What makes Champagne so special?

As its name suggests, Special Club Champagne is a very special wine. But what sets it apart from the millions of other bubbles produced in Champagne each year? Let's dig in. 

While Champagne is synonymous with the world's best sparkling wine, there’s another less-talked-about style that comes from the region, as well. And unlike its more popular cousin, bubbles are not part of the appeal. 

One of three main grapes used in making Champagne, pinot menuier is often overlooked while chardonnay and pinot noir get all the glory. A growing number of talented and ambitious vignerons are finally giving the once underappreciated grape the recognition it deserves — not just as grape fit for blending, but as a solo act worthy of attention.

We stumbled upon Barbichon during a recent trip to Champagne, and after getting to know fourth-generation vigneron Thomas, learning his family’s story and tasting his quintessentially Auboise cuvées, it was obvious we’d been missing out. Read more about this phenomenal producer here in the blog. 

This year, after a series of summer heatwaves where temperatures reached as high as 104 degrees, harvest began several weeks ahead of schedule on Aug. 12 — the earliest Champagne harvest on record. Read more about harvest and view a photo gallery from our growers in this blog.