After nearly ten years of meticulous planning and construction, Champagne Taittinger’s Domaine Evremond in Kent was inaugurated by Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Edinburgh, on September 26th. The cellar door is scheduled to welcome visitors in spring 2025. Check out Decanter’s article following an insightful visit to the winery, along with a sneak peek at its first wine.
Crafted by French architect Giovanni Pace and built by the British firm Arkay, the stunning new estate at Domaine Evremond is mostly situated underground and features an exterior design that beautifully blends with the undulating landscape of the Kent Downs.
The estate is now equipped with a cutting-edge, gravity-fed winery and a naturally cool chalk cellar capable of housing up to 1.5 million bottles.
“This has been a decade in the making,” reflected Patrick McGrath MW, who serves as the chairman of Hatch Mansfield, the UK partner of Taittinger, and is also a co-founder of Domaine Evremond.
Initiated in 2015 by Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger alongside McGrath, this venture was named in honor of Charles de Saint-Evremond, a renowned French poet and literary critic known for his pivotal role in bringing and promoting Champagne in England during the 17th century.
The founders selected the site at Stone Stile Farm in Chilham, Kent, due to its rich, well-draining chalk soils and south-facing slopes, which closely resemble the renowned terroir of Champagne.
The initial vines were introduced in 2017, and by 2019, the first significant harvest was achieved. Subsequently, the producer faced a two-year wait to secure planning approval from Ashford Borough Council, allowing the construction of the winery to commence in the spring of 2022.
The newly established underground cellar at Domaine Evremond has the capacity to accommodate up to 1.5 million bottles.
Domaine Evremond is preparing to launch its inaugural wine, the Classic Cuvée NV, in March 2025, coinciding with the opening of the cellar door to the public.
This traditional method sparkling wine is crafted from the estate’s original plots, consisting of 80% from the 2020 harvest and 20% from 2019. It underwent fermentation and maturation in stainless steel vats, boasting three years of lees ageing.
According to Alexandre Ponnavoy, Taittinger’s chef de caves, the core objective of this new endeavor is to achieve ‘pure elegance’ by honoring the local terroir and establishing a reserve.
Malolactic fermentation plays a crucial role for the English estate in handling the high acidity that characterizes the maritime region. Ponnavoy noted that the initial releases will be made without the use of barrels. He emphasized that a greater maturity of the vines is needed for the base wine to develop the rich textural complexity that oak can provide.
The first Classic Cuvée consists of 55% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Meunier. This Champagne producer, renowned for its blends that are predominantly Chardonnay, aims to increase the share of Chardonnay in its English offerings as the Chardonnay vines continue to mature.
Ponnavoy also mentioned that there are plans for future vintage releases, as time will contribute more depth and intricacy to the base wine.
Christelle Rinville, Taittinger’s vineyard director, and Mark Gaskain, director of Gaskains Ltd. discussed their collaborative efforts. Domaine Evremond represents a profound ‘symbol of friendship’ between the esteemed Champagne house and its British associates, reflecting the rich tapestry of Anglo-French history and camaraderie that underpins this venture, according to Vitalie Taittinger, President of the family-owned brand established in 1734.
Rinville emphasized the synergy between the Taittinger team and local growers, who contribute invaluable historical insights about the soil and excel in managing the maritime terroir.
The picturesque vineyard of Domaine Evremond stands as a testament to this fruitful collaboration.
Gaskains Ltd, a family-owned enterprise, has been tending to the land in the Garden of England for four generations. As one of the largest apple producers in the UK, the company sold its initial farmland, which consisted of apple and pear orchards, to Taittinger in 2015 but continues to play an active role in the operations.
According to Mark Gaskain, the director of the growing business, managing the Evremond vineyards presents challenges due to humidity and wind. To mitigate these issues, the fruit grower implemented windbreaks and modified their apple sprayers for vineyard use as they embarked on the journey of planting wine grapes for the first time.
With the assistance of Rinville’s team, who provide viticultural know-how and training, as well as a fleet of tractors optimized for the width of the vines, the local team is working with confidence while operating under our close supervision, noted the vineyard director.
Since initiating vine plantings in 2017, the estate has grown its acreage from the original 20 hectares into the adjacent farmlands. The latest acquisition occurred in 2023 when Domaine Evremond secured a 10-hectare south-facing plot rich in chalk located on Hogbens Hill, three miles from the winery. The initial harvest of Chardonnay is anticipated in 2027.
The estate spans 125 hectares, with 60 hectares dedicated to grapevines, including 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Meunier. The remaining 65 hectares consist of woodlands, meadows, and orchards filled with apples and pears.
Grapes: 55% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Meunier
Alcohol: 12.5%
Dosage: 7g/l
This Classic Cuvée is a blend primarily from the 2020 vintage (80%) and 2019 (20%), coming from the estate’s original plots. It underwent three years of aging on the lees. The wine showcases notes of sour citrus and toast, complemented by hints of seashells. Its palate offers a crisp, saline quality that echoes the freshness typical of English wines, enhanced by the chalky soil. The malolactic fermentation contributes a textured roundness featuring flavors of green fruits, honeyed white peaches, and quince, rounded off with a dash of white pepper. The refined mousse culminates in a slight touch of crushed almond on the finish. This precise and elegant wine is expected to improve with further aging under cork, set for release in March 2025.