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
The French terms “Blanc de Blancs” (white from whites) and "Blanc de Noirs" (white from blacks) indicate the cultivars that make up the blend. A Blanc de Blancs is exclusively blended from the principal white grape, the Chardonnay. A Blanc de Noirs is exclusively blended from the two principal black grapes, the Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
In 1973, vineyard worker Christian Senez secured the backing of his wife Josette to create a Champagne House that would reflect his fascination with all things wine. His daughter and son-in-law now continue the story, driven by the same passion and sense of adventure.
The Champagne Houses
