STOLPMAN - Brown Derby International Wine Center

The Vineyard, September/October, 2007
GrOWer chamPaGne
delve into the niche world of grower
champagnes and you’ll find great value and
a fascinating range of styles.
chamPaGne FacT File
n There are more than 19,000 owners of vineyards in Champagne
but only 15,000 growers tend their own vines (more than 4,000 are
absentee owners).
n Of the 15,000 growers who tend their own vines, just over
5,000 sell Champagne under 7,327 brand names.
n Growers own 88% of AC Champagne but account for just 12%
of global Champagne sales (29% if sales of cooperative brands are
included). Thus growers must sell two-thirds of their grapes every
year if houses are to maintain their sales of Champagne.
n There are 3,453 brands registered to 2,316 grower-owners who
make the Champagne they sell from the grapes they grow. Such
wines are identified by the initials RM (récolant-manipulant) in
small print on the front label.
n There are more 3,853 brands registered to 2,738 growers who
belong to a co-op. In part-payment for their grapes, they receive
ready-made Champagne which they sell as their own, even though
it is no different to the co-op Champagne of anyone else. Look out
for the initials RC (récoltant-coopérateur) on the label.
n There are 21 brands made by 15 firms set up by two or more
growers to reduce overheads. Look out for the initials SR (sociéte de
récoltants).
n Growers enjoy tax advantages over houses but cannot buy
grapes, thus their sales growth is restricted to the maximum yield
of their own vineyards.
n A loophole allows growers to buy the equivalent of 5% of their
harvest from other growers. Initially only for Chardonnay growers
wanting Pinot Noir to make rosé, it’s now applicable to all growers
and all varieties.
Reprinted from Decanter, May 2007
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