Grower Champagnes grab the limelight

A specialist website selling grower Champagnes has been launched, highlighting the increasing power these wines are wielding in the UK market.

Distributor French Bubbles, which represents five Champagne growers, celebrated its website revamp at a tasting in London last week.

The website draws attention to the continuing growth of independent growers in the international marketplace, especially following the setback experienced by major brands over the recessional years – in 2009 grower Champagnes saw 17% growth, according to French Bubbles co-founder Stefano Frigerio, compared to a 15% decline for the major brands during the recession (source: the drinks business Champagne Report).

While the company began operating in 2007, last week’s launch – which brought together all five growers for the tasting – showcased the revamped version of the site and all it has to offer, as well as recent partnerships forged by French Bubbles.

Frigerio, who founded French Bubbles with his wife Maud Fierobe, explained that the aim of the company is to provide "not only quality but value" – something made apparent by the comparatively low price tags (£18 to £39) attached to premier cru and vintage bottles, explaining that the price gap between branded and grower Champagnes lay in the differences in marketing budgets for both.  

The tasting also highlighted the distributor’s unique Charity of the Month initiative, where £1 from every bottle sold went straight to a selected charity. This month’s charity of choice was StreetSmart, which generates funds for 90 charities across the UK.

Notwithstanding a revamped website and charitable scheme, French Bubbles announced partnerships with Rippon Cheeses and cookery school-cum-chef-store l’Atelier des Chefs in London. Philip Rippon said of the cheese and Champagne event: “It was one of the best tastings we have ever done".

Meanwhile, the collaboration with L’Atelier des Chefs will offer guests the chance to indulge in “real food” and “true Champagne,” teaching would-be cooks how to make canapés and macaroons – both designed to match Champagne.

Tom McNeile, managing director of L’Atelier des Chefs, explained: "Food is the zeitgeist at the moment in London so the link between our two companies is evident.”

For a full review of grower Champagnes’ success in the UK, read the drinks business forthcoming Eat.Drink supplement, which will accompany the October edition.

For more information visit www.frenchbubbles.co.uk and www.atelierdeschefs.co.uk

Marinel FitzSimons, 13.09.2010