March is the women's month and also this year, in conjunction with the International Women's Day, we want to dedicate our article to the recognition and celebration of the women of Champagne.
In a context historically dominated by men, today the presence of women in wine companies is particularly significant and brings with it an important impact, representing a challenge to stereotypes and an opening to a greater inclusion also towards the new generations of women interested in the wine sector.
The work of winemaker, oenologist, sommelier, activities that were unthinkable for women until a few decades ago, make us understand how far we have come so far, and how recognizing the contribution of women in this sector represents an important step towards a greater equality gender and at the same time a way to recognize merit and ability regardless of gender.
Furthermore, the presence of new generations of women in the wine industry brings a fresh and dynamic perspective, creating a fascinating mosaic of approaches and perspectives and laying the foundation for progress in the Champagne sector.
In the Champagne Region there are many Vigneronnes who run their own wineries or collaborate with family in production operations; talented and passionate Vigneronnes, innovators and leaders, each with their own success story. We'll tell you about some of them, taking inspiration from the NEWS on our online shop which you can find HERE.
New prospectives.
It is 2023, when Marie-Marjorie, sixth generation of the family of Laurent-Gabriel Champagne producers in the Vallée de la Marne, decides to make a change to the family business, creating her own project, the Domaine des Arondes. Arondes, which means swallow in ancient French, is intended to be the symbol of purity and rebirth, a cycle that renews itself between loyalty to the family legacy and the ability of the new generation to pursue a necessary evolution. Marie's first micro-vinification experiments date back to 2012 and are still the basis of her research work which aims to explore the specific characteristics of the vines, highlighting the influences of terroir, climate and cultivation techniques on quality and on the aromatic profile of the wine. Recently in our online shop, we recommend you try her Champagne J't'emmène au vent, a 2015 Millésime produced exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes from Avenay Val d'Or with a long aging on its own yeasts for at least 84 months.
Innovation and creativity.
In Oger, in the Côte Des Blancs, Sophie Launois manages a small production of Champagne, around 1200 bottles of a single and exclusive Cuvée, Le Moulin, an exclusive niche in the Champagne panorama. 100% Chardonnay from vineyards of the Le Moulin parcel, the small and exclusive vineyard from which it is produced was planted in 1947 by Sophie's grandfather, Léon Launois, and is managed according to the rigorous principles of organic agriculture. Blanc de Blancs from the 2017 harvest, this Champagne vinifies and ages in fût de chêne for at least 36 months with a final dosage of 3 g/l (Extra Brut).
Family succession.
Colette Bonnet, daughter and granddaughter of winemakers for many generations, together with her family manages the homonymous Domaine Colette Bonnet with its 2.25 hectares of vineyards in Noë-les-Mallets, in the heart of the Côte des Bar. The medium-aged vines 20 years old are grown in Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay according to the principles of certified organic viticulture. Since 2021, the Domaine has had a state-of-the-art pressing centre, created and managed by Colette with her brother Bélorgeot Thierry, also a Vigneron. If you have never tried a Blanc de Blancs Pinot Blanc-based , now is the time to do it: the Champagne Pinot Blanc Millésime 2018 is the result of 100% Pinot Blanc vinified according to a minimum intervention model with aging for over 36 months and a dosage of 4 g/l (Extra Brut). A Champagne with a mineral imprint with a creamy effervescence, supported by a citrus acidity and white fruits.
Management skills.
In 2014, the sisters Margot and Charlotte, the third generation of the Oudiette family, decided to enter into the management of the Domaine familial, continuing the tradition of Champagne production and following in the footsteps of their grandmother Arlette and mother Florence. In Epernay the two sisters created the B&B “La Poterne” and started the Sensations Vigneronnes project, a recreational and gastronomic experience organized at the Domaine. The Champagne Extra Brut Les Sablonnières by Oudiette x Filles is the result of 100% Pinot Noir from the namesake lieu-dit located in Beaunay, a village in the Coteaux du Petit Morin. A deep Champagne, with character, vinified in fûts de chêne with aging for at least 10 months in barrel. Spontaneous malolactic, no refrigeration or filtration process and bottle aging for approximately 36 months before dégorgement. A Blanc de Noirs with a flavor profile that speaks of the precious terroir from which it originates.
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