An Introduction to Grower Champagne

What is Grower Champagne?

Grower Champagne is Champagne from growers who make their own wines from their own grapes, exclusively from their own vineyards. This is different to Champagne from a ‘House’, such as Veuve Clicquot or Taittinger, which are large-scale productions that buy grapes from a selection of growers, as well as using their own grapes from their own vineyards, to be able to produce the volume of wine that they do.

Grower Champagne is also different to Champagne from a Cooperative. A Cooperative doesn’t own any vineyards and purchases either grapes or still wine from growers, which is then used to make their own Champagne.

What’s good about Grower Champagne?

Grower Champagne provides the opportunity to feel more connected to the winemaking process, helping consumers to understand why the wine tastes the way it does, literally from the ground up. The winemakers are involved in every part of the production process, from vine to bottle, so Grower Champagne really is an artisan product. Because of this, consumers can delve deeper into how different aspects of the grape growing and winemaking process, such as terroir, pruning and the weather, can affect the final taste of a Champagne. It provides an endless treasure trove of new Champagne discoveries!

Why don’t I see more Grower Champagnes on the shelf?

Grower Champagnes are responsible for 18.6% of all Champagne exports globally, but in the UK, this figure is only 1.2%. This is down to our preference for big brands, helped by their large marketing budgets, but also the growers’ production is often too tiny to meet demand, therefore many of these Champagnes don’t make it to the outside of France.

How can I drink more Grower Champagne?

Boutique wine merchants and importing companies such as Deux Six are working directly with growers to bring these wines over to the UK (and hopefully to your country of residence too, if you are not from the UK!) and make them available for us to buy. At Deux Six, for example, you can buy three-bottle tasting packs of Grower Champagne from a selection of growers.

I hope you enjoy embarking on your Grower Champagne journey and please leave any recommendations for me in the comments below!