Henri Giraud to open 0% stainless steel cellar

Champagne Henri Giraud is to open a “pioneering” new cellar this November with 0% stainless steel.

Opening on 2 November, the “New Generation” cellar will be completely free of any stainless steel vats and all fermentation and other winemaking will instead be done in oak barrels and terracotta amphora.

For several years now the winery has been gradually divesting itself of stainless steel equipment and moving to smaller containers – barrels made from Argonne oak and Impruneta amphora (artist’s impression, left).

The house has said it believes these materials allow the wines to breathe more and the small size of the containers “boosts the interaction between the wine and its entire sediment which contains antioxidants and aromatic precursors.”

CEO Claude Giraud commented: “Since 1990, the freedom to think differently, constant curiosity and the demands of enthusiasts of the Henri Giraud style led us naturally down the path of ‘0% stainless steel’.

“Lovers of Champagne Henri Giraud are undoubtedly among the most demanding and sophisticated connoisseurs of fine wines in the world. Quite naturally, our maison was duty bound to pioneer this approach.”