Portraits of winemakers

CHAMPAGNE CHARLES LEGEND, VALENTINE CLERC: ‘WE MUSTN'T FORGET THAT CHAMPAGNE IS FIRST AND FOREMOST WINE!

"Born into Bubbles: Valentine’s Journey into the World of Champagne"

A Legacy of Winemaking and a Passion for Wine

From a winemaking family and passionate about wine from an early age, Valentine was "born into bubbles." With a grandfather who made wine in Savoie and Lyonnaise roots, her path seemed destined. However, she chose business school over enology. Yet, her passion soon caught up with her. "I was increasingly thinking about going back to school to get a degree in enology," recalls Valentine.

A Turning Point: From Business to Bordeaux

The allure of the wine world grew stronger, leading Valentine to leave her role as a sales manager at Samsung. She pursued enology studies in Bordeauxand Paris before settling in Champagne. Her unconventional journey felt like a logical progression: "My grandfather made white wine from Savoie. Being from Lyon, Rhône wines spoke to me. But I was also well-acquainted with Champagne."

Meeting Two Wine Enthusiasts

As she completed her enology studies, Valentine met Pierre-Emmanuel and Mikaël, two passionate winemakers. This serendipitous meeting became a pivotal moment, launching Valentine into the Champagne Charles Legend brand, of which she became a co-founder in 2014. "Pierre-Emmanuel and Mikaël had started growing grapes in Champagne but needed marketing expertise to launch their brand. They reached out to me for my commercial director experience, and that’s how my adventure with Champagne Charles Legend began," explains Valentine.

Expanding Globally and Innovating

Nearly three years later, the Champagne house is expanding internationally: Pierre-Emmanuel manages exports in São Paulo (Brazil), and Mikaël develops the brand in the UK. Valentine remains in France, collaborating with Champagne producer François Moutard, who opens his cellars to her. "It's not about our machines; we design, craft, and infuse personality into our Champagne. It’s our brand from A to Z," highlights Valentine.

Introducing Two New Cuvées for the 2017 Vintage

Champagne Charles Legend’s concept is unique. For Valentine, the brand embodies the collaboration of three urbanites, "consumers before producers." "The goal with Charles Legend is to shake up traditions and the image of major brands that focus more on the age of their house than on their wine! We offer a contemporary Champagne sought by younger consumers."

This innovative spirit is reflected in their winemaking techniques, governed by two golden rules: reduced sulfites and low sugar dosage. It also extends to design: Valentine opts for a sleek, modern black glass bottle over the traditional green one. "Previously, Champagne was mostly associated with celebrations, bubbles, and sabering. But Champagne is, first and foremost, wine. It can be enjoyed at the table and paired with dishes," asserts Valentine.

Valentine and her partners plan to launch two new products starting next year: the first in summer 2017 and the second in December. Stay tuned…