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Growers Champagne
Saturday 22 - Tuesday 25 November
Champagne
It is a few years since we last ran our Growers Champagne tour and a lot has happened in the interval. Wine has become more branded with the likes of Blossom Hill and Jacobs Creek driven by the supermarkets and discounting, taking a larger and larger slice of the wine market. Paradoxically at the same time the internet makes it possible for the small voices to be heard and small specialists in their niches to prosper. Micro trends and mega-brands; is that the future? Certainly in Champagne this seems to be the case. The strong brands are doing very well and the supermarkets are moving serious volumes of their owned branded products (sometimes at outrageously low prices in order to get media attention). The counter-movement is a yearning for authenticity both among producers and consumers. Taittinger, for instance, has brought out a single vineyard Clos de la Marqueterie and a grand cru blend Prelude. Leclerc-Briant even has a range of single vineyard Champagnes called Les Authentiques. These are a couple of examples, there are many more. Where then does this leave the small domaines, the Grower Producers?
On this tour we will visit a series of leading growers and will taste many more in our evening tastings. Well consider the issues facing them and hear what they are trying to achieve. Export markets have now discovered these small producers and interestingly they dont expect them to be cheap. It doesnt take many international or American cognoscenti demanding Pinot-based champagnes from Bouzy for shortages and price rises to follow. Sought-after prestigous grower champagnes? 20, certainly 25 years ago, the idea would have provoked snorts of derision. The new generation may be shaking off the inferiority complex which has stigmatised small champagne producers but interestingly they have also re½ned the growers mentality. A highly trained and motivated generation is taking over. Well take another look at organics. The early steps in organics in Champagne were faultering to say the least. Well they arent now. There is probably no-one working as hard in the vineyard as the younger generation of grower producers. Organics, biodynamics, keeping old vines as long as possible, replanting with high quality rather than high yielding clones; looking beyond
Benoit Tarlant, one of the stars of the younger generation.
Pinot and Chardonnay at the lost, ancient grape varieties of Champagne. This is what they are up to. This spirit of experimentation extends to cellar work too. Oak barrels are back, so too are natural yeasts, un½ltered base wines and so on. This will be a fascinating tour and along the way well come across new and delightful wines. Our Growers tours have been in¾uential in the past, on our own programme and perhaps beyond too. The Wine Guide is Tim Clarke
Outline Itinerary
Day 1 07.30 Depart Victoria. 09.15 Meet Folkestone 10.00 Meet Dover, Channel crossing by Ferry. Travel to Reims. Comparative champagne tasting Champagne visits including lunch. Champagne visits including lunch. Evening tasting. Champagne visits including lunch. 2000 Return Dover 2030 Folkestone. 2230 Victoria.
Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
Includes
Return Channel crossings by ferry, executive coach, 3 nights 3* hotel in superior rooms, breakfasts with champagne, 3 meals with champagnes, 2 comparative tastings, visits and tastings. The maximum party size is 26.
Travel Price £pp Sole occupancy Deposit £ pp Room Upgrade
Ferry
Harvest time in Champagne
699
120
100
60
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