as its colour mirrored the reddish ring around the eyes of the game birds.