Tarlant, passion for Champagne

''We are mostly farmers and growers, and that is what we have been for the past twelve generations'' says Benoît Tarlant as he welcomes me to the winery in the Vallée de la Marne. Τarlant is a house that has produced expressive and characterful wines since the late 1920s; family tradition is obviously very strong. Benoît joined the family business, as chief winemaker, in 1999.

Benoît is a man who is passionate about Champagne and this shines through as soon as you start talking to him. He is keen on exploring new paths and introducing innovation; he hates conservatism and is open minded. At the same time, he is a big supporter of tradition in Champagne. He tells me that the Tarlant vines are cultivated organically, and that, as he sees it, how one practices viticulture in actuality, is the important point, not whether one holds an official certification. The winery owns 14 hectares of land, which is divided into 57 plots and each plot is vinified separately. The total production does not exceed 120.000 bottles, of which 80% is exported.