Every January, the Champagne region comes alive with the Fête de la Saint Vincent, the patron saint of winemakers. Rooted in centuries of...
by Lucy Edwards · source ↗
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Anyone with a working knowledge of champagne knows there are two fermentations: one to turn grape juice into still wine, and one to transform that wine into champagne. This second fermentation happens inside the bottle and is triggered by the addition of sugar and yeast, a process known as prise de mousse . That, in theory, is where the magic happens... But what happens when the magic doesn’t happen? What if the second fermentation doesn’t take? What if the wine develops oxidative notes that...
Tucked away in the Barséquanais, Les Riceys isn't just any Champagne village. It's the largest by vineyard area in the entire region, with over 840 hectares under vine. But it's not just size that makes it special. Les Riceys is the only village in Champagne that can legally produce all three of the region's appellations: AOP Champagne, AOP Coteaux Champenois, and the elusive AOP Rosé des Riceys. That alone should earn your attention.
In a region as steeped in tradition as Champagne, change doesn’t come easily. The strict regulations governing its production have...
