Champagne Boizel - "One family, one house, one tradition" Absa | Corporate and Investment Banking > Insights and Events > Champagne Boizel – “One family, one house, one tradition” SHARE Interview with David Rieu, Export Manager Champagne Boizel Welcome to a rainy Johannesburg! I believe you have just got off the plane from France? I have yes! I was promised sunny skies – where are they? This is actually my 6th visit to your beautiful country and I’m excited to be here for the event of the year – The Absa Champagne Festival. It is a wonderful opportunity to introduce and showcase the discreet elegance of Champagne Boizel. South African people are generous and charming and they are Champagne lovers! They value freedom and determination, which resonates with the brand's values. Tell us more about the House values. They hold themselves to exceptionally high standards in the vineyards and throughout every stage of the winemaking process. Champagne Boizel also has a generosity of spirit, in the way they open the House to visitors so that they can experience the authentic Champagne experience. The family is loyal to the region and the traditional vinification methods, while they also love the freedom to achieve the perfect blend according to what the wine requires. Every year, Florent and Lionel Roques-Boizel are joined by their parents Christophe and Evelyne to taste all of the current year’s wines in the quest for a balance between depth and precision. It appears to be very much a family affair? Yes, established in 1834, this is one of the few remaining family-owned, independent Houses. The motto "One family, one house, one tradition", says it all. Brothers Florent and Lionel are the 6th generation to take the helm. Interestingly, the House has always been run by two people and women have had an equal footing. Over the generations, the family has developed an intuitive know-how and in-depth understanding of the terroirs and the growers in the region. The Boizel vineyards cover seven hectares of land in Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger – some of the finest Champagne crus. The House has a unique style of long ageing, high reserve perpetual percentages and lower dosage for finesse and purity. We win the hearts of our customers through this commitment to our style. There is only one opportunity to make a good first impression and compromise is not in the family’s vocabulary! Nearly two centuries – that’s a history to cherish! It’s a history of overcoming hardship and staying true to the traditions and people, of having courage and vision… it’s truly inspirational and the prestige cuvées have earned the label of 'timeless Champagnes'. What are these prestige cuvées? Well, there is the Joyau de France (Jewel of France), first created in 1961, which was an outstanding vintage. This is the quintessence of Champagne Boizel's expertise in blending exceptional wines. It was created to celebrate France’s rebuilding from WW11 and the joie de vivre of the 60’s. The Cuvée 'Sous Bois' is the result of experimentation with vinification in old oak barrels to create an authentic taste of the Champagnes of the past – the softness contrasting with dry herbiness to make for a complex blend. Again, only exceptional vintages are used and it has only been released four times. It is my personal favourite. Then there is the Trésor or Treasure Collection - unique in Champagne. The cellar holds the greatest vintages of the 19th and 20th centuries, including the oldest from 1834. Some of These extremely rare wines are available to collectors through the Trésor Collection, in limited quantities. They are disgorged a few months before leaving the cellar, after having developed their aromas during many years in the cellar. What does the future hold for Champagne Boizel? Well, hopefully, an ever-growing South African market! We also foresee South Africa as being an introduction to the Indian Ocean Islands and the luxury, beautiful lifestyle they represent. I encourage your readers to come visit us in Epernay – it’s a delightful and informative tour and we will make you very welcome! About David Rieu After completing my studies in 2006, I started my Champagne career with Champagne Pommery and that was how I discovered your delightful country, as we launched here in 2008. I later joined Champagne Collet, one of the few co-operative houses, which was a wonderful experience. I’m now challenged and inspired to have joined a Maison de Prestige – Champagne Boizel as Export Manager. Boizel represents quality over quantity and I believe the African market is receptive to superior, prestige brands. “A brand with no history is a brand with no future.” https://cib.absa.africa/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/file_example_MP3_700KB.mp3 Related Articles CHAMPAGNE Timeless Elegance: De Venoge Champagne As we raise our glasses to celebrate the festive season, it seems fitting to delve into the world of a renowned Champagne house that has stood the test of time with grace and sophistication. De Venoge stands for excellence, heritage, and nearly two centuries of crafting fine Champagne. 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