top of page
The Champagne Academy
Maison Report
2023
Charles Heidsieck 2023
2023 started with some big news at Charles Heidsieck as we welcomed our new Cellar Master, Elise Losfelt! Elise took the reins from Cyril Brun in April 2023, bringing a wealth of wine making experience and great energy to the maison. Her impact is being felt already as she looks to maintain Charles’ revered house style but find small areas for continued improvement.
March 2023 was our 1st year as official Champagne Partner of the Michelin Awards Ceremony; a wonderful opportunity to chat with so many chefs and see them reach the pinnacle of their efforts live on stage. There were 20 new one-star restaurants and 3 new 2-star restaurants announced. Four restaurants received a Michelin ‘Green Star’ for the first time. The gala ceremony will move from Silverstone in 2023 to Manchester in 2024.
2023 offered some challenges in the vineyards, and in the global champagne market. After the anomalous post-COVID ‘boom’ years of 2021 and 2022, demand for champagne dropped back to a normal level in 2023, alongside a period of belt-tightening due to the global economic picture. In the vineyards, mother nature was kind for the first half of the season but threw up some challenges in the second half. Chardonnay fared best in the region, though careful sorting of bunches means we’ll see some nice base wines from the black grape varieties too.
Dealing with challenging vintages is something the Champenois are used to, however healthy vines are the best place to start. In 2022, Charles Heidsieck (along with sister House, Piper-Heidsieck) became the first Champagne Houses to achieve B-Corp certification. This illustrates the commitment to improving both their social and environmental impacts on the planet, representing a crucial step in an evolution towards a positive and purpose-driven business model. The Houses value their innovative winemaking practices in order to produce wines of the highest quality whilst acknowledging a global responsibility to positively impact the environment and society through sustainable practices. This philosophy is based on sustainable viticulture, reduction of both carbon footprint and waste, and the promotion of diversity, inclusion, and the quality of life at work. The Houses wish to inspire others in the larger wine industry as well as in the Champagne region to join the movement, and to use business as a force for good.
Late summer is always a highlight in our Charles Heidsieck calendar as we look towards harvest, but also towards Concours of Elegance car show at Hampton Court Palace. Three days of rare and beautiful cars, late summer sunshine and plentiful champagne is a lovely way to see out the season.
We look ahead to 2024 as we begin our year as Presidential House of The Champagne Academy; an honour that comes around just once every 16 years!
I hope to see many of you at one of the dinners or events planned for 2024,
Charles Heidseick
Chairmans Report
2023
2023 Academicians
Chairmans Annual Report 2023
I firstly want to say what an honour it has been to Chair the Champagne Academy for 2023. I was invited to join the Academy in 2014, 10 years ago almost to the day, when I was a young Food & Beverage Manager working in the Luxury Country House Hotel world in the North of England. Already with a strong passion & a fledgling knowledge for Wine & Champagne, my induction into the Academy, with its truly fantastic course, and the network of Industry experts & professional I have met following, has helped my career get to where it is today, travelling the world talking about the Champagnes produced by G.H.Mumm & Perrier-Jouët.
As I took over from Andrew Fullerton, who I once again thank for his 3 amazing years as Chairman through the pandemic, I started to form a focus of how I saw The Champagne Academy, and what it meant to me & the Alumni as a whole. This is where I developed my ‘guiding light’ for my year as Chair.
The Three E's
Evolution - Not Revolution, after a few difficult years, led by Andrew Fullerton, we advanced a lot, now is the time to continue to drive the Academy forward, with measured actions.
Education - This is the heart of the Academy on the Maison’s side as well as the UK. With learning about Champagne, Maisons, Cuvees critical, and the sharing of that information around the country.
Equality - With many facets relevant, including, ensuring all Maisons are represented equally, ensuring we have a selection process that includes all Channels, a varied geography, and a mix of gender, experience & knowledge.
And so, the 2023 Year of events, which I will try to keep brief,
January – Alternative Cuvee Tasting - Bateaux London
The first event of the year started us off with the striking Bateaux. A great location, with a picturesque proposal, Champagne on the Thames. We did learn some lessons from this event, which I write here, so we may hope not to repeat. Champagne tasting on a swaying boat, with very low light fittings…not a great idea! But thanks to Nick & Craig for organising. We got to see some interesting wines as part of the Alternative selection, the Rosé Krug & 2005 Charles Heidsieck some of what stuck in my memory.
March – Vintage Tasting - Fora – Borough
As we hit spring, we tried to make the most of the slightly later sunsets, with our Vintage Tasting held on the top floor of Fora, in Borough London. In a contemporary space, with amazing views, we showcased the latest vintages from all the Grandes Marques. A modest evening helping us re-assess the houses once more.
May – The Champagne Academy 64th London Dinner – One Great George Street
The event, that as Chair, I get to organise & plan. Working with Presidential House, Champagne Bollinger, we found a timeless venue, in One Great George Street, on the same road as Westminster Abbey & the Houses of Parliament. Set in a magnificent Grade II listed, four-domed, Edwardian building, celebrating the greatest Engineers of yesteryear, we enjoyed a delectable 4 course meal, paired with our Presidential house wines, Bollinger & Vice Presidential Houses, Champagne Taittinger & Charles Heidsieck. Hosted by President, Guy de Reviore of Champagne Bollinger & myself, we had several of the 2024 Candidates join us as guests of the Houses & we saw the return of The Drinks Trust Charity Raffle.
September – Scotland Dinner – The Signet Library, Edinburgh
Craig Bonner, has once again stunned us all with the elegant beauty of Scotland, with the Signet Library. Fast becoming the ‘cannot miss’ event of the winter season, Scotland showed us again the quality of venue, food & hospitality it produces. The exquisite venue, lighting, table settings and floral decoration made it a magical environment to enjoy the wines in, and I want to thank Craig & the team at Heritage Portfolio for the passion & attention to detail in planning the evening.
October - Northern Dinner – The Chester Grosvenor, Chester
Every year we say we should look for a new venue on the North, but once again we found nowhere able to match the quality of the Chester Grosvenor, so we returned, this time with their new Executive Chef, Elliot Arkle at the helm, and within our audience, the renowned and Honorary Academician, Simon Radley, his predecessor. A delightful evening, with thanks to David Garlick for organising.
Good luck to the new committee & Presidential house finding a Grosvenor beater in 2024, though if we do come back, I’ll enjoy every sip & every mouthful.
October – Midlands Dinner – Mallory Court, Leamington Spa
2023 saw the inaugural dinner organised by Sonal Clare, for the Midlands. The Midlands has a strong & passionate contingent of Academicians, so I’m sure there was some pressure for Sonal, but he stepped up to the plate, finding Mallory Court to host the dinner. The food was excellent, and the service charming & friendly. The Maison’s have agreed the Midlands can be a test bed for trying new things with dinners, to see how we can keep the sense of occasion, but stay up to date with culture & hospitality, in a modern wine industry. A great start, and we look forward to seeing what Sonal brings to his dinners in the future.
