Devaux Grande Reserve Rosée

An analysis of the 500 most important companies in the world revealed that only 29, or 5.8%, had women in the top positions. But while equality has not yet reached the corporate world, many studies have shown that increasing gender diversity in a company is not only the right thing to do for an organisation’s culture, but also leads to better business results. One winery that has been clear about this since the beginning is Champagne Devaux. Founded by brothers Jules and Auguste Devaux in the mid-19th century, this maison in the heart of the Côte des Bar, in the AOC Champagne, has the unique feature that throughout its history it has been run by the women of the family who, having been widowed, were forced to take on leadership of the business. The first was Claude-Joseph Devaux, then daughter-in-law Augusta-Maria Herbin and finally, the third and final widow of what is commonly known as the story of the “champagne widows” was Marguerite Marie-Louise. The winery has now been renamed Groupe Vinicole Champagne Devaux.

One of their wines, Devaux Grande Reserve Rosée is a very good description of the style that characterises Devaux. Made with Pinot Noir from Côte des Bar vineyards with a small amount of Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, once the grapes reach optimum ripeness they are harvested by hand in small crates to avoid breaking the skins and causing oxidation. This is a sparkling wine made with the must from the first pressing only. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, followed by malolactic fermentation. The wine is then blended with 20% of the reserve wines and aged for a minimum of 30 months. Finally, a dosage of 9 g/l is added at disgorging.

As a result, the talent and energy deposited by the Devaux women can be enjoyed in this Devaux Grande Reserve Rosée. A legacy full of freshness, subtlety and femininity.