# Balloonists. Champagne. Huh? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balloonists-champagne-huh/79033 "2001-08-30T23:37:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balloonists-champagne-huh/79033/1 "2001-08-30T23:37:12Z")
A co-worker and I were talking during lunch, and we somehow got on the topic of hot air balloons. She told me about the time a hot air balloon landed on her lawn. She said it was wonderful, “especially the bottle of champagne.” “Huh?” I asked. She went on to explain… “Balloonists always have a (new, unopened) bottle of champagne with them. If they land on private property, they give the bottle to the owner. It’s a tradition.” “Huh?” I asked. First time I ever heard this. She thought it was common knowledge. I’m not doubting her story, but how wide spread is this, really? Do most balloonists actually carry a bottle of champagne in their basket at all times for this purpose? ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balloonists-champagne-huh/79033/2 "2001-08-31T01:29:38Z")
I saw a documentary on ballooning. Sometimes, it is referred to as a champagne ride, or trip. Today, it is a tradition some balloonists will follow. The story is this: When hot air ballooning began, these “strange crafts” were not believed to be “terrestial”. And, it was interpreted as if a human were flying. Allegedly, ballooning started in France, and the champagne was taken along as proof that these “aliens” were not only earthlings, but fellow Frenchmen! In a nutshell, - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balloonists-champagne-huh/79033/3 "2001-08-31T01:31:53Z")
Well, I don’t know for sure if hot air ballooning STARTED in France, but the French DID start the tradition og taking along an unopened bottle of champagne. - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balloonists-champagne-huh/79033/4 "2001-08-31T03:22:13Z")
Yes, hot air ballooning DID start in France, with the Montgolfier brothers (spelling may be off). The champaign was to appease frightened and/or angry peasents who occassionally viewed a landing balloon as an attacking beast or invasion. When I took a balloon ride the champaign rode in the chase vehicle and we (passengers and crew) kept it for ourselves without sharing it with the peasents ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balloonists-champagne-huh/79033/5 "2001-08-31T04:11:20Z")
My dad went up in one and he was initiated for his _first balloon ride_ by having to drink a glass of champagne from a glass sitting on the ground without using his hands. He had to get on all fours and tip it into his mouth sideways. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2001, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/balloonists-champagne-huh/79033/6 "2001-08-31T10:29:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wishbone \* > \*\*My dad went up in one and he was initiated for his _first balloon ride_ by having to drink a glass of champagne from a glass sitting on the ground without using his hands. He had to get on all fours and tip it into his mouth sideways. \*\* Not really the proper manner I think (although they might be different in diferent parts of the world). I was initiated by getting smeared on the forehead with soil from the place where we had landed. And, of course, a glass of champagne or two. BTW If you ever get the chance of getting a balloon ride, take it! It was a wonderful experience.