November – Irish Dinner – The Merrion Hotel Dublin
My first experience of the Irish Dinner, of which I had heard stories of long Champagne fueled nights, so I really had no idea what to expect. The Merrion Hotel is a stunning property, and the food demonstrated, the culinary Mal also introduced his successor, in Lisa O’Doherty, who will organise the 2024 dinner in Dublin. Big shoes to fill, but I’m sure we will have a great experience later this year.
January 2024 – Alternative Cuvee Tasting – 1 Hotel London
Thank you to Nick for organising this, a great way to exhibit his beautiful new property, and a great space for our tasting. I said during the night, I was truly amazed and impressed by the enthusiasm in the room, and the genuinely diverse audience that joined.
2023 Course
We had a fantastic class of candidates this year, join us in Reims & Epernay in June. With amazing weather from day 1, almost losingh a few of us to sun burn and peeling skin from the start, we had a course of engaged and enthusiastic students, which I am happy to say all passed the course and have entered into our Alumni.
So please welcome our new Academicians,
-Sam Lawton -Gosia Pajak
-Farrah Scanlon -Jevgeni Kadilin
-Rostislav Petrov -Rosemary Williams
-Ashley Clarke -Donald Edwards
Before the top 3, we have a few special mentions;
-Steffan Griffiths, who performed well in the exams & tasting, but almost more importantly brought laughter, jollity & song to the week, lifting spirits at all hours!
-Alexandra Mawson, passed with Merit
-Agnieszka Sledz, passed with Merit
-Erik Simonics, passed with Merit
-Paul Richards, passed with Merit
And for the final 3;
Third Place - Matthew Whitten - St Austell
Second Place - Luma Monterio - Davy's Wine Merchants
First Place & Silver Magnum Winner - Philip Dunne - The Doyle Collection
The Houses
The Champagne Academy would not exist with out the support of the houses, so a big thanks now and always to them all for their commercial support as well as the individuals that support us directly, with their passion and dedication to the world of Champagne.
But of course, special thanks to our Vice Presidential houses, Champagne Taittinger & Charles Heidsieck, from Kevin McKee & Simon Stockton respectively.
And massive thanks to our Presidential house Champagne Bollinger, our President Guy de Rivoire and in his absence Charles-Armand. But especially to Elise Mather, who has been the driving force in the UK, and helped me make this year happen, with relatively few hurdles to master. Thank you all.
Drinks Trust
A short note about our Charity for this year, The Drinks Trust, we raised over £9,000 through our Charity raffles, which is no small amount, which The Drinks Trust have allocated to their ‘DEVELOP’ program, helping train and enhance the skills of young and new to the industry people, that will in turn drive forward the Wine & Hospitality sector. Thanks to Ross Carter, CEO of The Drinks Trust, for coming to the events, and inspiring everyone to give for a great cause, and some greater Champagnes.
Le Fin
And as I come to the end of my tenure, I breathe a deep sigh of contentment & relief, as I hope I have shepherded another year of the Academy in the right direction, and wish Nick Bromhead, the greatest of luck as he takes on the baton.
Onwards & Upwards, Santé.
Paul Walker
The Champagne Academy
Chair 2023
#ChampAcad
Paul Walker
Another Day, Another Maison
Maison Report
2023
La Grande Dame 2015 Rosé
250th Anniversary and History of Madame Clicquot
2023 marked a significant year for Veuve Clicquot, with Maison marking its 250 years of history with celebrations across the year. Veuve Clicquot honoured the legacy of Madame Clicquot, spotlighting her creativity and passion for innovation which led to several ground-breaking milestones in Champagne production: the creation of the first known vintage champagne, the invention of the riddling table, and the development of the first known blended rosé champagne - three inventions that revolutionised industry and were widely adopted by producers, becoming the basis of modern champagne production.
Madame Clicquot made her name into a brand of excellence and had it shine the world over. Her formidable contributions earned her the nickname of "La Grande Dame of Champagne". In 2023, Veuve Clicquot therefore continued to build on this heritage by creating, innovating and surrounding itself with bold and daring personalities, celebrating its 250th anniversary in fitting style with an ode to joy and optimism.
Solaire Culture
This year Veuve Clicquot celebrated its 250-year anniversary with the opening of Solaire culture at Piccadilly Circus, London. The Solaire culture exhibition shined a light on Veuve Clicquot’s 250 years of history taking visitors on an immersive journey through the house’s heritage to the modern-day bold and optimistic champagne house. Through the lens of an audacious female-only team, Veuve Clicquot established a dialogue between its legacy and the contemporary vision of the curator, Camille Morineau, and designer Constance Guisset to bring Solaire culture to life, featuring artists including the iconic Yayoi Kusama and the UK’s Cece Philips and Rosie McGuinness.
Bold Awards 2023
Since 1972, Veuve Clicquot has shown commitment to women and female entrepreneurs all over the world, even more notably through BOLD by Veuve Clicquot, an international program to increase women entrepreneurs’ visibility. This 51st celebration of Veuve Clicquot’s commitment to championing and supporting bold, audacious women continued throughout the duration of the exhibition with a dynamic programme of cultural events and a new BOLD room within the exhibition space showcasing the stories and inspirations behind our BOLD community.
The Bold Woman Award is a modern evolution of Veuve Clicquot’s Business Woman Award, which has been running since 1972 and is the first and longest-running international accolade of its kind. The panel of judges look for women who emulate the qualities of Madame Clicquot, an original trailblazer who back in 1805 was known for her enterprising spirit, as well as her courage and determination necessary to accomplish her goals.
In 2023 the ceremony was hosted at Veuve Clicquot’s Solaire Culture Exhibition, with exceptional female entrepreneur, Tessa Clarke, announced as the winner of the 2023 Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot. The 51st woman to be honoured with the award, Tessa Clarke was recognised due to her inspirational work creating food sharing app, Olio. Karen Scofield Seal, CEO and founder of Oceanium, was awarded the Bold Future Award by Veuve Clicquot which celebrates up and coming female leaders of the future.
La Grande Dame 2015 Launch
While celebrating its 250th anniversary Veuve Clicquot released La Grande Dame 2015, showcasing Cellar Master Didier Mariotti's dedication to Pinot Noir. As Madame Clicquot used to say 200 years ago, “Our black grapes give the finest white wines” an affirmation that still rings true. La Grande Dame 2015 proved to be an exceptional sunny vintage for a wine full of tension and elegance. The wine's remarkable verticality was unveiled through the Pinot Noirs harvested from the Maison’s historical Crus. As a refined blend of Veuve Clicquot’s historical Grands Crus, La Grande Dame stands as the pinnacle of the Maison’s oenological prowess, possessing immense aging potential.
