Union des Maisons de Champagne - Grandes Marques & Maisons de Champagne

Since 1882 the UMC has brought together all of the Grandes Marques brands and Champagne Houses that collectively underpin the worldwide reputation of Champagne wines. This website is specifically designed to teach you everything you need to know about their history and organization, their expertise and their ever-innovative ambitions.

May

Champagne holds its breath until the Saints de Glace (Ice Saints) are safely past (11, 12, 13 May), dreading a spring freeze that might destroy the future harvest’s fruitful buds.

Desuckering removes the non-fruitful buds (suckers or gourmands). Any unwanted growth is removed to optimise sugar concentration and encourage good sap flow.

The Champagne month by month

Did you know?

Champagne wine enjoys international acclaim and is widely considered the most universally recognized symbol of France, with export markets in more than 190 countries. Some 65% of Champagne House production is destined for export.

Pommery

In 1858 widow Louise Pommery stepped into her dead husband’s shoes and came up with two brilliant ideas. The first was the construction of the neo-gothic, Elizabethan-style estate that is now the company Head Office. The second was the launch of the first Brut Champagne – hitherto all Champagne wines were sweet. The House is now part of the Vranken-Pommery Monopole group.

The Champagne Houses