Now that the New Year is approaching it is interesting to note that the market for sparkling wine in the world has grown a lot in recent years. In 10 years, production has increased by more than 40% and consumption by more than 30%. The world wants to drink bubbles and no longer only on New Year’s Eve. However, the New Year is coming up and maybe you are thinking about which champagne to buy.
Whichever country you live in there will probably a lot of producers to choose from. Not always easy although the price is probably one important criteria. Here are some suggestions from us. These producers have a very reliable range of champagnes and which of their cuvées to chose is just a matter of how much money you want to spend.
We tend to like producers with character and personality and in Champagne that often means small, independent producers or smaller houses.
- Champagne Fleury: family producer, pioneer of biodynamics in Champagne
- Champagne Philipponnat : great basic brut called Royale Reserve and prestige cuvée Clos des Goisses
- Champagne Roger Coulon, Vrigny: superb blanc de noir and brut nature from this family producer
- Champagne Jacquesson: small house, very innovative, all information you need on back label
- Champagne Tarlant: family business in Vallée de la Marne, most selling cuvée is Brut Zero with no dosage
- Champagne Duval-Leroy: a big and very ambitious house with many interesting things going on, like lowering the dosage and going more and more sustainable and organic
- Champagne Gamet in Mardeuil close to Epernay: very reasonable prices from this high quality family producer
- Champagne Benoit Marguet, Ambonnay: Benoit is organic and even uses a horse in the vineyard
- Champagne Larmandier-Bernier, Vertus: Sophie and Pierre Larmandier are also organic and make some very good champagnes from their old vines in Côte des Blancs.
- Champagne Billecart-Salmon, small prestigious house
Do you want to add to the list? Write a comment!
And why not join us on one of our fabulous wine tours to Champagne!?