Additionally for this new vintage of La Grande Dame, master of colour and artist Paola Paronetto met the expression of Veuve Clicquot’s excellence with an exclusive collaboration. A chromatic symphony that echoes the harmony of the 2015 vintage. Paola created six unique gift boxes, produced sustainably, in a shower of hues from her very own colour palette, infused with emotion and optimism.
Stella McCartney Collaboration
In December 2023, Stella McCartney and Veuve Clicquot announced a collaboration on a pioneering grape-based alternative to animal leather – embodying both LVMH Maisons’ shared values and long-term commitments to sustainability, circularity and regenerative practices. The next-gen material is made from the by-products of Veuve Clicquot’s harvest and has been used to handcraft six Stella McCartney accessories, a selection of which debuted at the Summer 2024 runway show during Paris Fashion Week. Stella McCartney was additionally the guest of honour at Veuve Clicquot’s Bold Woman Award 2023 in Paris. The collection is available for purchase at Stella McCartney boutiques in March 2024.
2024
In 2024 Veuve Clicquot will take you on a new solaire journey. A journey to experience the ideal of a life under the sun, where the energy is positive, everything more audacious, more dazzling, more luminous. “The desire to travel, to share, or simply live outside.”
La Grande Dame will continue to showcase the best of Veuve Clicquot, with the highly anticipated launch of La Grande Dame 2015 Rosé later this year, marking the first time that an artistic design collaboration has been extended to Rosé.
Facebook - @VeuveClicquot
X - @VeuveClicquot
Instagram: @veuveclicquot
www.veuveclicquot.com
Veuve Clicquot
Veuve Clicquot Stella McCartney Collaboration
Maison Report
2023
Bollinger 2023
Champagne Bollinger has been part of the history of the Champagne region for 195 years. Founded in 1829 the House remains resolutely independent, and family owned.
As the dominant grape variety in the range, Pinot Noir is the very essence of Champagne Bollinger. Four new cuvées were launched in 2023 including R.D. 2008, PN AYC18, La Côte Aux Enfants Champagne 2013 and Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2012. The launch of PN AYC18 marked the release of the fourth in the House’s limited-edition 100% Pinot Noir series, exploring the unique interpretation of Pinot Noir from Aÿ 2018. March saw a celebration of the iconic R.D. 2008 launch at Spencer House. R.D. is a wine that has always been ahead of its time and embodies Madame Bollinger’s visionary spirit, disgorged only prior to release. It was also the first cuvée in history to put a disgorgement date on the label.
In September 2023, after more than two years of dedicated teamwork, Champagne Bollinger was proud to obtain their B Corp certification. This international certification sets very high standards in terms of social, societal, and environmental performance. It recognises the company's commitments by evaluating over 200 criteria focussed around five areas: governance, employees, community, environment, and customers. Maison Bollinger maintains its ongoing commitment to people, the land, and its roots.
Champagne Bollinger looks forward to celebrating its Bicentenary Year in 2029, with many ambitious plans already in full swing, including a renovation of their historic site in Aÿ. Over the coming years, the team will be hard at work to complete major projects that reflect and reaffirm Bollinger’s longstanding values. These projects will include a cathedral-like cellar open to the vines, holding 5,000 228L barrels and an oenotourism site set in the heart of the vines to house tasting rooms, a hotel, and a restaurant.
Bollinger continues as the Official Champagne of England Rugby. The fabulous Bollinger Tent returned to the West Fan Village at Twickenham Stadium, where fans could come together to celebrate on match days. Bollinger’s sponsorship continued with the 23rd year of the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize, the UK’s longest running prize for comic fiction. The prize is awarded to the novel deemed to best capture the spirit of the late PG Wodehouse and was won by Bob Mortimer in 2023 for his brilliantly funny debut novel The Satsuma Complex.
Here's to many more prosperous launches, events, and milestones to come in 2024, and the Champagne Bollinger team hope to raise a glass with you at the upcoming Champagne Academy events!
Bollinger
Maison Report
2023
Perrier-Jouet 2023
Founded in 1811 in Epernay, Maison Perrier-Jouët is one of France’s most historic champagne houses, but also one of its most distinctive, renowned for its floral and intricate champagnes which reveal the true essence of the Chardonnay grape and an enduring tradition of savoir-faire – an unparalleled expertise of only seven Cellar Masters since its foundation. A boutique house with a family spirit, Perrier-Jouët has been profoundly influenced by its founders’ love of nature and art – twin inspirations which allow it to create exceptional experiences and moments of wonder that enhance everyday life. Since its 1902 collaboration with Art Nouveau pioneer Emile Gallé, creator of the anemone design for its Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque prestige cuvée, Perrier-Jouët has commissioned work from established and emerging artists including Bethan Laura Wood, Daniel Arsham, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Miguel Chevalier, Makoto Azuma, Tord Boontje, Studio Glithero, Simon Heijdens, Vik Muniz, mischer’traxler, Ritsue Mishima, Andrew Kudless or Fernando Laposse.
Today, Maison Perrier-Jouët is drawing on its heritage to focus its attention on the complexity of the living world and the interconnections between species, mankind included. To help preserve and enrich the biological diversity, which is fundamental to nature’s ecosystems, the House is using its own vineyard to trial new practices and share them with its partner winegrowers. Since 2021, Maison Perrier-Jouët has been experimenting with regenerative viticulture in a section of its vineyard covering approximately 10 hectares, or 11% of the total. The House’s objective is to have 100% of its vineyard in regenerative viticulture by 2030, and 100% of its partners certified in sustainable viticulture.
Perrier-Jouet
Maison Report
2023
A two-metre bronze statue of famous British statesman, Sir Winston Churchill has been unveiled at the Champagne house he had such a lifelong affection for – Pol Roger.
Pol Roger 2023
Pol Roger celebrated its 175th Anniversary in 2024, fittingly, with drinks parties and lunches across the length of the UK. From Glasgow to Bristol and London to Yorkshire, customers were invited to join the festivities that marked the momentous milestone of six generations of family ownership and 175 years of history.
The sixth generation of the founding family also joined the ranks of Pol Roger Portfolio in the UK; Martin Heidsieck, who is Hubert de Billy’s nephew, has been conducting numerous tastings and dinners as the company’s Brand Development Executive.
Pol Roger launched both Brut Rosé 2018 and Brut Vintage 2018 in the first quarter of this year. The 2018 vintage represents the first of a triumvirate of outstanding vintages in Champagne and has been very well received by both the trade and critics alike. We look forward to the release of the Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2018 in the Spring of 2025.
