Grower Champagnes have been blossoming in popularity in recent years, with Champagne Jacquesson,now owned by French billionaire businessman François Pinault, leading the way. db charts is rising profile at auction. Over the past couple of years, Champagne producers have enjoyed record -breaking success, shipping more than 320 million bottles in 2022 and crossing the €6 billion revenue mark for the first time. By extension, the region has also become increasingly more important in iDealwine auctions, where it placed fourth in terms of value (+122%) and fifth in terms of volume (+55%) in 2022. Embedded in this recent triumph is the overarching success of Grower Champagnes. While many Champagne houses source grapes from dozens of vineyards outside of their own properties, Grower Champagnes are produced using almost exclusively estate-owned grapes (with a small allowance of 5% for non estate-owned). Although they make up only a small percentage of the region’s production, Grower Champagnes are quickly becoming more popular. Champagne enthusiasts have come to appreciate what they view as a window into the distinct nuances of each terroir and vintage, something that is typically uncommon in non-vintage Champagne production. By contrast, the strict production methods and multi-vineyard approach that is common to many nonvintage Champagnes bottles tend to ensure a higher level of consistency. This consistency is often referred to as the ‘house style’. In 2022 iDealwine auctions, the increasing popularity of Grower Champagnes was evident, as they represented seven out of the top 20 bestselling producers. Sitting at number
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Fine Wine
