Champagne is generally considered to have some pretty bad weather. It's the most northerly wine growing area in France, and it's proximity to the English channel cools down the region quite a bit. It also gets quite a bit of rain, about 26 inches annually. The area is full of rolling hills that create many differnt microclimates. Champagne is divided into five major districts: Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blanes, Côtes de Sézanem Vallée de la Marne, and the Aube Vineyards. The soil is champagne consists almost entirely of a thin top soil over a chalk base. The chalk helps drainage and also produces wine very high in acidity.