This year also saw the official opening of Pol Roger’s new bottling and storage facility, built on the site of the famous cellar collapse 124 years ago. The opening of this major investment was commemorated with a two metre bronze statue of Sir Winston Churchill, as members of both the Pol Roger and Churchill families gathered at the end of June to officially unveil the piece by Paul Rafferty.
The family and company remain committed to the production of outstanding Champagne, paying tribute to the last 175 years and eagerly anticipating the future of this historic house.
Pol Roger
Maison Report
2023
Harry Lambert curated a Moët & Chandon dinner experience
Moët & Chandon 2023 Review
Moët & Chandon is celebrating over 280 years as the world’s most-loved champagne. For over a quarter of a millennium, the renowned French winemaker has been sharing the magic of champagne with the world. Every glass overflows with the House’s hallmark values of history, generosity, savoir-faire, success, boldness and elegance—values still at the heart of its universal appeal.
In 2023, Moët & Chandon commemorated the first anniversary of the world’s first Moët & Chandon bar. For over a year, Harrods shoppers indulged in tantalising culinary delights, exquisite pairings, and captivating cocktails, immersed in the ultimate brand experience beneath the shimmering allure of an effervescent-inspired chandelier.
For the fifth consecutive year, Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage graced the prestigious Royal Ascot as the official champagne, heralding the arrival of an unforgettable summer season. With five bars showcasing its iconic blends and exclusive hospitality at the Moët & Chandon box, the brand curated an unparalleled ambience of luxury and spectacle. Notably, ensuring Frankie Dettori received a Balthazar of Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut marked a crowning moment at his farewell Royal Ascot appearance!
Moët & Chandon embarked on another thrilling chapter in its sustainability journey in 2023, expanding its partnership with SUGi to plant three additional pocket forests in urban areas across the UK. This collaboration, aimed at fostering biodiversity within city environments, is poised to further develop throughout 2024.
In honour of its 280th anniversary, Moët & Chandon released Collection Impériale Création No. 1. A product of Moët & Chandon’s centuries-old savoir-vin, Création No. 1 is the pinnacle of the Maison's practice of Haute Oenologie. Made from an assemblage of remarkable vintages this Brut Nature cuvée is aged through different maturation processes in oak casks and on the lees, in bottles. To support the launch, Moët & Chandon partnered with contemporary American artist Daniel Arsham to bring the vision of Haute Oenologie to life. Arsham created an avant-garde masterpiece and 85 collectable limited editions to accompany the multilayered new cuvée. In October, Cellar Master Benoît Gouez and Daniel Arsham hosted the global Collection Impériale launch event in Paris before the prestige cuvée was officially launched in the UK in Harrods in December.
Moët & Chandon reaffirmed its long-standing relationship with Fashion by hosting six remarkable British designers at Château de Saran, covered exclusively in ELLE Magazine. The ultimate ‘Savoir Fête’ trip, featured designers Harry Lambert, Saul Nash, Feben, Foday Dumbuya, Annie Noble and Marco Capaldo. The relationship with ELLE continued into London Fashion Week, with Moët & Chandon supporting the ELLE Style Awards as the official champagne partner, hosting dear friends of the House, Gemma Chan and Billie Piper.
For the fashion community, Harry Lambert curated a Moët & Chandon dinner experience, and Marco Capaldo, Founder and Creative Director of fashion house 16Arlington, hosted a festive fashion talk at Harrods followed by Champagne at the Moët & Chandon Bar. Moët & Chandon also supported its designers’ London Fashion Week shows ensuring Mini Moëts and Magnums were ever-present backstage and in the front row.
Finishing the year in style, Moët & Chandon proudly served as the official champagne of The British Fashion Awards at The Royal Albert Hall. The star-studded table included luminaries such as Alexa Chung, Lily James and more, cementing the brand’s status of iconicity, grandeur and glamour.
In 2024, Moët & Chandon eagerly anticipates another year of enchanting champagne enthusiasts worldwide - stay up to date with our latest news through the links below:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/moet/
Instagram: @MoetChandon
Website: www.moet.com
Moët & Chandon
Maison Report
2023
Mumm 2023
Mumm is part of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët, the prestigious cognac and champagne business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits. With its distinguished heritage dating back to 1827, Mumm is the leading international champagne House in France and third worldwide. Mumm Grand Cordon pays tribute to the iconic red sash – indented in the glass as part of a whole series of innovations. The revolutionary bottle is the perfect embodiment of the spirit of the House associated with audacious challenges and ground-breaking endeavours.
Maison Mumm is delighted to announce the arrival of its new Cellar Master, Yann Munier, on 8 April 2024. A native of Champagne, Yann Munier has a deep connection to the region, having grown up in a family of winemakers and growers. With extensive training in agronomy, agricultural engineering, and oenology, he has mastered every stage of champagne production and is known for his commitment to the terroir of Champagne and the quality of its wines.
On July 6th, 2024, the triple-starred chef Hideaki Sato will take up the reins at La Table des Chefs in Reims. Over the course of the season, he will unveil his highly inspired and inspiring French Japanese cuisine to the Champagne region.
In August 2024, the House G.H. Mumm embarked on a new adventure by partnering with the first cargo sailing ship, TOWT, destined for New York. This innovative collaboration reflects a pioneering spirit and mutual commitment to ecological values, resulting in a remarkable 90% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional cargo ships. G.H. Mumm is now set to conduct monthly transatlantic crossings and aims to scale up its operations as the fleet grows.
GH Mumm
Maison Report
2023
Ruinart chooses artist Eva Jospin for 2023 Carte Blanche commission
The Contemporary & Conscious Jewel of Champagne since 1729
Ruinart is the world’s first established Champagne House, founded in 1729. It is recognised as a Chardonnay specialist, with this grape harvested from vineyards in the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims, at the heart of all the cuvées. Today, art, sustainability and art de vivre define the universe of Ruinart, together with a strength derived from three centuries of history.
Every year, since 2018, Ruinart has invited an international contemporary artist to share his or her vision of the champagne house. Maison Ruinart has entrusted its Carte Blanche 2023 to Eva Jospin for a new artistic interpretation of its history and know-how. Eva Jospin, a French visual artist known for her evocative installations and sculptures born from wild landscapes, brought her unique perspective to Ruinart's terroir. Her Carte Blanche Commission, PROMENADE(S), transformed the Ruinart Art Bar at Frieze London into a captivating space from 11th to 15th October. Eva Jospin's artistic reinterpretation extended to the creation of a collection case around a Jeroboam of Blanc de Blancs. In this masterpiece, the wooden box became a canvas for a miniature crayère, sculpted from layers of recycled cardboard—a testament to Ruinart's commitment to sustainability and innovation.
