Драпие

Шампан · Франция

The Drappier family tree can be traced back to the seventeenth century, when Rémy Drappier was born in 1604. He later became a cloth merchant in Reims, like Nicolas Ruinart. His grandson, also named Nicolas (1669–1724), served as procurator to King Louis XIV of France. It was not until 1808 that one of the house's ancestors, François, settled in Urville and began tending a vineyard of a few hectares. In the early 1930s the vineyard suddenly became the subject of heated debate in Urville. Georges Collot, Michel Drappier's maternal grandfather, resolved to be the first to replant Pinot Noir in the canton. His decision caused a stir and earned him the nickname "Père Pinot" — Old Man Pinot. That variety now accounts for 70% of the Drappier vineyards and of the plantings cultivated in the region — proof that the sceptics were wrong. In 1952 André and Micheline Drappier created the vintage champagne Drappier Carte d'Or, with its distinctive yellow label; each bottle carries aromatic notes reminiscent of quince jelly. After the historic frost of 1957, which destroyed 95% of the harvest, André decided to plant a new variety, Pinot Meunier, more resistant to spring frosts. In 1968 Micheline proposed making a rosé champagne and decided it would be made from 100% Pinot Noir. Fifty years on, Drappier Rosé de Saignée enjoys great success and has even been served at the Élysée Palace. Today Michel Drappier oversees vinification, as he has since 1979, while André Drappier — with 74 harvests behind him — tends the vineyard, which covers more than 62 hectares of family-owned land plus 50 hectares farmed under agreements with other growers. In 1988 deep chalk cellars near Reims, carved out during the reign of Napoleon III, became part of the family estate. These underground tunnels now hold the house's most treasured bottles — above all the Grande Sendrée — perfected by their most faithful ally: time. Since 2016 the eighth generation of the Drappier family has joined Michel and his wife Sylvie in the family business. Charline, born in 1989, is gradually taking over marketing, while her brother Hugo, born in 1991, is responsible for the vineyards and vinification. Antoine, born in 1996, has a strong interest in animals and nature and ploughs part of the organically farmed vineyard with his horse. The Drappier estate also includes old orchards, a vegetable garden and a farmyard — thanks to which the house has deservedly earned its carbon-neutral accreditation.