Since 1837, Champagne de Venoge nurtures its nobility—blue ribbon and coat of arms on the label, Louis XV cuvées… In 2015, CEO Gilles de la Bassetière renovated the old Gallice Villa, on Avenue de Champagne in Epernay, to historically settle the De Venoge house.
By moving into the Gallice Villa built by architect Blondel in 1898 for Marcel Gallice, former owner of Perrier-Jouët, the De Venoge Champagne fully justifies belonging to the “bubble aristocracy”.
From the entrance hall, the tone is set. Gaëtan de Venoge, grandson of the founder, chairman from 1886 to 1898, whose bust has pride of place in the marble alcove in trompe-l'œil style, welcomes the visitor. The great man knew how to host. The entrance opens to adjoining lounges where one can converse, dance, taste, supper, listen to a concert. The majestic volumes of the place, the high windows opening to a vast park, the crystal chandeliers, the picture rails made of carved stucco with gilded friezes and patterns, the rich trimmings, the Aubusson-style petit point tapestries, Louis XV-style cabriolet chairs, the gilt wood consoles with finely carved copper handles, the Pleyel grand piano, give legitimacy to the original style of Champagne de Venoge. One can even discover a XVIIIth-century painting, a portrait of King Louis XV inspired by Van Loo's! And to end the evening, a billiard and smoking room have been fitted out on the ground floor with trophy cabinets.
The basement kept its original spirit. The first basement, the domestic servants' floor, hosts a coal boiler, a cast iron cooker, a stone washing place, a forced-air laundry dryer, a pantry, that will soon be rehabilitated. At the second basement, the brick and grindstone cellars with iron beams have been restored with a loft spirit, with wrought iron grids, prison-like locks. In the future they will shelter some 20,000 bottles in vaults organized by decades (1960-70-80-90). The treasure wines and the very old vintages from 1928 to 1960, considered as exceptionally rare, will be gathered in the wine library!
The first floor consists of offices and meeting rooms. Gilles de la Bassetière chose the former boudoir. Here the future of the De Venoge house is decided, now considered as a continuation of its history, its past. A recent CIVC survey showed that when the king of the wines is tasted, the guests' thoughts turn to royalty, nobility, life in the castles… An interesting breeding ground for Champagne De Venoge whose slogan has always been “Nobility obliges...” and whose advertising is based on “Long live the king”!
On the wines side, the range Cordon Bleu is kept. For the Prestige cuvée, the house has always paid tribute to King Louis XV who decreed bottle fermentation. The house named them by the king. “These Louis XV Brut and Rosé cuvées in carafes are facing increasing success”, the chairman admits.
New era, new cuvées. This year the De Venoge house revives the mythical Cuvée des Princes created in 1864 by Joseph de Venoge in tribute to the Princes of Orange. And continues to present the wine in a carafe that remind the early XXth-century habitude of the aristocracy to serve the Champagne in crystal decanters. From September, Princes Blanc de Blancs will be released, only composed of Premier and Grand Crus (Mesnil-sur-Oger and Trépail). It presents subtle aromas of white blossom and citrus and a lovely minerality; Princes Rosé blended with Pinot Noir from the Reims mountain and St-Thierry massif (called “small Moutain of Reims”) and wines from Riceys exudes scents of redcurrant, strawberry, grapefruit and orange peel (RSP €50); and at last Princes Blanc de Noirs which evidences a great aromatic masterliness, and Princes Extra Brut will be released in 2016.
With such a quick renovation, revived cuvées, an address classed world heritage, Champagne de Venoge seems to have all the assets to attract the consumer of the third millenia. To be continued...
Marie-Caroline Bourrellis
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