The Maison's dedication to preserving savoir-faire and supporting wine professionals was evident in the success of the 2023 Ruinart Sommelier Challenge. This event, held at The Conduit Club on 20th February, aimed to raise awareness and foster advocacy among gatekeeper sommeliers. Frédéric Panaiotis, Ruinart Chef de Caves, hosted the event, which included a blind tasting, a technical master class on 'Climate Change and Grape Ripening Dynamics.
@ruinart @ruinart_winemakers
Ruinart
Ruinart Sommelier Challenge
Maison Report
2023
Collection 242, Louis Roederer
Champagne Academy Gazette 2023: Champagne Louis Roederer
Despite the global turmoil that underpinned 2023, the year saw a full and engaging calendar of events for Champagne Louis Roederer. We were delighted to present Cristal 2015 to the UK market showcasing all its sublime crystalline purity, salinity and fruit concentration. It was a vintage that spoke of the soil from which it was born despite the sunny vintage conditions. It is certainly a vintage that will stand the test of time promising to age with grace and complexity over the decades.
We also celebrated the release of the latest opus of the Collection multi-vintage range, 244 with a fascinating and educational masterclass showing a superb vertical of experimental cuvees which led up to the release of the inaugural 242 in 2021, hosted by Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. The detail, science and poetry behind the development of this exceptional wine had the audience absolutely rapt.
The two headline Maisons Marques et Domaines tastings; the Annual tasting in March and the Icons tasting in September provided a wonderful platform to showcase the Louis Roederer range.
Louis Roederer were honoured to continue their patronage of the arts with their ongoing partnership with the Royal Academy of Arts, supporting a number of their exhibition launches including the highly anticipated Marina Abramovic exhibition.
We also took the opportunity to deepen our ties with the art world and start working with The Unit London, supporting the opening of artist Sasha Ferre’s first solo exhibition with a VIP dinner at the gallery.
2023 saw the second edition of The Louis Roederer Photography Prize for Sustainability which was awarded to the hugely talented M’hammed Kilito for his dramatic series ‘Before Its Gone’ looking at the importance of the Oases in Morocco.
We of course continued our longstanding sponsorship of the epic Obsession Gastronomic Festival held at The Northcote in Lancashire where a stream of unbelievably talented chefs made guest appearances. In all 20 established and emerging chefs boasting 16 Michelin stars between them appeared over 17 nights.
The Spirit of Christmas fair was again a highlight of the festive period with the buzzing Louis Roederer champagne bars ringing with laughter and clinking champagne flutes while the Louis Roederer masterclasses were full to the rafters.
We were excited to award the Champagne Louis Roederer BAME Bursary to Marion Muthiani which will allow her to complete the two year WSET diploma. Now living and working in London, when Marion completes the diploma, she will be the first female Kenyan to have attained it. With her passion and dedication we have no doubt she will sail through it.
We continue to strengthen our ties with our partners, co-hosting events in London, Leeds and Edinburgh. 2023 saw the unveiling of the stunning Clive Christian Furniture townhouse showroom with its dramatic Cristal wall and superb wine cellar. We were no less busy with our media partners hosting collaborative dinners and show stopping events in some of the UK’s most luxurious surroundings.
It was a busy year all round, punctuated with wonderful moments celebrating this glorious wine, and we look forward to more of the same in 2024. Santé!
Louis Roederer
M’hammed Kilito wins the 2023 Louis Roederer Photography Prize for Sustainability
Maison Report
2023
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2013
Taittinger 2023
Champagne Academy Gazette – Champagne Taittinger
2023
We started the year with a bang at Champagne Taittinger in the UK as January saw the global final of Le Taittinger culinary prize in London – the first time the final has been hosted outside of Paris. What a way for team UK to start the year! After a day of seeing London: St Paul’s cathedral, a pub lunch and dinner at Emily Roux’s Caractère, the finalists gathered at Le Cordon Bleu London school very early on 31st January, with their mentors from each country, ready to show the panel of judges what they can do. With Paul Burgalières of L’Enclume respresenting the UK, and 7 other candidates from around the world, a hard battle was fought. This year, Holland’s Jan Smink of Smink took the trophy. The candidates, along with some of the top chefs of the world, convened at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly for the awards ceremony and to enjoy a 5 course meal, cooked by BAFTA’s chef Anton Manganaro. A total of 23 Michelin stars communed in one dining room; a truly exceptional few days that will go in our history books.
In France, the vines kept us on our toes – as they always do – with what Vineyard Director Christelle Rinville calls a ‘slightly puzzling year’. Temperatures were warmer than normal and rainfall was high at the right times. The heavy weight of the bunches were quite something to behold but the number of bunches per vine was lower than previous years.
In our iconic chalk cellars, renovations continued and so we launched an alternative experience for those wishing to visit Champagne Taittinger and get to know our world. Guests could visit the historic Demeure des Comtes and be immersed in a world of Thibaud IV – the Count of Champagne who shapes our Champagne story. We were also thrilled to open the doors to our town house on Boulevard Lundy, in the heart of the city of Reims. Originally belonging to Claude Taittinger, this beautiful building is now a hub to welcome our esteemed guests of the trade.
Commercially, there were highs and lows to the year. As the market began to soften and demand reduced back to what we would call more ‘normal’ levels, our teams were able to take stock off from allocation for a number of customers and revert to a more standard ‘supply and demand’ approach. Of course, this softening of demand was partly due to the cost of living crisis and difficulties being faced by many of our customers. It is never a good thing to see our partners struggle and so we did everything we could to make the difficult market conditions a bit easier to navigate. We are always inspired by the way our partners, particularly in the on trade, take on adversity with resilience and open minds.
When faced with adverse conditions (and in fact, also when faced with favourable conditions) it is the responsibility of a Champagne House to offer moments of celebration and joy to its partners. In 2023 we did this with many events: as the preferred Champagne to FIFA, we enjoyed the women’s world cup over summer in Australia and New Zealand, where Taittinger partners from all over the world convened to support our respective teams and share a glass among friends. In the UK, we celebrated our 21st year supporting the British Academy of Film and Television Awards for the annual campaign of awards across film, games, craft, television, Scotland and Wales. We also helped our good friends at the Old Vic celebrate 200 years of the theatre and raise money for the next 200 years with their Gala. As supporters of craft and the arts, it is so important to us that organisations such as The Old Vic and BAFTA are able to support, inspire and empower the next generation of creatives.
In September, we launched the newest vintage of our prestige cuvée, Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2013. A voluptuous and glorious cuvée that is upfront and generous. The 2013 is another classic year. We celebrated with our friends and partners at the iconic Theatre Royal on Drury Lane, with Champagne, canapés and up and coming jazz artist Flo Blue. Clovis Taittinger and Patrick McGrath enjoyed thanking customer and partners for their support and we were especially pleased to welcome the granddaughter of Sean Connery – with Comtes’ connection to James Bond it was a truly befitting evening.
