Winegrower Champagne Champagne J.-M. Tissier
Inherited passion
Jacques Tissier, a wine grower's son and great-son, literally “fell into the champagne when child”, at least in a vat… Punished at the age of 12 to have played truant, he was immediately commanded by his father Jean-Marie Tissier to clean the tanks. This punishment was a real eye-opener: the smell, the hard work, Jacques Tissier knew straightaway this was his place. He decided he would perpetuate the Champagne Tissier.
Jean-Marie and Jacques Tissier
The story of the House started in 1931. Then, Diogène Tissier a wine grower at Chavot-Courcourt, a small village near Epernay, the capital of Champagne, was facing difficulties in selling his wine. Ambitious and self-willed, he decided to vinify and sell his own champagne. A successful bet as six months later, his champagne was awarded for the first time in Paris. Pioneer in this historical village where all the wine growers contented themselves with selling their wine to renowned champagne houses, Diogène initiated the story of the House Tissier and passionate descendants of character.
A tribute from a son to his father
Though the viticultural studies gave
Jacques Tissier the theoretical keys of vinification, his father, who for his part learnt all from Diogène Tissier, transmitted to him his know-how. As a true hard but fair teacher, Jean-Marie Tissier inculcated him with the taste for hard and meticulous work:
“never neglect anything”. By repeting full of sense warnings, like
“to make good champagne, you need a lot of water”, he reminded him to always keep his tools immaculate. You will not read these pieces of advice in academic books and that is what makes the whole difference. Love and respect for the land is something that has to be transmitted.
“Wine is a living material.” Jacques Tissier explains, full of admiration and gratitude.
“Even if we now have new technologies, our ancestors invented it all.” As a tribute to his father and mentor, Jacques Tissier created in 1998 the brand J.-M. Tissier and, at the same time, six new cuvées, amongst which the last one “Aphrodite”, a bled rosé composed of 70% Pinot Meunier and 30% Pinot Noir, is available since last May.
Traditions and bio-dynamics
The five hectares of vineyards are based on the Southern hills of Epernay. Every September, grape-pickers are so pampered by Marie-Christine, the lady of the house, that they come back faithfully every year for their
‘Tissier-therapy’.
In the 2000s, Jacques Tissier undertakes a sustainable and durable fight in his domain and starts treating his vines with Norwegian seaweed which, on the one hand, provides trace-elements boosting the vines’ natural defenses, and, on the other hand, enable to reduce from 30% the use of phytosanitary products. Every other year, Jacques Tissier uses the plough to alternate chemical and natural weeding. Wood bark brings the essential organic material.
The Cuvée Aphrodite
Latest Cuvée of the Tissier House, this bled
Rosé de Saignée, vinous and very ample. Its deep colour with vermilion hints unveals a white and regular cordon. Its ample nose reveals scents of small red berries and surprising smoked aromas and a touch of toast. A more feminine cuvée, echoing the
Prestige Vintage Cuvée Apollon which minerality and complexity show the elegance and nice maturity of this champagne which won, year after year, many stars in the Hachette Guide, and was the favorite in 2006 with two stars for its 2000 vintage.
Jacques et Marie-Christine Tissier
"When my wines are tasted by sommeliers, I get the feedback of real professionals
as well as the necessary hindsight to progress.” - Jacques Tissier
Ready to take over
Jacques and Marie-Christine Tissier’s two sons firmly intend to run the property alongside their parents one day.
Gaëtan, 16, has started studies at the Viticultural School of Avize and
Anthony, 14, still in high school, plans to follow his brother. Both study in the European courses - a way to confirm their parents' will to develop the export. The J.-M. Tissier champagnes are already very appreciated in Great Britain where the Brut Tradition, awarded many times, particularly seduces the guests of the balls of the prestigious Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
Read all about their cuvées, JM Tissier's Ratafia and their numerous awards on their website :
www.champagne-jm-tissier.com Champagne J.-M. Tissier
9, rue du Général Leclerc - 51530 CHAVOT-COURCOURT Tél. :
+33 (0)3 26 54 17 54 - Fax :
+33 (0)3 26 59 01 43contact@champagne-jm-tissier.com
www.champagne-jm-tissier.com
La famille Tissier
