Join me for a day in the vineyards of Champagne.
We will begin our program with a visit to one of my favorite boutique wineries: Roger-Coulon where they produce but 100, 000 bottles annually, unlike the millions produced by the names you know, that appear in quantity on the shelves of your local supermarket at holiday time. I don't want to mention names, but think Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, etc. and conclude the day with a visit to René Geoffroy.
Tour of the vineyard and cave followed by tasting of 3 champagnes.
In the Vogt family since 1930 the Café du Palais is a true family affair. The front of the house is overseen by Jean-François and his lovely wife Delphine. His brother-in-law Sébastien also works the floor and sister Isabelle cooks. The dining room is filled with art and hanging sculptures collected over the years.
René Geoffroy and celebrants
“The Geoffroy family have been winemakers since the seventeenth century and the property has stayed in the family for almost 400 years, uninterrupted. In addition to prime parcels in Cumières, the family has holdings in Damery, Hautvillers, and Dizy. They aim for the highest possible quality and ferment the wines in oak barrels for their Cuvée Sélectionnée [now called Cuvée Empreinte] and Brut Prestige [now called Cuvée Volupté]. The wines don’t go through malolactic fermentation, which gives them the nerve and aging potential that most Cumières Champagnes lack. When you talk to the well-educated young Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, you understand that this is a family that cares passionately about wine.