After almost ten years of careful planning and construction, Champagne Taittinger’s Domaine Evremond in Kent was inaugurated by Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Edinburgh, on 26 September. The opening of the cellar door is anticipated in spring 2025.
Created by French architect Giovanni Pace and built by the British firm Arkay, the new estate building at Domaine Evremond is primarily located underground. Its exterior design harmonizes beautifully with the undulating landscape of the Kent Downs.
The estate features a cutting-edge, gravity-fed winery and a naturally cool chalk cellar that can accommodate up to 1.5 million bottles.
‘This has been a decade in the making,’ remarked Patrick McGrath MW, who is the CEO of Taittinger’s UK partner Hatch Mansfield and one of the co-founders of Domaine Evremond.
Established in 2015 by Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger and McGrath, the initiative took its name from Charles de Saint-Evremond, a French poet and literary critic recognized for his pivotal role in bringing and popularizing Champagne in England during the 17th century.
The founders selected the Stone Stile Farm location in Chilham, Kent, due to its rich, free-draining chalk soils and south-facing slopes, which closely resemble the Champagne terroir.
The initial vines at Domaine Evremond were planted in 2017, and by 2019, the first harvest had taken place. The producer then faced a wait of two years before finally receiving planning approval from Ashford Borough Council to start constructing the winery in the spring of 2022.
The newly established underground cellar at Domaine Evremond has the capacity to store up to 1.5 million bottles.
The winery’s inaugural wine, the Classic Cuvée NV, is anticipated to be launched in March 2025 when the cellar door opens to welcome visitors.
This sparkling wine, crafted using the traditional method, is composed of 80% grapes from the 2020 harvest and 20% from 2019, all sourced from the estate’s original plots. It underwent fermentation and maturation in stainless steel vats, enjoying three years of ageing on the lees.
According to Alexandre Ponnavoy, Taittinger’s chef de caves, the primary goal for this new endeavor is to seek out ‘pure elegance’ by focusing on the local terroir and creating a reserve.
Malolactic fermentation plays a crucial role for the English estate by helping to manage the notable acidity associated with the maritime climate. Ponnavoy explained that no barrels will be utilized in the production of the initial releases, noting that the base wine requires ‘more maturity of the vines’ to gain the textural complexity that oak aging provides.
The first Classic Cuvée features a blend consisting of 55% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Meunier. This Champagne house, recognized for its blends that primarily feature Chardonnay, plans to increase the Chardonnay ratio in its English wines as the Chardonnay plants continue to mature.
Ponnavoy also mentioned that there are intentions to release vintage versions in the future as the base wine develops greater depth and complexity over time.
Christelle Rinville, the vineyard director at Taittinger, and Mark Gaskain of Gaskains Ltd share a moment of collaboration. Credit: Sylvia Wu
Domaine Evremond represents a ‘true symbol of friendship’ between the esteemed Champagne house and its British collaborators, emphasizing the rich layers of Anglo-French history and camaraderie that underpin this initiative, as noted by Vitalie Taittinger, the president of the family-run establishment, which has origins dating back to 1734.
Christelle Rinville emphasized the partnership between the Taittinger team and local farmers, who contributed their historical insights into the soils and their expertise in managing the coastal terroir.
The vineyard of Domaine Evremond. Credit: Sylvia Wu
Gaskains Ltd, a family-owned business, has been nurturing the lands in the Garden of England for four generations. As one of the UK’s largest apple producers, the company sold its original farmland, which included apple and pear orchards, to Taittinger in 2015 while continuing to play an active role in the operations.
Mark Gaskain, the director, explained that humidity and wind pose significant challenges for managing the Evremond vineyards. To address these issues, the fruit grower implemented windbreaks and adapted apple sprayers for use in the vineyards as they embarked on the new venture of planting wine grapes.
Thanks to the expertise and training provided by Rinville’s team, along with a fleet of tractors tailored to the width of the vines, the local team is confidently executing their tasks under careful supervision, as noted by the vineyard director.
Since the initial planting of vines in 2017, the estate has grown its vineyards beyond the original 20 hectares into surrounding farmlands. The latest acquisition took place in 2023, when Domaine Evremond secured a 10-hectare, south-facing chalky plot on Hogbens Hill, located three miles from the winery. The first harvest of Chardonnay is anticipated in 2027.
The estate now spans 125 hectares, with 60 hectares dedicated to grapevine cultivation, showcasing a synergy of Pinot Noir (45%), Chardonnay (45%), and Pinot Meunier (10%). The remaining 65 hectares comprise woodlands, meadows, and orchards filled with apple and pear trees.
Grapes: 55% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Meunier
Alcohol: 12.5%
Dosage: 7g/l
This Classic Cuvée is a harmonious blend of 2020 (80%) and 2019 (20%) grapes harvested from the estate’s original plots, having undergone three years of aging on lees. It offers aromas of sour citrus and toast, coupled with a hint of seashells. The palate presents a crisp and saline profile, which is characteristic of the English-style freshness and chalky terroir. A round texture, enriched by malolactic fermentation, reveals flavors of green fruits, honeyed white peach, and quince, finished with a subtle note of white pepper. The refined mousse culminates in a delicate touch of crushed almond. This wine, precise and elegant, is expected to improve with further aging under cork, with a planned release in March 2025.