As 2024 rolls on we remain ever cautious yet optimistic. We are in the business of selling pleasure and we must make sure this remains at the centre of what we do. We are particularly excited to introduce the world to our English Sparkling Wine, Domaine Evremond, that will be launched in September this year.
Taittinger
Maison Report
2023
Prestige Cuvée Grand Siècle
Laurent Perrier 2023
Originally founded in 1812, the independent family champagne house Champagne Laurent-Perrier has been defined by its pioneering role in innovating champagne throughout its history. Internationally recognised as one of the foremost names in champagne, its success can be attributed to a deliberate policy of challenging conventional techniques, whilst honouring traditional values. The Laurent-Perrier portfolio consists of eight champagnes from the prestigious Grand Siècle to the iconic Cuvée Rosé, the number one rosé champagne in the UK on trade (CGA).
Laurent-Perrier’s success must also be attributed to the energy of the de Nonancourt family, in particular the late Bernard de Nonancourt, who assumed control in 1948. Working in a demanding business environment, Bernard preserved the independence of his champagne house and its related values, taking the house from one of hundreds to its current position as one of the region’s leading houses. These same principles guide the current management team led by his two daughters, Stéphanie Meneux de Nonancourt and Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt.
Laurent-Perrier is committed to ceasing all practices or actions which may irremediably damage the environment. This pledge is translated and put into action in all activities, showing a continual respect for the environment and natural resources. The House’s long-term policy in grape growing and wine elaboration is based on sustainable methods.
In 2023 we experienced a return to more normal levels of demand for our champagnes as the post-covid “revenge spending” boom subsided.
Sales of our prestige cuvée Grand Siècle grew in both retail and the on trade. In September 2023 we announced the release of Grand Siècle Iteration No.26 in bottle, based on the assemblage of three vintage years (2012, 2008 and 2007) to “recreate the perfect year”. To launch the newest iteration, Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt hosted high profile journalists at Raffles London at the OWO. This iteration received positive critics’ scores, including 100 points from James Suckling who declared it his “wine of the year”.
We also released the latest vintage of our prestige cuvée rosé champagne, Alexandra Rosé 2012 with a vertical tasting of five different vintages hosted by Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt.
Our brand activity focussed on both Grand Siècle and Cuvée Rosé and included menu promotions in partnership with the FT Weekend, caviar pairing promotions in prestigious on trade venues, and window displays in retail.
Laurent Perrier
Maison Report
2023
Piper Heidsieck 2023
Founded in 1785, Piper-Heidsieck owes its success to its bold leadership and pioneering spirit with innovation always remaining at its core. As a B Corp Certified company, the House showcases its unwavering commitment towards an inclusive, equitable and regenerative future throughout its entire winemaking ecosystem, community, and workplace. Since 2018, Piper-Heidsieck has been paired perfectly with one of the youngest Chief Winemakers, Émilien Boutillat, who is charged with safeguarding Piper¬-Heidsieck’s unique philosophy and leading the House into a new sustainable chapter.
2023 welcomed Essentiel Blanc de Noirs, the latest cuvée from our Essentiel collection. This collection offers champagnes with complexity and a profile that meet the highest expectations of haute gastronomie and wine lovers alike. The deliberate choice to extend the ageing phase, to use Extra Brut dosage and to provide transparent information are the intended results of this philosophy. Essentiel Blanc de Noirs pays homage to the black grape varieties of Champagne: Pinot Noir, the emblematic grape variety of the House's history, and Meunier. Made exclusively from grapes from VDC-certified vineyards, the cuvée represents the Maison's commitment to ensure that its partner winegrowers will be involved to a VDC-certification by 2025.
Piper-Heidsieck has also taken part in several gala dinners in line with its B Corp convictions. In 2023, the House is once again the official supplier of the Pluriel.les festival for its 6th edition. Created in 2018, the Pluriel.les festival supports and defends the inclusion of all minorities still under-represented in contemporary international cinema. Piper-Heidsieck is particularly committed to maintaining and strengthening its initiatives in favor of inclusion and diversity, both within the company and for the international community.
For the fifth year running, Piper-Heidsieck was the Official Champagne of the Australian Open, opening a new season of the Grand Slam tournament. For this edition, the international and local crowds showed up in force, with a record attendance of over 900,000 over 3 weeks. For the occasion, the Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Bar returned to its prime location at the foot of the main court, the Rod Laver Arena. Conceived and created by renowned artistic director Christian Wagstaff to reflect the ambience of a Parisian café with Piper-Heidsieck's vibrant touch, the Bar was enlivened daily by a host of local artists, fitting in perfectly with the spirit of the Australian Open.
To increase awareness of B Corp and our commitments, we decided in 2023 to develop a media plan to embody this certification. It began with a highly visible presence at the Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris trade fair, followed by a visible outdoor advertising campaign in Reims and other major French cities.
Piper Heidseick
Maison Report
2023
2023 – A return to normality
After two years of extraordinary growth for Champagne Lanson, we saw initial signs that Champagne consumption and consumer behaviour in the UK were returning to pre-pandemic levels. This was no surprise in the context of macro-economic and geopolitical turbulence leading to consumers having less discretionary spend.
Opening our summer season of events was Chesterton’s Polo in the Park where we shared our final year of Lanson Le Rosé Fruit Market Limited Edition. It proved to be an elegant activation in the beautiful setting of Hurlingham Park highlighting the cuvée’s flavour profile and our brands love of sharing. We entertained a mix of influencers, VIP guests and customers and saw a record number of methuselahs sold.
136th Championships, Wimbledon returned with yet another year of record consumption on site. We entertained more guests then ever across the two weeks including celebrities, customers both national and international and one special day dedicated to our vigneron partners. This year’s guests to our No. 1 court suite enjoyed Lanson Bio-Organic and a special preview of our Lanson Le Black Création 257. To celebrate The Championships at home we launched our new Limited Edition Gift boxes for our Brut and Rosé with a campaign designed around the 4 flowers of the All England Club: the Rose, Hydrangea, Petunia and Agapanthus.
In September a select number of guests joined a dinner hosted by Chef de Cave, Hervé Dantan where we officially launched our Lanson Le Black Création 257, the evolution of our flagship brut non-vintage cuvée. The number 257 denotes the 257th blend since Lanson was founded in 1760, which is dominated by the 2019 base vintage. Numbering the house’s iconic cuvée enables us to highlight the differences between each base harvest and to promote the quality and complexity of the Champagne.
As a Maison we continue to shine a light on gastronomy, growing our global Chef Ambassadors and on trade accounts which continue to celebrate the pairing of champagne and cuisine.
Our 2023 harvest was in and of itself record breaking. With the near perfect harvest cycle being rounded off with heavy rainfall between July and August, this saw records grape weights and record yields. Despite this late rainfall presenting challenges such as the early onset of botrytis, in achieving record yields we were able to select the very best grapes.
