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Caroline Latrive and Champagne Ayala

The Napa Valley Register’s latest wine column offers an in depth feature story on Champagne Ayala and Cellar Master Caroline Latrive.

The story opens by sharing the legacies of other female pioneers in the region, including Lily Bollinger, with the commonality that each obtained their leadership role as result of being widowed. Champagne is an industry famously run by men, but today there is finally progress being made with more women “making their mark in the Champagne industry,” including Caroline Latrive. Levine then shares details of Latrive’s impressive resume leading up to her current position as chef de cave of Champagne Ayala.

For those that aren’t familiar with Ayala’s colorful past, it is worth reading this article in full as Levine offers great historical context and insight on the House style. As its ambassador for more than a decade, Latrive has the opportunity to be creative while also perpetuating “Champagne Ayala’s style of freshness, elegance, and purity.” In fact, Latrive “has more than 120 different tanks to work with, resulting in a large palate of aromatics to make her final blends for different cuvees.”

Levine had the opportunity to taste through the Ayala range with Latrive via Zoom and discussed each wine and food pairing recommendations. In the story, she shares detailed tasting notes on Brut Majeur, Rosé Majeur, Brut Nature, Le Blanc de Blancs 2013 and Perle d’Ayala 2006.

They also discussed the positive momentum of more women taking an interest in careers in the Champagne industry, evidenced by the BBC’s report that “60 percent of enology students in Champagne today are women.” The story closes with Latrive’s point of view that “It is not a question of gender but one of passion and tenacity.” Please do read the full story HERE

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Related Wines

    Champagne Ayala

    Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur NV

    Champagne, France

    Brut Majeur is the epitome of a non-vintage brut from a great, historic House and is the finest ambassador for the House’s freshness and elegance. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, coupled with extended aging in Ayala’s cellars and a low dosage, make this wine suitable for any occasion.

    Champagne Ayala

    Champagne Ayala Rosé Majeur NV

    Champagne, France

    Rosé Majeur is the perfect embodiment of the originality and finesse of the House’s wines. Made predominantly from Chardonnay, it is crafted with the addition of a small proportion of still Pinot Noir from the best crus of the Montagne de Reims. A low dosage enables it to express the House style, both feminine and generous, with great elegance.

    Champagne Ayala

    Champagne Ayala Brut Nature NV

    Champagne, France

    Brut Nature, cellar-aged for almost 4 years, demonstrates to perfection the high quality of grapes used by the House to craft its wines, and its remarkable expertise in vinification. Being non-dosage, its purity and precision make it an ideal partner for seafood, in particular raw fish and shellfish, or oysters.

    Champagne Ayala

    Champagne Ayala Le Blanc de Blancs 2013

    Champagne, France

    Ayala’s Blanc de Blancs is 100% Chardonnay, produced in small quantities in exceptional years only, fully expresses the superb caliber of great Chardonnay from the best crus of the Côte des Blancs. After 6 years of aging in Ayala’s cellars, remarkable minerality and low dosage make this an outstanding wine.

    Champagne Ayala

    Champagne Ayala Perle d’Ayala 2006

    Champagne, France

    A treasure in the portfolio, Perle d’Ayala is produced only in exceptional years, according to practices that have remained faithful to the Champagne tradition. Composed of a majority of Chardonnay, this wine captures the essence of the Champagne terroir, in the purest respect of the style of the House.

Related Producers

    Champagne Ayala

    Champagne, France

    Ayala is one of the most exciting stories in Champagne today, almost the definition of a boutique Champagne producer. Independently owned, a small, young and dynamic team handles every step of production from grape reception to labeling in their jewel of a facility with incredible precision, crafting Chardonnay-focused wines that deliver immense pleasure, freshness, and elegance.