We believe true winemaking is a grand adventure – and it deserves fearless pioneers. Our newest tier, Chandon Winemaker Explorations, is an opportunity to discover innovative methods and flavour combinations through a careful selection of sparklings. Wines crafted by our natural curiosity for rare grape varietals, shaped by the unexpected lands on which they grow, and brought to life using unconventional winemaking techniques.

‘At Chandon, we’re unconstrained by tradition or convention,’ says Chandon Winemaking Director Dan Buckle, ‘We’re free to experiment. Uncovering unusual flavours means we need to look to long-forgotten grape varieties and unconventional winemaking techniques. But we also draw inspiration from the land, from history, from our travels, food and friends, from lively conversations with the world’s most inventive winemakers. That’s where truly unexpected sparkling comes from. The passions of the winemaker and their own explorations of life.’

We’ve chosen three wines from the Chandon Winemaker Explorations range to give you a glimpse of what’s on offer in the range:

• Field Blend: Petit Meslier is one of the seven permissible grapes in Champagne. We happened to have an experimental block growing at our Whitlands Plateau vineyard and found the perfect use for it: our first ever Field Blend. Carefully infuse the Petit Meslier with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and the result is an unexpected wine with novel flavours of lemon blossom and bergamot.

• Meunier Rosé: The Meunier Rosé heroes the generous and endearing character of this lesser known variety, sourced from 30 year old vines in our home vineyard. It has deep pink and vibrant red hues thanks to the Saignée method, an intricate technique where the grapes are harvested and then macerated in the press. Get it right and the delicate sweetness of the raspberry and blackcurrant notes shine through.

• Ancestrale Rose: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes – with a dash of Meunier and Pinot Gris – are grown in the deep red soil of our Whitlands Plateau vineyard. The intricate grace of the méthode ancestrale adds that distinct pink hue with a little cloud in the bottle. It also delivers pink grapefruit, cranberry and redcurrant notes.

Maybe it’s time we all tried something a little different. So come, take a little journey with our winemakers. You’re in very capable hands. Keep an eye on Chandon News or sign up to our newsletter for more details to come.

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