A new Champagne comes to the West Coast: Champagne Palmer
Champagne Palmer is likely an unfamiliar Champagne name. It is actually a new brand to the United States. But it is not a new brand. The Champagne house was started in 1947. It came to the East Coast of the United States in January 2015 and now it is available on the West Coast as well.
In Champagne, the three main types of producers are négociant, grower and cooperative. Négociant Champagne, with names such as Möet and Veuve Clicquot, are the most familiar types of Champagne. These Champagne houses buy their grapes from all over the region and blend them together to produce a consistent style each year.
Grower Champagne is produced by the winemaker who typically owns small parcels of vineyards. The wines are made with estate fruit and will vary year to year. Co-operative Champagne houses are made up of a group of growers who supply their grapes to the co-op to be made into wine.
Champagne Palmer was founded as a co-operative. Instead of focusing on their specific terroirs, seven Grand Cru growers decided to blend them and created Champagne Palmer. Today there are 320 growers who are all shareholders, committed to a minimum of 10-year contracts and are committed to producing excellent quality grapes.
