Why is champagne offered after a balloon flight?

There is a tradition in ballooning that after a hot air balloon flight the passengers and crew have a champagne reception. This longstanding tradition dates back to the 1780’s, when the first manned balloon flights were made.

On one of the earliest successful manned balloon flights the pilots took a bottle of champagne to enjoy during the flight. They did not get to drink it; instead they had to offer it as a gesture of goodwill to the farmer, whose field they had landed in. The champagne acted as an apology to the disruption of the land and grazing animals.

This tradition is still used to this day, but instead of giving it to the farmer the passengers and crew will toast champagne after the balloon flight. This is normally done after the balloon has been packed away and throughout the certificate presentation and picture viewing.