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CHAMPAGNE
– FUTURE –
out to trade customers such as Ladurée macaroons and the
Bar Council. Internet sales are also growing. But with just
four of them in the company, they cannot be everywhere
at once. “It’s not always easy to work with your family!”
admits 29-year-old Ferdinand. But combining agricultural,
industrial and marketing activities in one job makes it
fulfilling. And he has no doubt that his new-born child
will one day join the company.
The 2020 harvest of Champagne Virginie T
Christian Tribaut – Ghislain Tribaut – Marie-Jo Tribaut – Vincent Tribaut –
Valérie Tribaut – Gauthier Coudrain-Tribaut
CHAMPAGNE G. TRIBAUT -
SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES
For the Tribaut family in Hautvillers, Champagne is also
a family affair, explains Gauthier. His great-grandfather,
Gaston, went independent in 1976 with a press, tanks and
a cellar. And although the parents currently manage the
company, the grandparents (Ghislain) are still around.
Gauthier is in charge of the winery, a cousin comes to help
at weekends, and another cousin – aptly named Gael –
also helps out. With all these ‘Gs’ there’s no need to change
the brand name!
Here, nobody keeps count of the time, it’s all about
passion. Of course, Champagne is the focal point, right
through to the family meal, but from an organisation
perspective, it makes life easier. As owners of their own
business, they all engage with each other. And because
they are versatile, they can swap roles. They have also
noticed that styles and tastes are changing. Medium-dry
wines and rosés are being superseded by wines with more
Chardonnay and minerality. There is a growing trend
towards drinking wine as an aperitif. The customers that
come and taste at the winery are prepared to pay more, but
in return they expect excellence.
Decisions are made collectively. Gauthier wanted to make a
single varietal Meunier from old vines. Two were in favour,
but four were not convinced. Conversely, temperaturecontrolled
stainless steel tanks are increasingly replacing
concrete or tiled vats. Environmental stewardship is
becoming more and more important and grass cover is
currently being rolled out in the vineyards. The 13 hectares
spread over 51 plots are not easy to harvest, and the
Tribauts do not want to rectify the must. So to ensure the
fruit does not lack acidity, they are harvesting even earlier,
due to climate change. The only question left unanswered
is who will take over the company. The Tribaut jury is still
out on that one!
40 SPRING 2021 GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE