Champagne Stars
Sipping with the winemakers behind Champagne Barons de Rothschild, Veuve Clicqout La Grande Dame, Laurent-Perrier, Piper-Heidsieck, and Rare
I adore sparkling wine from all corners of the globe, but there’s no denying the iconic and enduring allure of Champagne. However, while many folks can easily rattle off the names of well-known Champagne houses, they’re at a loss when it comes to recognizing the people who transform grapes into the wines we love. This year, I had the pleasure of sipping many beautiful Champagnes, and some of the most memorable tastings were alongside the talented winemakers behind those magical bubbles. So, I wanted to put a spotlight on a few of the people who bring the ooh-la-la to our lives! Remember them as you’re shopping for Champagne to gift and treat yourself. Cheers!
Champagne Barons de Rothschild
Winemaker: Guillaume Lété
Rothschild is one of the most enduring and famous surnames in wine, but Champagne is a relatively new endeavor for the iconic family. In 2005, the three branches of the winemaking Rothschilds — Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Clarke - Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, and Château Lafite Rothschild- joined together for the first time to create Champagne Barons de Rothschild. And dynamic young winemaker Guillaume Lété is at the helm of this impressive endeavor.
Guillaume joined the house in 2011 at just 23 years old and ascended to chef de cave (chief winemaker) in 2016. Tasting with Guillaume during his recent visit to New York City was truly a joy; he’s wise beyond his years but down-to-earth and charming. I first tasted Champagne Barons de Rothschild about a decade ago, and I could see the evolution of the style under Guillaume’s guidance. The wines are precise, energetic, and layered. Click here to learn more about Champagne Barons de Rothschild.
Champagne Veuve Clicqout La Grande Dame
Winemaker: Gaëlle Goossens
Elegant and memorable, winemaker Gaëlle Goossens embodies the name of the beautiful Champagne she creates – La Grande Dame. La Grande Dame is a tribute to a true Champagne pioneer, Barbe Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin. Widowed at 27, she dared to lead the company founded by her father-in-law in 1772. Veuve Clicquot (Widow Clicquot) is one of the most famous names in Champagne, but many people don’t realize there was a real person behind the name. Madame Clicquot’s creativity and intellect led to many firsts in Champagne that we take for granted today: the first known vintage Champagne, the invention of the riddling table, and the first known blended rosé Champagne.
Veuve Clicquot introduced La Grande Dame in 1972 in honor of its bicentennial. However, Veuve Clicquot does not produce La Grande Dame every year, and 2018 marks the 25th vintage. Gaëlle joined the company in 2016 and is adamant that sipping Champagne should bring joy, not stress: “You don’t have to be technical to enjoy the wine,” said Gaëlle. Click here to learn more about La Grande Dame.
Champagne Laurent-Perrier
Winemaker: Olivier Vigneron
This summer, I spent a magical 24 hours in Chicago for a very special tasting with Olivier Vigneron; the chef de cave for Champagne Laurent-Perrier. The house was founded in 1812 and Olivier is only the 4th cellar master in its long history. Champagne Laurent-Perrier is renowned for elegance and innovation, so when I was invited to Chicago for the official press launch of its new cuvée, Héritage, at the iconic Alinea restaurant, I quickly said oui!
Héritage is the first Brut champagne made from 100% reserve wines and is an elegant and complex blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Click here to learn more about Héritage and Champagne Laurent-Perrier.
Champagne Piper-Heidsieck & Rare Champagne
Winemaker: Émilien Boutillat
I first met Émilien Boutillat when he joined Champagne Piper-Heidsieck in 2018, and it has been exciting to watch his career soar; he was honored as the Sparkling Winemaker of the Year 2021 and 2023 by the IWC (International Wine Challenge). In addition to his role as chef de cave for Champagne Piper-Heidsieck, he also holds the same role at the exclusive Rare Champagne; since 1976, only 14 vintages of Rare have been released.
Émilien and I caught up on his recent visit to NYC for a tasting of Champagne Piper-Heidsieck and Rare. We filmed our conversation, and you can watch the video to learn the story behind these elegant wines, along with Émilien’s suggested pairings.
Click here to learn more about Champagne Piper-Heidsieck. And here to learn more about Rare Champagne.