Mini-tour of the Champagne house of France

Accompanied by the professionals of wine industry – the company Fort – we have visited three champagne houses, have heard three stories of establishment, we have conceived three philosophies of champagne producers. Bouvet Ladubay, a winery situated in the picturesque town of Saumur on the banks of the Loire River, was founded in 1851.The dimension of the empire, created by Etienne Bouvet, was so impressive that the proprietor was rumoured to have found a treasure while digging his caves. Due to this rumour the winery produces Cuvee named ironically Tresor (Treasure).Currently, the company is headed by Patrice Monmousseau and Bouvet Ladubay is a large manufacture using ultramodern equipment, which allows automating all the processes including riddling and disgorging. The company also owns Centre of Modern Arts, Theatre and famous Bouvet Ladubay archives. Let us move to Champagne Here we are in the Champagne House Jacquesson that was founded in 1789 by Claude Jacquesson. Since its establishment, the house has ranked as a closed manufacture specializing in creation of select champagne. According to historians, Jacquesson Champagne was the favourite drink of Napoleon who took it to his military expeditions. Another interesting fact is the invention of a thing well known by all lovers of champagne. The wire hood for the cork – muzzle, was firstly used at Jacquesson House, namely by Adolph Jacquesson. Today Champagne House Jacquesson produces only 260, 000 bottles annually. Small volumes allow increasing the quality of wine. Moreover, wine has a strong potential to mature. The house headed by Jean Herve follows three main principles of grand wines: To use great terroirs only To work hard To put off all things of unsatisfactory quality The style of Piper-Heidsieck House, the last one in this trip, is legendary; there is no other way of putting it was established by Florence-Louis Heidsieck in 1785. Due to an entrepreneur Henry-Guillaume Piper, the house gained a real international stardom and fame, and its champagne got a double name of Piper-Heidsieck. It was delivered to the famous families in Europe, China and Tsarist Russia. The Golden Age of Hollywood was over its head in splashes of this champagne. Any Oscar Awards and revels in Cannes could not do without it; this champagne is considered to be the most cinematic of all ever known. If there is a scene with champagne, take a closer look – it will be definitely a bottle of Piper-Heidsieck Rare with the label in the form of a golden crown. For example, “The Pretty woman” loved by everyone with Julia Roberts and horror films “Scream”. Piper-Heidsieck produces 5 million bottles every year! As they say in this great house: Any good story starts with a bottle, a pair of glasses, and bubbles!