Tag: G.H. Mumm

G.H. Mumm Appoints Trina Smith as Terroirs Pacific Winemaker, Strengthening Sparkling Wine Excellence Across Australasia

G.H. Mumm has appointed award-winning winemaker Trina Smith as Mumm Terroirs Pacific Winemaker, overseeing production across Australia and New Zealand. Recognized as one of Australia’s foremost sparkling wine specialists, Smith brings over two decades of global experience spanning California, South Africa, and Italy.

Based in the Barossa Valley, she will lead winemaking for the Mumm Terroirs Collection, including Marlborough Prestige Brut, Brut Rosé, Central Otago Blanc de Noirs, and Tasmania Prestige Brut, while collaborating with the Maison’s Chef de Cave and regional growers.

Smith’s appointment reinforces Mumm’s commitment to crafting wines that express the unique terroirs of Marlborough, Central Otago, and Tasmania, three of the Southern Hemisphere’s leading cool-climate regions. Her leadership follows the successful launch of the Mumm Tasmania Prestige Brut (2022), a benchmark for Tasmanian sparkling wines and a reflection of the region’s growing significance, now accounting for over 40% of Tasmania’s total wine production.

Trina Smith states: “I’m thrilled to step into this role and continue building on Mumm’s legacy in Australasia. My focus will be on crafting wines that truly express the character of our region. Marlborough, Central Otago and Tasmania are world-renowned cool-climate regions, producing sparkling wines of exceptional finesse, energy and character and I look forward to shining an international light on our sparkling wines.”

Mumm 2021 Harvest – Part ll – Regenerative Viticulture

We joined Bernard Pineau (Sustainable Viticulture Manager at Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët) in the vineyards. Bernard took us to some of the north-facing slopes in Verzenay and Mailly.

Not only is it harvest time, but it’s also the end of a very difficult growing season. The Champagne region was hit with spring frosts, and heavy summer rains which has led to mildew fungus.

The Chef de Caves Laurent Frenet, who also joined us later, says ‘The best areas are the north and south of the Montagne de Reims, especially the black grapes.” and “…the best quality and quantity are coming from Verzenay, Verzy, Ambonnay and Bouzy this year..”

G.H Mumm currently owns 215 hectares of vineyards in some of the finest terroirs in Champagne which are rated 98% on the champagne quality scale. These micro-terroirs are located in Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzy, Verzenay, Avize, Cramant and Mailly-Champagne. Mumm makes arrangements, each year, to purchase grapes from independent growers to meet their needs.

Bernard, who heads up the sustainable development objectives for 2030, explains that he has moved away from chemicals “weed control and systematic treatments are over…It’s now all about observation.” He has set up experimental programs in regenerative agriculture in some of their vineyards.

Bernard goes on to say, “we’re looking at the best that can be found among organic, biodynamic and agroforestry techniques.” He wants to reduce chemical inputs without “restricting to organic farming, which is too reliant on copper.”

Bernard goes on to explain that regenerative viticulture has shown to improve sub-surface microbial life, and root health and having a complex system of cover crops with grass and clover ensures that “weeds don’t get a foothold”. These plant covers are planted just after the harvest by direct drill. Bernard goes on to say “This reduces the carbon footprint and keeps carbon in the ground ..keeps the nutrients in the ground.”

“The ground is the motor, and you have to fuel it with (this) with energy”

Bernard and his team’s strategy:

  1. Fertilizing the ground with natural oils and other natural processes – no herbicides have been used for the past three years;
  2. Use AI [Bitobot – atomatic care of the grass]; and
  3. Adapting the ground to global warming.

Bernard Pineau (Sustainable Viticulture Manager at Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët) clearly states: “Regenerative viticulture is the best model – we are convinced” “It is already working for potato and the cereal industry.”

#france #champagne #mumm #mummchampagne #verzenay #maisonmumm #verzenay #ghmumm #windmill #pinotnoir #vineyards #grandcru #pinotmeunier #chardonnay #champagne #champagnelovers #winelover #wineexperience #winetravel #winelovers #winedestinations #vendange #wineharvest #winemaker #sustainable #sustainableviticulture #regenerativeviticulture

 

Champagne 2011 exports reached their second highest volume in 5 years

Champagne exports 2011 reached their second highest volume in five years – with sales close to the peak of 2007. Exports in 2011 were up by 5.1%, rising to a total of 141.2m bottles, the second largest volume ever achieved behind 2007 and only 9.5m bottles less than this peak, according to the latest statistics just released by Champagne’s governing body CIVC.

However because of a slight downturn in domestic sales in France, where the market weakened towards the end of the year, total sales figures rose by just over 1%, to 322.97m bottles.

The best performers in emerging markets were Russia (up 24.5%), China (up 19.4%), and Hong Kong (up 15.1%) – the rate of growth slowed in the second half of 2011; these three markets between them account for 4.1m bottles.

Top performer in emerging markets was India at 58.7% – total shipments to this market reached 290,286 bottles.

Shipments to Belgium and Germany both rose by 8.5% – the best results achieved within Europe.

Shipments to the USA recovered well, rising by 14.4% to 19.4m bottles – still short of the historic peak of 23.2m bottles in 2006.

Shipments to Australia rose to 4.86m bottles.

Michel Letter, head of G.H. Mumm and Perrier-Jouët, said, ‘2011 was the third best year ever after 1999 and 2007 with total shipments reaching 323m bottles, not bad considering the worldwide economic situation.’

Liz Palmer
@champagnehouses