The Champagne House Duval-Leroy was founded in 1859 by a partnership between Jules Duval, winemaker, and Edouard Leroy, grape-grower.

Located in the charming village of Vertus in the Côte des Blancs region of Champagne (Click here to see full map), Duval-Leroy is primarily known for its Chardonnay, producing elegant Champagne from 200 hectares of sustainably farmed vines.

Currently run by the inspiring Carol Duval-Leroy (born Carol Nilens in Belgium), the House had to overcome severe tragedy to get to where it is today; namely, the passing of her husband, Jean-Charles Duval-Leroy, in 1991 after losing his battle with cancer at the young age of 39. Carol never dreamed of running a vineyard, but Jean-Charles had made her promise to keep it in the family and have their young sons, Julien, Charles and Louis, grow up within the family business and ultimately  be groomed her successors.

The same woman who never dreamed of leading a winery now found herself, at the young age of 35, a pioneer in the male-dominated Champagne world. Carol is the first woman in over 100 years to lead a winery within the Champagne region. Carol wasn’t merely taking over her husband’s business, she was determined to make it thrive! Her first order of operation was to rename their prestige cuvée ‘Femme de Champagne’ (‘Women of Champagne’) in order to honor women in leadership roles. In 1994, Carol then hired Sandrine Logette as the head of ‘Quality Control’. Sandrine was only twenty-three years of age and had just received her degree in oenology studies. In 2005, Sandrine officially became the Head Winemaker/Cellar Master at Duval-Leroy, producing some of the most elegant Chardonnay-based Champagne I have ever had. Sandrine crafts sensual and feminine Champagne. You will not be disappointed by any of the following delightful bubbles:

Champagne Duval-Leroy Brut Réserve NV: Blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay with notes of cinnamon, figs and some hints of chocolate. This shows finesse and the style of the House.

Champagne Duval-Leroy Rosé Prestige Premier Cru NV: Crafted from Premier Cru Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, this is pure WOW!!! Notes of wild cherries, figs and a hint of ginger with delicate bubbles. Excellent throughout a meal.

Champagne Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne 2000: Mostly Chardonnay with a hint of Pinot Noir, this is elegance at its finest. Femme de Champagne represents the refinement of the House. Notes of ripe hazelnuts, honeysuckle and tangerine peel. This cuvée is a true partnership between Carol and Sandrine creating a complex yet refined wine.

For the perfect mother’s day gift, these exceptional Champagnes are available on Wine.com and Total Wine.

Cheers,

Anna