Join us for a special evening with Laurence Ployez (@laurenceployez), third-generation winemaker and Cellar Master at Champagne Ployez-Jacquemart (ployez-jacquemart.fr, @ployezjacquemart). This is a rare opportunity to taste with a third-generation winemaker whose family has quietly built a reputation for some of the most age-worthy and distinctive Champagnes in the region.

Founded in 1930 by Marcel Ployez and his wife Yvonne Jacquemart in the Premier Cru village of Ludes, this family-run house has maintained an uncompromising approach across three generations. What truly distinguishes Ployez-Jacquemart is their commitment to extended aging—all of their cuvées rest for over six years before release, more than double the legal minimum. This patient approach allows their wines to develop remarkable complexity and finesse while maintaining freshness.

Perhaps even more telling is their minimal use of reserve wines. While most Champagne houses rely heavily on reserves to ensure consistency year after year, Ployez-Jacquemart takes a different path, incorporating reserves only when a harvest doesn't meet their exacting standards for vintage bottlings. This philosophy allows for genuine vintage character to shine through.

The house produces only six cuvées, three of which are vintage-dated, including their prestige bottling Liesse d'Harbonville, made exclusively in the finest years. Laurence, who studied both biology and gastronomy before joining the family estate, brings a thoughtful approach to winemaking that honors tradition while expressing her own vision. She describes her goal as achieving natural balance between minerality and fruit—wines that speak clearly of their place in the Montagne de Reims.

This seminar offers insights into a style of Champagne that prioritizes time, family legacy, and uncompromising quality over volume. Laurence's perspective on maintaining this approach while managing every aspect of the estate—from vineyard work to final bottling—provides a window into how small family houses navigate the modern wine world.

This seminar will cover:

• The philosophy behind extended aging and vintage expression
• Working with minimal reserve wines
• Premier Cru terroir in Ludes and the Montagne de Reims
• The house style and Laurence's winemaking approach
• Three generations of family stewardship
• Understanding what makes small-production Champagne distinctive

This seminar offers a chance to understand Champagne made with patience and conviction, where three generations have remained committed to quality. The opportunity to taste with Laurence and hear her perspective on this increasingly rare approach makes for a compelling evening.

Seating is limited to 16 guests. Tickets are $50 and include the full guided tasting and a $20 store credit for use towards your purchase of the featured wines.

Wednesday, October 22nd | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Cellar Room