Undoubtedly one of the most important events dedicated to Champagne, Le Printemps des Champagnes, organized in Reims and its surroundings, brings together over 200 Vignerons from the Region. Divided into associations, the Vignerons present their companies and their Champagnes, with a focus on the vins clairs of the previous vintage; the common intent is to highlight the uniqueness of each vintage and the distinctive character of the terroir.
Among the Producers present, many young Vignerons stand out, an expression of the new generation of Champagne, united in the desire to share their visions and redefine traditional production patterns, placing particular emphasis on craftsmanship and sustainability.
Le Printemps des Champagnes offers the unique opportunity to discover new Champagnes, from small emerging wineries to consolidated ones, representing an important opportunity of sharing for the producers and exploration for enthusiasts.
We spent four intense days in the splendid Champagne, during which we had the privilege of meeting numerous Vignerons, including some of the most renowned and celebrated in the area. For us it was an opportunity to consolidate ties with already known producers whose Champagnes are already an integral part of our online selection; at the same time, we opened ourselves up to new discoveries, meeting producers who were still unknown but who immediately won us over with their wines, and who we decided to include in our assortment.
So stay connected and follow carefully the news that will enrich our offer in the coming months.
If you are curious to find out which were the Vignerons who particularly impressed us during Le Printemps des Champagnes, below you will find a list of names to keep an eye on (we have decided to divide them into two articles); even if the idea of reducing them to a simple list is limiting for us, as it fails to capture the complexity and uniqueness of their work.
Alexandre Chaillon
For those who haven't had the pleasure of discovering it yet, Alexandre Chaillon looms as one of the next great promises of the Champagne scene. An engineer by training, he returned to Champagne in 2017 to take over the management of the family vineyards, linked to the renowned Vollereaux name. Since 2020, he has held the position of President of the Groupe des Jeunes Viticulteurs de Champagne, committing himself to defending the interests of young winemakers and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The Domaine is located in Aÿ, in the Vallée de la Marne, while the vineyards extend into the Coteaux Sud D'Epèrnay, in the villages of Pierry and Brugny – Vandancourt. In the cellar, the fermentation and refinement of the wines is carried out in tonneaux and stoneware eggs. Alexandre Chaillon Champagnes are gourmand wines, with an important savory and fresh structure. Expressive, exciting Champagnes.
Thomas Perseval
A real talent in the Champagne scene: Thomas Perseval has received widespread acclaim, capturing the attention of the most passionate. With just 2.5 hectares of vineyard distributed across six parcels in the Premier Cru of Chamery, Thomas cultivates not only traditional Champagne varieties, but also ancient native varieties such as Petit Meslier, Arbanne and Pinot Blanc. Thomas Perseval Champagnes are the most sincere expression of individual Lieu-Dit and individual vintages, interpreted through the natural and respectful philosophy of a Vigneron deeply linked to his land. During the tasting, we tried his Champagne La Pucelle Rosé, a pure Meunier, aged for 18 months on the yeasts and without any added dosage; an explosion of concentrated fruit, where mineral freshness dominates. A rosé of extraordinary power and character.
Antoine Bouvet
We know Antoine Bouvet since some years now and we can say with certainty that, despite his young age, his Champagnes are testimony to his extraordinary skill in winemaking. Antoine, who inherited his passion for wine from his grandfather Guy, to whom some of his most iconic cuvées are dedicated, proudly demonstrates that modernity and tradition can coexist harmoniously. In fact, his Champagnes tell a story passed down from generation to generation, from grandfather to grandson. In the cellar, Antoine practices spontaneous fermentation and minimal interventions throughout the winemaking process. We tasted his Campagne Rosé Les Monts de la Vallée, a blend of Pinot Noir (75%, of which 14% vin rouge) and Chardonnay (25%); and Champagne Les Monts de la Vallée, pure Pinot Noir. Both fruit of the 2021 harvest, they stand out for their style and pleasantness.
Maxime Oudiette
For Maxime Oudiette, winemaking is the combination of human work and nuances of a wine season, as well as the wealth of information relating to the terroir. His philosophy is based on creating wines that faithfully reflect their place of origin and are deeply connected to the soil. Maxime's Champagnes are essentially Lieux-dits wines, the grapes of which are vinified separately; minimal interventions during winemaking and the use of small oak barrels allow the wine to evolve harmoniously, enriching itself with complexity and character over time. On this occasion we tasted the Champagne LGH – Les Gras D'Huile, a 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs, and the Champagne Rosé D'Infusion, a blend of Chardonnay (98%) and Meunier (2%); extraordinary wines that we recommend you try if you haven't already done so. Finally, we tasted the Coteaux Champenois Rouge - Les Hautes Sources Souris, and the new HSS cuvée – Les Hautes Sources Souris, a 100% Pinot Noir. This cuvée will soon be available in our online shop.
Adrien Renoir
Son of Vincent Renoir, Adrien Renoir also stands out for his talent among the young Vignerons of the new generation. His production philosophy is based on winemaking in oak barrels, spontaneous fermentations with indigenous yeasts and long maturation on the yeasts with as little intervention as possible, letting the wine fully express its essence. Adrien dedicates himself every year to his collection of exceptional "Lieux - Dits", in order to make the most of the different facets of the Verzy terroir. Among these, we tasted the Champagne Les Epinettes, pure Pinot Noir from the 2019 harvest; the Champagne Le Terroir, blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the 2019 and 2020 harvests; and Champagne Les Années, a superb Pinot Noir vinified according to the solera method.
TO BE CONTINUED……
To discover the other Vignerons, don't miss the next article.
Let yourself be inspired by the special price Champagnes from the GLUGULP! collection, click HERE.