Champagne. Just the word evokes visions of, well, some sort of champagne lifestyle, doesn’t it. And while most of us can’t inhabit that elevated terrain for sustained periods of time, it is quite nice just to pop in and visit every now and then. From atop our effervescent empire, we have noted that there’s a lot more to the region of Champagne than one might have previously imagined; and far from being mired in tradition, it is very much a dynamic force and a place on the move. There are many options; from the sleek million-dollar brands to the intriguing independent Grower champagnes, the ground-breaking left-fielders to the aspirational prestige cuvées.