TAITTINGER COMES TO KENT
On 9th December Champagne Taittinger bought 69 hectares of farmland in Kent, in a venture with other investors in what it termed a ‘Franco-British alliance’. It intends to plant vines in order to make English sparkling wine under the name Domaine Evremond as part of a ‘multi-million pound investment’ over the next 10 years.
It is believed to be the first time a Champagne house has invested in vineyard land in the English wine industry, which has seen rapid growth in the past decade. Classic Champagne grape varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier will be planted on the newly acquired land at Stone Stile Farm, a former apple orchard near to Chilham, and close to Canterbury and Faversham. The land was previously owned by the Gaskain family, who still own the farm itself.
Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger (left) and Patrick McGrath of Hatch Mansfield have teamed up to make English Sparkling Wine.