Champagne Canard-Duchêne – Interview With Jérôme Durand

The love of Champagne is infinite, a language that everyone can understand, a sparkle that can shine in anyone’s glass, it can connect people, brings them together and places a smile on faces around the world.

In this exclusive feature on Glass of Bubbly, we speak with Jérôme Durand, the  General Director of Champagne Canard-Duchêne, let’s discover a little about his life, his journey into the industry and one of his favourite Champagne memories.

It’s Great To Speak With You, Jérôme, Can You Tell Us A Little About Yourself & How Your Journey Into The Champagne Industry Began?

“It’s a long story that began around fifteen years ago. I was then Director of Communications for the Cognac interprofession (BNIC) and Danel Lorson, then in a similar role in champagne, contacted me because he wanted me to succeed him on the Champagne Committee (CIVC). I finally met Bruno Paillard and joined the Lanson BCC Group with Philippe Baijot as Marketing and Development Director of Maisons Lanson, Besserat de Bellefon and Tsarine. Positions that I held for 5 years. I then managed the Larsen Cognac House for 7 years before joining the Thiénot family to now manage Canard-Duchêne Champagne House.”

Do You Remember Your First Experience With Champagne? When It Was And What Kind Of Label It Was?

“For my 17th birthday, my teenage friends offered me a Canard-Duchêne Mathusalem (Green Label). I kept it for a long time as a symbol of a certain carefree youth. So it wasn’t yesterday. Since I joined Canard-Duchêne, many people I meet tell me about a souvenir they had with our House, often family celebrations, often graduation celebrations. I have since become aware of the heritage role that our Brand had, particularly among the French.”

Can You Tell Us Which Country You Export The Most To And Which Country Would You Most Like To Introduce Champagne Canard-Duchêne To?

“US, UK, Australia and Italy are our main traditional markets and we are very satisfied with them. But one of the most vibrant markets for Champagne is definitely Japan. We are in the process of reclassifying our distribution there to have a more significant presence there already this year. If I weigh my words, the love and passion that the Japanese have for champagne wines is fantastic. It is one of the markets where consumers are the most connoisseurs and in this sense, it is a living and vibrant market for us producers to share with them.”

When It Comes To Pairing Champagne With Food, Do You Have Any Favourite Combinations That You Would Personally Recommend?

“In the House, we benefit from a range of Gastronomic wines called Charles VII. If I had to select just one, it would be our Blanc de Noirs in its iconic bottle shape. Located in Ludes, 1er cru de Champagne, we are one of the rare Champagne Houses in the Countryside in the heart of the great Pinot Noirs vineyards. The Canard-Duchêne blend benefits from the best grapes and prolonged ageing to which we blend a very significant portion of reserve wines from a perpetual reserve initiated around fifteen years ago (Elaborated with the best pinots jealously selected since that time). The result is a generous, opulent and, as always, very balanced blend. I would only recommend this wine with a truffle risotto.”

What Future Plans Can Enthusiasts Of Champagne Canard-Duchene Look Forward To In The Coming Years?

“Maison Canard-Duchêne can rely on solid fundamentals = around thirty hectares of vines, long-term grapes supplies with 200 wine-growing families, 6 km deep cellars under our the Ludes estate where all our wines are aged in optimal conditions, and above all, an oenological trajectory led by our Cellar Master Laurent Fédou who has accomplished incredible work for more than 20 years.

Today we are at a turning point where the House’s teams have recently changed and are particularly mobilized to write a chapter which will be unveiled in France from October 2024 and January 2025 internationally.”

Can You Share With Us One Of The Most Memorable Experiences You’ve Enjoyed With A Glass of Bubbly?

“Champagne has unique virtues in the world. It is the symbol of joy, peace, fraternity, celebration… I think it has never been as necessary as today. On a more personal level, managing a Champagne House allows you to have a fairly intense life due to the numerous events where it is consumed and where you are present. The people you meet are often diverse and interesting. Keeping in mind a unique experience is therefore particularly difficult.

Also, I would remember the immanence of Champagne in being a creator of links whatever the people, whatever the continents.”

Thank you Jerome, for sharing your story and experiences with us and we at Glass of Bubbly wish you the very best for the future!

Images belong to Jerome Durand. Glass of Bubbly was granted permission to use them.