Deutz – It’s a love story! Absa | Corporate and Investment Banking > Insights and Events > Deutz – It’s a love story! SHARE Interview with DR Kgaoelo Ntshwana and Itumeleng Mamabolo of Makhoi, the Champagner Official Importer & Distributor – Champagne Deutz. Deutz Champagne is not well known in South Africa. Why did you choose to represent this one? We stumbled on it, but thereafter, it was more a case of why not! They make great Champagne at an affordable price. Even their entry-level Brut Classique is of extraordinarily high quality. When we first tasted it, it was such a surprisingly “friendly” wine, fresh yet dry and elegant. We tried looking for it and then realised that it was not easily available here. We visited Champagne Deutz and they were excited to return to South Africa after many years. How wonderful to have the opportunity to share our love for this beautiful wine with people back home! The local palate tends to be sweeter, we consume a lot of demi-sec proportional to the rest of the world, which is fascinating to Champagne producers who are used to the demands for crisp and dry wines from the European market. What is the “L’amour” theme about? As you walk into the Champagne Deutz estate, you walk past a statue of a bronze cherub - “Love watches over”. This symbolises the love of wine, love of the earth, love of the grapes and love of beauty and sensuality. This passion for the wonderfully human ability to love and to cherish, is at the heart of Deutz. “L’amour” is reflected in their marketing, packaging and everything they do. As Coco Chanel said, “I only drink Champagne on two occasions: When I’m in love and when I’m not.” Tell us a little about the House of Deutz The house was founded in 1838 by William Deutz and Pierre-Hubert Geldermann and has been run by successive generations of the Deutz and Geldermann families. It’s based in the Aÿ region of Champagne whose historic hillsides (and therefore unique terroirs) are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Market difficulties in 1983 led to a transition period in which the house was bought by the Rouzaud family, who also own Louis Roederer. They own a significant portion of their own vineyards and work extremely closely with other growers. This allows Deutz to select only the highest quality grapes from vineyards in the top crus of Champagne. A minimum of 80% of the wine is from the first press and around 40% of reserve wine, hence the signature depth and gracefulness. They are a boutique producer (around 2 million bottles), allowing them to focus entirely on quality. Deutz produces a variety of non-vintage Champagnes, including Brut, Rose, and Blanc de Blancs d'Ay. They also produce a range of vintage Champagnes, such as the Cuvée William Deutz and the Cuvée Amour de Deutz. “Whichever type of Champagne Deutz you choose, you can be sure it will be a delicious and memorable experience.” Pépites Why is it one of the “lesser known” houses? Most South Africans are aware of the bigger houses, but there are 370 houses, many of which are unknown or new to the African market. It’s exciting to be a part of this journey of exploration and appreciation of Champagne. One of the Deutz representatives was here a few years ago. During a tasting, he joked that Deutz is for those in the know. The house has a low-key approach to marketing, preferring to let the quality of the wine speak for itself. Also, the limited production does result in limited availability, so it’s a wine that you will not find just sitting on a shelf in a bottle store. Deutz Champagne is pairing-friendly and will elevate any gastronomic experience. It’s well worth a try! 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. Read more CHAMPAGNE Champagne Boizel – “One family, one house, one tradition” Interview with David Rieu, Export Manager Champagne Boizel. Welcome to a rainy Johannesburg! I believe you have just got off the plane from France? Read more CHAMPAGNE Champagne Pol Roger – the most British of Champagnes Interview with Derek Kilpin, Managing Director – Great Domaines Read more The Champagne in Africa team support enjoying life and the responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages. Alcoholic beverages are not for persons under the age of 18. Please remember to drink responsibly.
