The Domaine Evremond vineyard is a joint venture between Champagne Taittinger, which claims to be the only grande marque champagne house to be run by its eponymous family - its UK agency Hatch Mansfield, and friends.
Taittinger viticulturist Christelle Rinville, oversaw the new plantings at the site in south-east England. These latest plantings upon former arable land, with chalk soil and south-facing slopes, comprise Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%), bringing the total area under vine at Domaine Evremond to 28.5 hectares.
Hatch Mansfield managing director Patrick McGrath (see profile in June issue of Drinks International), said: “These new plantings took place in ideal conditions on two adjacent sites, and we are optimistic that they will produce top quality fruit in the future.”
Champagne Taittinger claims to be the first major champagne house to establish a vineyard in the UK to make English sparkling wine.
A first full vintage at Evremond is anticipated this coming October – from the vines planted two years ago in May 2017 – with a potential release date of 2024.
The Taittinger family boasts more that 80 years of winemaking expertise in Champagne and plans to use this, alongside its British team, to help create a premium English sparking wine.
Domaine Evremond takes its name from Charles de Saint-Evremond (1614-1703), a Frenchman and the first true ambassador for Champagne. He fuelled champagne’s popularity in England at the court of Charles II.
A poet, epicurean and literary critic, he is buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey. A passionate historian, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger named this new venture in his memory.
