Another co-operative, another profile, other assets

France Passy Grigny

Another co-operative,
another profile, other assets

Dégustation au sommet entre les présidents Yves Chapier et Laurent Lequart de la coopérative de Passy Grigny

Un pressoir de collection dans le hall d'entrée de la coopérative de Passy Grigny

Passy Grigny, a pioneer, is also located in the department of the Marne and exploits a quality vineyard on the slopes of the Dormans, in Verneuil. It was created in 1929 by the Abbot Aimé Caudron who “gave 1,000 francs to twelve vine growers of the Cru to buy a place, a press, a vat house”, explains David Sibillotte, current director of this organization.
At the request of its 70 co-operators who exploit 130 hectares (planted of 80% Meunier, 10% Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), this co-operative was launched in 2010 in the marketing of its wines, four cuvees mainly containing Meunier, under the name of Dom Caudron.

The Association of the Champagne Sommeliers had sent four eminent members: its president, its vice-

president, Frederic Bouché, and Cédric Pillot. This young man, native of the Loire Valley, obtained his diploma in Tours, and then followed up with various positions in starred establishments such as Le Grand Hôtel du Lion d’Or in Romorantin, Aurrery in London, and the Château de Courcelles in Champagne. He has been assisting the Head Sommelier of the Crayères for a year and a half. Consecrated Best young Sommelier in 2005, this bachelor has a passion for wine and devotes all his leisure time in the discovery of small producers or ‘grandes maisons’, in France as well as abroad.

He especially appreciates the family and humane atmosphere of the co-operative of Passy Grigny. The hall is arranged like a small museum, with a collection of wooden presses from the 17th to the 20th century, either screw, lever, or wheel. One finds there “Coquard” press still in service as well as a multitude of old tools, such as a scale on which one weighed the baskets of harvested grapes, a gantry for flying disgorgement, old objects of cooperage, and vine processing machines, grafting knife, etc., presented in showcases or aligned along the walls.
This exhibition about the history of Champagne reminds everyone that this terroir was not a bed of roses. It suffered the phylloxera crisis, the revolt of the vine growers in 1911 and saw the rise of the corporative movement in 1950!
A quick glance at the very modern vat house, very vast, ideal to store reserve wines, it is placed in a separate building. This shows the visitors the quality and extent of the investments carried out: lit through sodium lighting so that the wine does not take on a taste of light, gravitation so as not to use a pump, stainless steel tanks and new or of 3rd/4th wine barrels. A beautiful added value on the products.
A tasting of still wines in Impitoyable glasses (a glass with a very broad rim which makes it possible to oxygenate the wine and reproduces the system of decanting) followed the visit. All appreciated the ‘non-dosés’ de la Cuvée Vieilles Vignes (minimum 50 years of age). Composed of 100% of Meunier, it is vinified in half without malolactic fermentation to underline the spirit of the soil, its fruit, and to give tonicity and longevity to the wine. Dégustation de vins clairs par Frédéric Bouché et Cédric Pillot For lunch, to accompany the Foie gras with Cep Velouté, was served a Cuvée Cornalyne 100% Meunier, vinified to 50% in oak barrels, dosed at 20/25 grams, which carried the experts back in time over 50 years.
“These old dry wines were worshiped by Russia yesterday, explains President Yves Chapier, and are today by the new Chinese consumers and the neophytes of all countries”.
Seducing cuvees, a beautiful day, a true discovery that this family entity in the middle of the village of the same name! It places its installations at the disposal of its co-operators, enabling them to receive customers, even on weekends, and to explain them their work by viewing a film in a high tech movie theatre.
The co-operative of Passy Grigny: A headlight of the Champagne œnotourism!

Marie-Caroline Bourrellis

Le fondateur l'abbé Dom Caudron en gravure, son petit fils David Sibyllotte, le directeur de la coopé-rative et sa nouvelle recrue marketing Bérengère Desportes.

Cooperative Passy Grigny

Rue Jean York
51700 PASSY GRIGNY
Tél. : 03 26 52 45 17
Fax : 03 26 51 75 85