Bubbles ?
A word about the different types of Bubbles, sparkling wines and how to obtain them:
Let’s not forget that there is only Champagne from Champagne, France.
Everywhere in the world where wine is produced, more or less good sparkling wines are produced that are intended to compete with “real” champagnes. It’s like rosé!
So, you can find Bubbles from all origins, whether it be, for example, Belgium or England, but also Canada, the USA or Australia, etc. Moreover, many important players in Champagne, more “industrial” or part of large groups like LVMH, are also present and active in these countries and use local appellation freedoms.
But some countries also have other traditions of sparkling wines, with more specific characteristics, particular definitions, and their own approaches. We can think of Franciacorta, Spumante, Frizante, Italian Prosecco, German Sekt or Deutsche Sekt, or even in France, all the variations of crémants from different regions, Clairettes, etc.
So, as we can see, even if we keep quiet about it, even if we are under the weight of advertising for certain very vague appellations, we can find a lot of “sparkling wines”, and this is not new.
However, we must not mix everything up. The appellations, but especially the quality of the artisan winemakers, can give us wines of character and quality. The world of sparkling wine cannot forget that it remains a world where we can find the best as well as the worst, as in the world of wine of which it is the direct parent. Let’s not forget either that some governments such as the German, through the appellations promulgated, accept that industrial companies can produce sparkling wines with juice without reference to provenance, to the detriment of any possibility of tracing.
As far as we are concerned, we work exclusively with artisan winemakers proud of their terroirs who only use considerate juices from their vines.
We also strive to offer you real wines, with bubbles in addition. They are also all faithful images of their terroir, of their creators. So, you will find quality sparkling wines, produced according to the different recognized methods, sometimes composed of local or forgotten grape varieties, and with levels of sparkling wine that can range from still wine to extreme sparkling wine.
Artisan Importer
Artisan importer, Artisans Bubbles represents artisan winemakers who follow the charter, the specifications of independent winemakers. Some are members of the French union of “Independent Winegrowers”, others, for one good reason or another, are not. The group/union of independent winegrowers only exists in France, with branches in each French wine region.
For us, an independent winegrower is an artisan wine producer who alone assumes the entire commercial and production chain, from the land to the glass, alone, independently. He therefore has his land on which he cultivates his vines which give him the grapes which, when pressed, will in turn give him the juices from which he will make his wines, and which he will sell himself. All these operations will be carried out, primarily, by his means of production. For certain operations, he may benefit from the assistance or intervention of service providers. All the main phases will be carried out in his facilities, to the exclusivity of any other, except in cases of force majeure. This means that, for example, an independent winemaker may hire a service provider to do certain work in the vineyards, but will have to use their pressing facilities to press their grapes and be able to use the juice to produce their wines, juices and wines which will remain in the winemaker’s vat rooms. Depending on the size of the operation, bottling, for example, may be done on the in-house facilities or those of a service provider.
“Cooperative” winegrowers, which may differ from independent ones
Under this designation of “Cooperative winegrowers”, you will find winegrowers associated, in one way or another, with one or more cooperatives or more importantly with other winegrowers.
Some let the cooperative on which they depend do everything, including the pooling of juices.
Some use the cooperative’s “production tools” without more, and therefore only share the tool and sometimes the know-how, the time to learn, the time to grow.
Some sit on the board of directors of the cooperative and are real linchpins, where others are only “customers”.
It is each time a personal choice of the winegrower. He or she establishes his or her policy, his or her plans for operation, development or cooperation with the cooperative(s), with the other winegrower(s).
Two examples.
Sylvie Cossy has her vines. But she uses all the tools of the cooperative to produce her champagnes, and at certain times also the reception and advice facilities of the cooperative of which she is a member of the board of directors. But she tends, little by little, to have her own facilities
Brigitte de Beaufort has chosen to produce only “vintage” champagnes. Having started her business after her husband’s death, through the inheritance of vines in Bouzy, she, with her children, collaborates with other winegrowers to produce the champagnes she wants, that she defines. Her choice is to produce each year around 6,000 bottles, where many would make 40,000 on her 4 ha.
The cooperative winegrowers that we have chosen to represent are true artisans using, more or less, the tools and knowledge made available to them. They only work with the juices coming from their vines, juices that they know how to trace.
La Bella Italia
Italy, our other country. Over the years, I have, we have developed special ties with Italy.
It is the cradle of so many things.
And the Italians, men and women, … And their wines …
What can we say about these wines? Until not so long ago, the Italian wines that could be found here were often cheap wines, more thirst-quenching wines, requiring no knowledge, yet the Italians know how to produce very high quality wines often better than other countries with high production, but with personalities that do not always please drinkers of Bordeaux, Burgundies or “new world” wines.
Let’s not forget that in Italy, it is normal to have both “thirst-quenching” wines and super vintages. An example of this is the wines from the Siena region in Tuscany that can be found as table wine, with the “Tuscany” appellation, Rosso di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Brunello di Montalcino or Super Tuscans (Tignannello for example), etc.
It’s like here in Belgium, the same brewery can brew a good table beer, while also offering Bock, Plis, and top-fermented beers. It’s like colors, there are so many. Some please one person more than the other, depending on the moment, the desires, the places, the circumstances, the … But intrinsically, all are to be appreciated.
In our desire to offer you Artisan “Bubbles”, we are pleased to present to you some Italian winemakers who meet our research, our specifications. Perhaps a little differently than in France, but they are also artisan winemakers.
And what is not our greatest reward than when one of the craftsmen that we represent gives us the contact details of a colleague, so that we have the honor of introducing him to you too.
The Craftsman
The Craftsman is a person who puts his art at the service of others in full awareness of his environment.
The Craftsman is independent, free. He is distinguished by a strong know-how in perpetual improvement, as well as a desire to transmit, to share, with a deep rooting in his land.
The Craftsman ensures all stages of creation, transformation, rehabilitation, of goods or services, as well as their marketing at a fair price that will allow him to still be there tomorrow, to offer his products and services to the community…
Craftsmanship is the transformation of products or the implementation of services outside any “industrial” context that is sometimes a little too mercantile.