The fourth annual tasting of the Terres et Vins group representing 19 like-minded growers takes place this Monday 16 April in AŸ. And this year in addition to the second annual tasting of the 14-strong Les Artisans du Champagne group to be held in Reims the following day (17 April) as it was in 2011, two other groups of small producers are staging their inaugural events on the 15th and 16th.
The first new group called TraitD, involves just six producers including the small, highly rated house of Jacquesson, run by Jean-Hervé and Laurent Chiquet. The Chiquet brothers are joined by Anselme and Corinne Selosse, Pierre and Sophie Larmandier (Larmandier-Bernier), Agnes and Jerome Prevost, Francis and Annick Egly (Egly-Ouriet), plus Eric and Isabelle Coulon (Roger Coulon). Their tasting takes place on the morning of the 16th in Avize.
The fourth tasting is of the new Terroirs & Talents of Champagne group and takes place on Sunday 15 April at Le Théatre Restaurant in Epernay.
The full list of growers involved in the Terres et Vins group is as follows: Pascal Agrapart, Françoise Bedel, Raphaël Bérèche, Francis Boulard, Alexandre Chartogne, Vincent Couche, Pascal Doquet, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy, Etienne Goutorbe, Olivier Horiot, Cyril Jeaunaux, Benoit Lahaye, Aurélien Laherte, David Leclapart, Dominique Moreau, Franck Pascal, Olivier Paulet, Fabrice Pouillon and Benoit Tarlant. Dominique Moreau is the only newcomer to the group, although others have inquired, says Benoit Tarlant. Tarlant explains they don’t want to get too big so that staging events remains manageable.