Hot Air Balloon Ride History

Tradition has it, that when the first balloon landed in the fields of Paris, it was greeted by an incredulous mob. To appease them they were offered champagne. Another story goes in the USA where Blanchard landed in New Jersey and a mob of farmers gathered around this strange and large "spaceship," so wine and cheese was offered to the rather "surprised" farmers. Thus the tradition of drinking champagne upon landing in a balloon was started and continues to this date.