21/02/2008
Champagne enlarged... and diminished?
Daniel Lorson, Director of the CIVC, confirms that the two communes of Germaine and Orbais l'Abbaye could be excluded from the revised Aire de l'Appellation as part of the redefining and possible enlargement of Champagne Viticole.
This is intended as a tangible sign of just how seriously the experts are taking their work: Germaine in particular is a very marginal place for a vineyard, in the middle of woods on the Montagne de Reims and bloody cold; Moet of course have experimental vineyards on a lyre system there.
The new INAO are firing a political shot across the bows of the mighty (Moet, Vranken...) to remind them that no one will be escape the authorities' scrutiny. On a positive note, I am impressed by the list of 40 new communes (published in October 2007) as candidates for possible inclusion in a revised AOC: there are some fine villages in the Vesle and Ardre valleys to the north west of Reims, and intriguingly some sunny sites near Troyes, running south from Montgueux, which should provide some ripe golden Chardonnays".
The new INAO are firing a political shot across the bows of the mighty (Moet, Vranken...) to remind them that no one will be escape the authorities' scrutiny. On a positive note, I am impressed by the list of 40 new communes (published in October 2007) as candidates for possible inclusion in a revised AOC: there are some fine villages in the Vesle and Ardre valleys to the north west of Reims, and intriguingly some sunny sites near Troyes, running south from Montgueux, which should provide some ripe golden Chardonnays".
11:22 Écrit par Michael F. Edwards dans Champagne | Lien permanent | Commentaires (2) | Envoyer cette note | Tags : wine, vin | 
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Well done! I quoted you in Wine Business International.
Your articles are always very well documented,
Cheers!
Écrit par : Hervé Lalau | 22/02/2008
You got it right! Without surprise, the INAO approved yesterday the extension of the Champagne area.
Yves Bénard, its President, announced that "the appellation will be extended from 319 to 357 communes" - not naming the newcomers. But a simple calculation indicated that 2 communes at least would be substracted from the original list of 40 communes to be promoted.
Some hours later a communiqué confirmed your info about Germaine and Orbais. Bravo, Michael!
Anyway, no Champagne will be made in the new communes before... 2021, since INAO will not give the final green light for new plantings before 2015.
Écrit par : Hervé Lalau | 16/03/2008
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