A unique Press

Earlier this week we were invited by Marie Jolly to visit their family ‘pressoir’ at their home in Landreville - it really is a very unique grape press. It was built by her great grandfather in the 1940’s and is still used by the family and neighbouring vigneron today. Her brother, Charles Jolly, now runs the vineyard and works all year round tending the vines in readiness for vendanges. This picture below is following the pressing for the day, after they had cleaned it down, which needs to happen when they change grape variety, or at the end of every day - it is respectfully looked after by everyone involved. The pressoir, presses 4000kg of grapes at any one time, the juice flows underneath the press and is captured in holding tanks in the cellar below, where any unwanted elements, such as bits of stalk, are allowed to settle to the bottom before the juice can them be pumped to a vat ready to be either sold to other champagne producers, such as Moët, or made into ‘Charles Jolly’ champagne.

We tried the rosé, which was delicate but complex, great for a celebration or to drink just because you want to.

This years harvest has also been affected by the pandemic. The growers have only been allowed to pick up to 7,500kg of grapes per hectare, Whereas in previous years they have been allowed to pick over 10,000kg per hectare. So not only was the harvest very early due to the weather conditions, but also very quick, due to not picking the volume that they would usually do.

you can find them at champagnecharlesjolly.com