Champagne in Italy: Elemento Indigeno expands its offering

Elemento Indigeno, Compagnia dei Caraibi's project dedicated to local wines, is adding a new line of champagne to its Wine Is Roots catalog. It's called Champagne Jérôme B., created by Jérôme Blin, owner of the eponymous winery in Dormans, in the Marne Valley, which has been in business since 1621. Elemento Indigeno is the exclusive distributor for Italy. This expands the country's champagne offering, especially at a time when, among still and sparkling wines, bubbles remain the most popular.

The cellar and the change of direction

Jérôme Blin took over the family winery from his brother in 2021. The goal was to restore a historic winemaking heritage with a viticulture that pays greater attention to the soil and natural balance, without starting from scratch: the vineyards remain unchanged, as does the connection with the Marne Valley. Jérôme's first vintage was in 2022.

The vineyards are located in Vassieux, a hamlet of Dormans, and cover 2.8 hectares planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The vines are between 40 and 60 years old: an age that is not a given in the region, and which, according to the producer, directly influences the character of the resulting champagnes.

Three cuvées, three interpretations of the terroir

The selection brought to Italy includes three labels. The Cœur de Vallée Extra Brut is a blend of Meunier and Chardonnay, described as fresh and elegant, with a long finish. The Les Meuniers de Mon Père Extra Brut is made from a single-varietal Meunier, from vineyards belonging to Jérôme's father: the cuvée most closely tied to the winery's family history. The Héritage Brut Nature, a single-varietal Chardonnay, rounds out the range.

Wine Is Roots and the rest of the catalog

Champagne Jérôme B. enters the Wine Is Roots category, the section of Elemento Indigeno's catalog reserved for wines linked to recognizable terroirs and long-standing family histories. The Elemento Indigeno project was presented by Compagnia dei Caraibi in December 2020 and explores, through wines and other fermented beverages, the production traditions of different regions of the world.