Champagne Flows in His Blood
Once occupied by the Cistercian monks from Clairvaux Abbey, the seat of the Drappier House dates back to some magnificent 12th century vaulted cellars. Two hundred years of climatic and economic hazards have not diminished the passion which emanates from this Champagne family with its roots in this soil worked a thousand times over. The old vine stock from where the best sap rises; the shoots bearing the fruit and the little sprouts; delicate but full of hope, have blessed the family for their loyalty during these two centuries.
Since 1979, Michel Drappier, who is the seventh generation of the family, has been controlling the wine-making process in Urville while his father André, with a lifetime’s experience of harvests behind him, keeps a watchful eye over the vineyards. Michel Drappier, Owner & Wine Maker of Drappier Champagne tells Shalini Kumar in this exclusive interview that
he is very proud to be in India.
Champagne is a story and it pertains to a region, a culture, a civilisation, a country, and to all the people who have enjoyed it. Charles de Gaulle was one of its valued customers, and there is a long list of international celebrities who drink Drappier Champagnes on a regular basis. The star studded list included the likes of Jean Paul Belmondo, Mikhail Gorbachev and Venus Williams just to name a few.
The much-awarded Drappier Champagnes are made at the winery in Urville. The estate vineyards comprise 60 hectares owned by Drappier and additional 60 hectares cropped under contracts with local growers. They also buy fresh grapes from other producers as well. About 70 percent of the estate’s vineyard are made up by Pinot Noir, the dominant and signature grape variety of Drappier Champagnes. Everything is processed at the Drappier winery under the strict supervision of Michel.
“Being located in the south of Champagne region, the varieties are mostly Pinot Noir which came from Burgundy 900 years ago, and moved slowly towards the north.There are four varieties of grapes with us, namely, Arbane, which is a very rare variety, then Petit Meslier, Blanc Vrai, which is a white variety like Pinot Blanc, and the last one is Fromenteau,” said Michel.
