If you were able to join us for Inspire Napa Valley’s wine panel in 2023, you may remember a particular outlier wine—Domaine de Bichery ‘La Source.’ For those unable to join us that day, the idea behind this panel is to gather vintners, winemakers, sommeliers, and critics and task them with selecting a wine that inspires them—no boundaries, other than bringing enough to share. In 2023, Brad Grimes of Abreu Vineyards selected Domaine de Bichery Champagne. 

Brad shared: I will never forget the first bottle of Bichery I opened. It left an impression so great that I had to visit Hannah and Raphaël at the Domaine. Their youth, energy and personality are clearly present in each bottle. This is one of the most thrilling new wines that I have ever tasted. I can’t wait to see what they do next.

Raphaël’s grandfather farmed vines for decades, but never made the family’s own wine, as was customary in the region until recently. Raphaël opted to go to more formal viticulture school in Burgundy and Switzerland, but still returned home each year for harvest. In 2012, Hannah, a young German woman, was one of the harvest interns. Today, Raphaël, Hannah and their two children make their home next door to his grandfather’s and use the original budwood from his original plantings. They farm organically and, like Lassaigne, use just enough oak for oak for texture. ‘La Source’ is 50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay, produced from six parcels along sloping hills. -JR