For our 16 hectare bio-organic vineyard at the Malmaison Estate, following the low yields of 2021, two years of meticulous attention and extensive work to recover the vines with precise monitoring has shown a record harvest for 2023, with an average yield of 13,000 kg/hectare and a grape quality that bodes well for the potential our Le Green Bio-Organic cuvée.
For 2024 we are looking forward to welcoming a new UK Chef Ambassador and launching our Le Rosé Création 67, based up the 2019 base harvest.
Lanson
Maison Report
2023
Krug 2023
The House was established in Reims in 1843, by Joseph Krug, a visionary non-conformist with an uncompromising philosophy. Having understood that the true essence of Champagne is pleasure itself, his dream was to craft the very best Champagne he could offer, every single year, regardless of annual variations in climate. Paying close attention to the vineyard’s character, respecting the individuality of each plot and its wine, as well as building an extensive library of reserve wines from many different years allowed Joseph Krug to fulfil his dream.
With a very original approach to Champagne making, he decided to go beyond the notion of vintage to create the most generous expression of Champagne, every year. Thus, he founded a House in which all Champagnes are of the same level of distinction.
A cornerstone of Krug’s savoir-faire, individuality is the art of understanding that each individual plot of vines, through its wine, is in itself a single ingredient in Krug Champagne. Every year, the House of Krug pays tribute to one humble Single Ingredient, a playful ode to a pillar of our craftsmanship: Individuality. Krug does so by inviting renowned Krug Ambassade Chefs to create food pairings to accompany the latest Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée and Krug Rosé.
In 2023, we celebrate a beacon of generosity and vitality, and the first fruit to be elected Single Ingredient: the vibrant citrus called lemon. in honour of the Single Ingredient, Krug invited 12 Krug Ambassade Chefs to join Krug Cellar Master Julie Cavil on a trip to Brazil into the roots of the lemon. An inspirational journey that inspired the Chefs to create zesty pairing recipes for Krug Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition and Krug Rosé 27ème Édition.
Krug
Presidential Report
2022
A WORD FROM 2023 PRESIDENTIAL HOUSE
CHAMPAGNE BOLLINGER
Mr Chairman,
Academicians and Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
2023 marks the beginning of the 5th round of a rotating Champagne Academy Presidency set by alphabetical order. We are therefore extremely proud to become the new Presidential House this year.
The Academy has an extraordinarily rich history of which we have been a part ever since 1956. We, along with the other Houses, value the vital role of promoting Champagne within the UK wine industry, giving it the praise and recognition it truly deserves.
2022 threw new challenges, notably with an industry-wide Champagne shortage. We worked hard to meet the high demand for Champagne. The 2022 harvest, much to everyone’s relief, was a healthy and plentiful one that will allow to replenish stock in the coming years.
We would like to warmly welcome the class of 2023, made up of 16 worthy candidates, who will experience an unforgettable weeklong course in Champagne from 11th to 17th June. This wouldn’t be possible without the full support and commitment of the other 15 Grand Marques Houses and, in particular, our Vice-Presidential Houses of Charles Heidsieck & Taittinger.
We must also thank our new Chairman, Paul Walker, and all the Committee who work hard to keep the Academy alive, relevant, and prestigious.
In the meantime, we look forward to the year ahead, filled with an array of sparkling Champagne Academy dinners and tastings. We hope to raise a glass with you there!
Our warmest regards,
The Bollinger Family
Bollinger
Chairmans Report
2022
2022 New Academicians
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2022
What a year 2022 has been!
We finally had the chance to welcome everyone back to a normal year of events and most importantly welcome our 16 extremely patient and eager Candidates on to the Course.
The year began with an Alternative Cuvee tasting at the Serpentine Gallery where we were fortunate enough to taste some amazing wines that were on show. Set in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens, the excitement was obvious and this was exactly the start to the new year we needed. At the start of April we held a long awaited Vintage tasting at the Royal College of Surgeons. A beautiful venue which again was a perfect setting for some fabulous Champagnes. Knowing the pressure the Houses were under with Vintage Champagnes in particular we all felt privileged that all the Houses put out their most recent vintages to taste. The buzz in the room was fantastic as was the engagement from each and every visitor.
May saw the annual London Dinner take place in the stunning surroundings of The Institute of Directors in Pall Mall. Attended by Clovis Taittinger and Rachel Debenham from Taiitinger France this was an incredible evening and reassured us that a form of normality had finally returned. The Dinner was even more special as many of the Candidates who were to depart on the Course the following month were in attendance. The Champagnes we had waited on for 2 years were finally allowed to be opened and everyone was certainly in the mood to celebrate. I would like to pass on sincere thanks to Martin Dibben for his help with organising this event as things still weren’t exactly running smoothly with the return to large scale events and therefore a lot of hands on experience was required and as we know there is no better man!
The 12th of June was a date that saw an event which was two years in the making. Having been instructed by France that the Presidential House must complete a course and have a years’ worth of Candidates before passing the baton this day had great significance. I met with ten of the extremely patient, enthusiastic and excited Candidates at St Pancras to have a glass of Taittinger and breakfast before departing on the first leg of what would probably be the most memorable week of their working lives. A super bunch of people from across the trade all eager to finally get started after the 2 years of waiting.
In France we met with the other 6 Candidates and immediately headed off the Royal Champagne to meet with our hosts for the week. It was an incredible experience for them all and for myself I treasured the opportunity of getting to share what I knew awaited them over the coming week. I was humbled speaking to our hosts and friends from the Maisons on how much they actually knew of what was happening within the Academy and of all the hard work that had been carried out by the Committee during lockdown. The changes we have made seemed to have reinvigorated their interest which led to an extremely energetic atmosphere.
I will let the words of the others describe the week they experienced and many of them have reports available on our Course section on the website. As you can imagine however, the hospitality, friendship, experience, professionalism and dedication we were shown cannot be matched anywhere else. The end of the week was amazing for everyone as this year the highest results ever achieved meant that the top 7 finished within only a few marks of each other. On the day however it came down to the one winner who was an absolute credit to us throughout the week. Extremely well done to Caroline Palma de Azevedo who won the Silver Ice Bucket. I want to take this opportunity to thank all 16 Candidates for welcoming me to share their week and for dedicating themselves fully to the Course and also to the Academy since graduation. I hope to enjoy many more glasses with you all at events in the future.
Find out more about the course & our new Academicians here: https://www.champagneacademy.co.uk/post/meet-the-class-of-2021
https://www.champagneacademy.co.uk/post/and-the-winner-is
The End of September saw yet another incredible Scottish Dinner held in the beautiful surroundings of Mansfield Traquair in Edinburgh. Another extravaganza organised by Craig Bonner our Scottish Organiser and helped by the ever wonderful Frans Mortengren. Opening with a blind tasting of the 16 Houses the night was an incredible journey of local produce and amazing champagnes. The Blind tasting on this occasion may have caught a few Brand representatives out (Cannot say who) which again showed the importance of keeping education of what we do to the forefront.
