The Best Champagnes from Small Growers You Should Know About

One of my favorite times of year is around the holidays, not only because it’s festive and you’re usually celebrating with friends and family but in the wine world some of the best Champagne Tastings of the year occur in December. For me that is just as exciting as Christmas with family and friends.

A tasting in San Francisco that I always look forward to and attend is the Grand Champagne Tasting at Arlequin Wine Merchant. This is always not only delicious but a great way for me to learn about a new small Champagne Producer (when I say small I mean not the larger brands the average consumer knows), but smaller grower-producer brands that are just as high quality as something like a Veuve Clicquot or Krug, just a bit less known to the average consumer. See some of the Best Champagnes from small growers that you should know about below.

Champagne Lacourte Godbillon, Premier Cru

Waris-Larmandier

Benoit Lahaye, Grand Cru

Eric Rodez Champagne, Cuvee des Crayes

This was one of the most interesting wines I tasted at the tasting. The wines are farmed biodynamically and the Winemaker is the former blender from Krug. I recently visited Krug in Reims (which was spectacular) so tasting these wines brought back fond memories. The wines are complex with rich, creamy complex flavors that do not disappoint…

Pierre Moncut, Grand Cru

Pierre Mycorhize Delos, Grand Cru

Chartogne-Taillet

Nicolas Maillart, Premier Cru

This is my friend the lovely Angie who owns Birba Wine Bar (Just a few blocks away). Read more about Birba Wine Bars in my Best SF Wine Bar Guide here.

Champagne Gallois, Premier Cru

Champagne Andre Clouet

Champagne Guiborat, Grand Cru

Jean Vesselle, Grand Cru

These were another two of the highlights of the evening. The Oeil de Perdrix (100% Pinot Noir) was beyond lovely and one of my top 3 wines of the tasting.

Egly-Ouriet, Grand Cru

This Egly-Ouriet V.P. was one of my favorite wines of the tasting. My tasting notes described it is extremely rich, creamy and GLORIOUS! I’ve had Egly Ouriet a few times and it consistently impresses me each time I taste it.

Champagne Agrapart & Fils, Grand Cru & George Laval

Me and my friend and wine teacher Tim Marson. Tim is a Master of Wine so we always have a lot of fun tasting together and literally every time we taste I learn something new from him!