Club

This month we look at one of the forgotten grapes of champagne - Pinot Blanc. Many champagne lovers know of the three most common varietals in Champagne but in the giant rule book of what ‘can’ and ‘cannot’ be done to produce champagne there are actually seven permitted grapes.   There varieties are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier with the more peculiar varieties being Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Pinot Gris (aka Blanc Vrai) and Fromenteau. Pinot Blanc is originally from Alsace and has to be cared for gently in the vineyard. In general, more pruning is needed as it has...

As part of our ‘regional focus’ series, we have chosen to look at the sub terroir of Petite Montagne de Reims and the Vallee de L'Ardre which boast some excellent producers making superb champagne. Our producers of focus this month are firstly Nicolas Maillart, based in Villers-aux-Nœuds who is making waves in the champagne region producing high quality, artisanal champagne. Secondly, if you haven’t come across him before we are exalted to showcase the infamous Francis Egly from Egly-Ouriet who’s wines are nothing short of cult-like in the wine world. Although based in Ambonnay, he sources his Meunier from the...

Welcome back! We kick off 2019 with another super interesting edition that looks at champagne made with 100% reserve wines. Have you ever had this kind of wine before? Both of these wines have been specially sourced and selected just for you, our valued club member. Being part of the champagne community, you will probably be aware that every champagne producer be it small grower or large house, will use a percentage of reserve wines to keep the consistency of that house style. Reserve wines are made as still wines and are collected as a percentage of each year’s harvest in...

We round off this year's club edition by bringing you something we've been looking forward to covering - Sulphur Free champagne.Our choice of producers are Drappier Champagne, arguably one of the most prominent houses in the Southern part of Champagne in the town or Urville and the young, dynamic and charismatic producer, Cyril Bonnet from Bonnet-Ponson based in the Petite Montagne of Chamery.