Yes, I heard similar stories! I also know that they want to expand these 'Champagne worthy fields' since they the demand is getting too big. However, this creates the problem of who will be the lucky groundowner who suddenly will see the price of his land going from 10 000 dollars per hectare to over a million. I am pretty sure his neighbors won't be too happy...
RE: Google Earth pearls #7: The geography behind Champagne