The end of October was not only the end of the month but also the end of an Era! The Midlands Dinner has always been one of my favourites to attend purely down to the skill, passion and attention to detail of one man, Kevin Skeet. It was with great sadness but also honour that I presided over Kevins last event as our Midlands Organiser. The venue, food and impeccable organisation in the beautiful surroundings of the Grand Hotel in Birmingham will be a night I will always remember. Kevin, I thank you on behalf of the Committee, The Academy and Shippers as well as anyone who has ever attended one of you events. I would like to congratulate Sonal Clare on taking over from Kevin as our Midlands Organiser and knowing him I am sure he will bring something very creative to what we offer.
October also took us back to a regular venue which was also the same venue as the first ever Academy Dinner I attended as a guest. The amazing work or David Garlick and the team at the Chester Grosvenor is always another highlight of our annual dinners. It was also heart-warming to meet so many past Academicians at this event in particular who all took the time to introduce themselves. Again the Champagnes on the night match the food perfectly and having had a new Head Chef take the reins for the first time the celebration within the team of the kitchen was evident.
This years Irish Dinner was another sell out in the Merrion Hotel in Dublin. The tasting of the 16 Houses had Academicians pouring which was absolutely brilliant as it allowed the time to speak to each of them and also about their experiences of the Academy. To see the support of the Academy in Ireland was brilliant and is something we should try and bring closer to what we do on yearly basis. Sitting beside Peter the GM of the Merrion, who is also an Academician, was a superb insight into the growth and interest in Academy. The food as always was amazing and the matching to the Champagnes on the night was perfect. Mal has done a great job with these dinners and has managed to find a balance of relaxed but yet still theatrical events.
February of 2023 saw the Alternative Cuvee tasting on Bateaux at London Embankment. At this I was finally able to hand the Chairmans chain to probably the most patient and dedicated Vice Chairman in the history of the Academy, Paul Walker. The Alternative Cuvee tasting to me is one of the most enjoyable events of the year as it is relaxed and casual in its approach. The main aim is to showcase a Champagne we may never have tried before but it is also a chance to speak to a Shipper who is as much a part of what we do as anyone else.
As it’s finally my farewell I would like to give a huge thanks to everyone on the Committee as they really have supported me through the last 3 years and worked towards our shared vision of reaffirming our position within the Champagne world. Every single member has given their time and expertise to help make the Academy relevant and I look forward to working with them over the coming years as part of the Committee. I would also like to single out Val who managed not to shout at me too much and I appreciate her support as we know it has been very different than what has come before. Paul Walker has been a huge help again and has probably had more to do than any other Vice Chair in our past. Our decision that we would work towards a shared vision has worked very well and he has been a massive support to everyone on the Committee and has led the development of our digital redesign. I wish him well in his year as Chairman. I congratulate Nick Bromhead on becoming Vice Chairman and Craig Bonner on becoming Secretary for 2023. All members deserve a personal thank you which I will do in person as they are each owed hugely for what they have contributed.
All the Houses and Shippers have my deepest gratitude for their help and support throughout my time in office. Their encouragement and enthusiasm was a great strength when dealing with lockdown. Support from Taittinger as Presidential House has been unwavering and I thank Kevin McKee for taking so many phone calls and helping me steer our way through Covid and Champagne Shortages along with everything else. Clovis, Rachel and Sophie in France have been very hands on with everything we have tackled over the last 3 years and I pass on my sincere thanks. I look forward to sharing a glass with you all at a future event.
I look forward to seeing you all at one of our events and I thank you all for your support!
Andrew Fullerton
2022 Course Final Exam
Harvest Report
2022
2022 HARVEST REPORT
After a rainy and somewhat challenging viticultural year in 2021, we were delighted to have beautiful weather in 2022, bringing with it healthy, mature grapes and a wonderful ‘solar’ vintage!
The summer of 2022 will be remembered for its harsh heatwaves and severe droughts over Europe, but luckily the vineyards of Champagne managed to escape the adverse effects of these conditions. Chalk certainly played its role in retaining and distributing moisture to the roots in the particularly dry months of July and August.
Much to everyone’s relief after an industry-wide Champagne shortage, 2022 proved to be a plentiful year with healthy yields. For Champagne Bollinger, it was the most generous year since 2009! This was, in part, due to the low yields of 2021 as the vines were able to put reserves into the wood and roots. 2022 was also an exceptionally disease-free year.
2022 was only the sixth harvest in the past twenty years that started in August. Harvest began on the 26th of August, with all villages in the Marne region reaching ripeness at the same time. The harvest period was sunny, with the warmest ever recorded temperatures (averaging 20°C/ 68°F). According to the CIVC, the recorded time from floraison to picking was 85 days.
The grapes had excellent ripeness (we aim for 10.5% alcohol content across the three grape varieties) and were perfectly balanced in acidity. This is the case for all 3 grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. If we were to compare 2022 to a past vintage, based on the level of maturation and balance of acidity, this would most likely compare to 1959.
The team look forward to seeing the results after tasting the vins clairs, but all the contributing factors are there to potentially create a La Grande Année vintage. La Grande Année vintages are only created in the most exceptional of years and we hope that 2022 will join the club.
Champagne Bollinger
Bollinger
Maison Contacts
Bollinger
20, Boulevard Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny
51160 Aÿ
ADRESSE
TITULAIRE
Guy de Rivoire
Tel: +33 (0) 6 31 55 78 18
Email: g.derivoire@champagne-bollinger.fr
SUPPLEANT
Victor Dumont
Tel: +33 (0)
Email: v.dumont@champagne-bollinger.fr
ASSISTANTE
Angélique Renault
Tel: + 33 (0) 3 26 53 25 50
Email: hospitality@champagne-bollinger.fr
UK SHIPPER
Elise Mather
Mentzendorff & Co Ltd
1st Floor,The Woolyard
52 Bermondsey Street
London SE1 3UD
Mob: 07725 602 079
E-mail: Elise@mentzendorff.co.uk
IRELAND SHIPPER
Woodford Bourne
C/o Robt. Robert Bourne
79 Broomhill Road
Tallaght DBLIN 24
Tel: +353 1 40 47 300 Fax: +353 1 45 99 342
Email: e.needham@woodfordbourne.com
Maison Contacts
Committee Contacts
Craig Bonner
Vice-Chairman / Scotland Dinner Organiser
2017
Committee
Archive
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
Please note, the Academy will not be able to provide a full contact list for members under GDPR Laws
Archive
bottom of page