Discover the new-wave of Champagne with the pioneering Drappier – Tuesday 3rd February

While Champagne Drappier is thought of as representing the new-wave movement in Champagne, its roots can be traced back to the early 19th century. For 140 years, the Drappiers were growers, selling their grapes to the larger houses. When, in 1947, the family decided to step into production, they were pioneers in the Aube region, where the concept of grower-producer Champagne was almost unheard of.

Set in the southerly Côte des Bar, nearly an hour from the nearest city, Troyes, its 62 hectares of vines are remote, by Champagne standards. So much so that the soils are set on Kimmeridgian limestone – the same as is found in the grand-cru vineyards of Chablis. The result is a significant minerality and a touch of salinity in the grapes, that freshness accentuated by the vineyards being set at the maximum elevation found in Champagne – 300 metres – which lends further acidity to the wines.

This exposure, combined with the effects of climate change, allows for the ripening of Champagne’s lesser-known grape varieties, which had been gradually disappearing from vineyards. Around 20 years ago, Michel Drappier set out to preserve and revive them, via organic farming and minimal intervention, to make a range of wines which highlight these forgotten treasures, from Arbanne to Petit Meslier, Blanc Vrai to Fromenteau.

Michel Drappier has headed the business since 1979. We invite you to join him for a rare opportunity to taste the vin clairs (Champagne’s still base wines) of these forgotten varieties alongside their finished counterparts. Such wines are rarely seen outside of the cellar, and indeed this is the first time the independent and family-run house will present the ‘before-and-after’ format in Europe. It should make for a fascinating evening…

The wines we will be tasting:
The 2025 vins clairs from the five lesser-known white grape varieties authorised by the appellation:
Arbanne
Petit Meslier
Voltis
Blanc Vrai (aka Pinot Blanc)
Fromenteau (aka Pinot Gris)

The session will then progress to a tasting of the finished wines of the corresponding cuvées:
Trop M’en Faut, Drappier (100 % Fromenteau, aka Pinot Gris, aged in large oak barrels, zero dosage)
Quattuor, Drappier (a blend of Arbanne, Petit Meslier, Blanc Vrai and Chardonnay)
Père Pinot 2, Drappier (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Fromenteau, Blanc Vrai with white skin maceration and a 40 year-old liqueur de dosage)
Clarevallis, Drappier (Pinot Noir-dominant, with Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Blanc Vrai)
Brut Nature Rosé Les Riceys, Drappier (saignée rosé with 20% rosé perpetual reserve)

Tuesday 3rd February
St James’s Room
18:30 – Welcome reception
19:00 – Masterclass starts
20:30 – Masterclass ends

Please note, tickets are refundable for cancellations up to 5 business days before the event. Cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected]. Any cancellations within 5 business days of the event are non-refundable unless 67 Pall Mall resells the ticket to another Member. This is only possible when the event is sold out and there is a waiting list.

Please note that once your order is placed, your ticket status will display as “processing” until after the event, when your member account is then charged. You will receive an email confirmation after ordering your tickets, stating that your order is being processed – please take this as full confirmation that your booking has been finalised. For any questions, please reach out to [email protected].