The historic vineyards, wine cellars and champagne houses of France's Champagne region were listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO on Saturday.

The global body said the status covers "the places sparkling wine was developed using a second fermentation method in the bottle from the beginning of the 17th century until its early industrialisation in the 19th century."

The decision was rubberstamped by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee meeting in Bonn on Saturday.