Champagne De Castelnau

COOPÉRATIVE REGIONALE DES VINS DE CHAMPAGNE
Founded in 1962, the CRVC is the second largest cooperative in Champagne and has 730 members and more  than 880 hectares of vineyards from more than 140 crus. Their site in the heart of Reims houses a state of the art production facility with an annual production of 10 million bottles and a total storage capacity of 29 million bottles. The CRVC acquired the De Castelnau brand in 2003, though it dates back to 1916 when it was created in honour of a First World War General.

CHAMPAGNE DE CASTELNAU
Winemaker Richard Dailly has been working with the CRVC for over 20 years and produces premium quality, rich, well-aged wines. The De Castelnau non-vintage is aged for 5 years before release and contains almost 16% reserve wines. Richard firmly believes that it is the addition of these reserve wines that creates the depth and complexity of the final blend. Richard takes the utmost care when vinifying the red wines used in the rosé blend, care that has earned the wine a stream of 10 international awards over the past 4 years.

THE CHARDONNAY FACTOR
The history of the CRVC has played an important role in creating the classic style. For many years, growers from Trépail and Villers Marmery, small villages famous for Chardonnay but which lie on the Montagne de Reims, which is famous for Pinots, have sold their grapes to the CRVC. Chardonnay from vineyards around Trépail and Villers Marmery are richer, nuttier and more complex than from other areas in Champagne and contribute to the elegance and roundness of the De Castelnau range.

GOING GREEN
The CRVC are constantly striving to limit their impact on the environment and have announced that all BOB Champagne bottled from 2010 onwards will be in new lighter weight bottles. Approximately 65g lighter than the previous standard bottles, the dimensions remain almost identical and have the capacity to withstand the same pressure.

To find out more about Champagne De Castelnau, you can visit their website: www.champagne-de-castelnau.eu