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Caroline’s Champagne – the single vineyard projects…
A few months ago I moved to Champagne to write more whilst specializing in this wonderful wine:-). As I am discovering my new playing ground I seem to stumble upon so many true gems, unusual wines and...
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Caroline’s Champagne – a reflection on Champagne Terroir and the human role...
An expression of terroir in ChampagneI have been pretty occupied by the notion of “terroir” in Champagne lately. It all started off with the 4 independent winegrowers vins clairs and Champagne tastings...
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Caroline’s Champagne – is sustainable or organic farming the gateway to the...
Champagne vineyard in springAs many of you may know I have been totally fascinated to the point of obsession with vineyards and the terroir in Champagne ever since I moved here. I also have a long time...
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Caroline’s Champagne – Food & Champagne & where to go to eat out around here
Champagne as a food wine? Hmmm I can see some of you frown and look a little unsure, as indeed Champagne is generally more associated with celebrations than it is regarded a gastronomic beverage. Very...
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Caroline’s Champagne – more terroir, organic winegrowing and natural winemaking
The first thing I read this morning was “The latest stimulant to drag me out of natural wine commentary retirement was the ‘debate’ during the European Wine Blogger’s Conference in Turkey. Turns out...
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My first Champagne anniversary – a time to reflect…
Hautvillers in the snowAs I wandered through the snow dusted vineyards last weekend I was once again stuck for words by the landscape’s beauty. I am still amazed by the diversity of the local scenery...
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Caroline’s Champagne – the celebration of St Vincent
The blessed barrel of wine for St VincentJanuary 22nd is the name day of St Vincent – patron saint of the winegrowers in France as in some areas of Spain and Italy. In Champagne it is an important day...
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Caroline’s Champagne – vins clairs, terroir & savoir faire
Vins Clairs tasting at Nicolas FeuillatteThis last month I have been very lucky to have been invited to taste vins clairs (in plural!) in lots of different places. The term “vin clair” literally means...
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Where I look for terroir and bubbles when I am not in Champagne
I am intrinsically attracted to quirky slightly off beat places and tend to look for them wherever I go. Today I want to talk about 2 of these places; I feel they belong in this blog as they have...
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Grands jours de Champagne?
This article first appeared in Circle Update on 31st MayWhilst there are plenty of international wine fairs, a lot of winemakers prefer to show off their wines on home territory. It gives them the...
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#ChampagneHarvest13 – Kick Off in Cummière
#champagneharvest13It is that exciting time of the year again! This year no secateurs for me, but I have set myself as a goal to try and visit fifty to sixty Champagne producers during harvest and...
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#ChampagneHarvest13: Cumières & the Sézannais
Les ChevresChampagne Georges Laval Les Chenes is an iconic cuvée, a single vineyard or lieu dit of 0.4 hectares (40 Ares), on the lower part of the steep slope between Cumières and Hautvillers. The...
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#ChampagneHarvest 13: Champagne Goutorbe, Philippe Gonet and UPR in Le Mesnil
Sunset on the eve of harvest in Le MesnilThe Goutorbe family is an institution in Ay. Not long after the first world war Emile Goutorbe, winemaker at that time for Perrier Jouet, decides to open a...
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#ChampagneHarvest13:the making of Rosé de Saignée
Rosé ChampagneRosé Champagne is a small but growing part of the market and in the last twenty years it has become part of the portfolio of just about every Champagne producer. Most Champagne rosés are...
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French Police: Friend or Foe?
Local Police LogoOn Friday it was the fourth International Champagne Day, and the group of Terres et Vins de Champagne Vignerons had organized a small event in the Glue Pot in Reims to let people...
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St Vincent 2014 in Hautvillers
St Vincent parade in HautvillersIt was unusually cold on the 22 January, the day St Vincent is celebrated in Hautvillers. ‘La St Vincent’ gathers the whole village together to give thanks to their...
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Before the bubbles – an organic story of vins clairs
Winter is one of the most crucial seasons in Champagne. In the vineyard the pruners decide the crops of the next season and in the cellar the time has come to taste the vins clairs to assess the...
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Grower Champagne tasting week falls short of becoming the region’s Grands Jours
Terres et Vins de ChampagneSix years ago, a group of seventeen Champenois vignerons created a new tasting concept focusing on terroir and wine and called it Terres et Vins de Champagne. The aim was to...
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M is for more meunier and miammiam
Meunier vines in FestignyMeunier has often been considered the week little brother of the more powerful and structured Pinot Noir, or the ugly wee sister of the elegant Chardonnay. Instead of bringing...
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One Step Beyond – Franck Pascal’s Bio-energetic Champagne
Franck Pascal's amazing wine journeyAt the beginning of June I spent my birthday learning all about bio-energetic Champagne at Franck Pascal‘s. Franck and Isabelle had invited me together with the...
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